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Pat Metheny Group - Speaking of Now Live Actors: Lyle Mays, Steve Rodby, Pat Metheny Number of Items: 1 Format: Color, DTS Surround Sound, Dolby, Widescreen Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Running Time: 100 minutes Studio: Red Distribution, In Product Group: DVD Release Date: 2003-11-18 Buy from Amazon |
 "Great DVD! &That IS "Are you going with me" - Are you deaf??"What a gift from Pat and the band - this is the best band in the world right now with the addition of Antonio Sanchez, and Metheny himself after a few challenges from the likes of Scofield and Frisell has left them in the dust with his new trio and this amazing version of the PMG. And Vu is destined to great things under the Metheny/Mays tutorship, just watch. I was glad to be spared Richard Bona's blatant (and not too good) Jaco Pastorius imatation, that was the only real blemish on the live show that I saw and I am glad that they left it off. To the person who claims that track 12 is a listing mistake, I can only deduce that you are deaf and have never actually listened to the MELODY of Are You Going With Me. (It is like all the idiots that can't seem to hear the melody of Pat's brilliant new version of Last Train Home). People like that who not only can't hear but then get all indignant about it are the kind of people that appear to have no experience listening to jazz and are applying some other kind of background to Metheny's work - and certainly are unqualified to be commenting on it. It is sad and I hope Pat never gets discouraged by the fact that there are people listening to him who can't even identify the melody to his most famous tunes unless played in the exact arrangment that appears on the original. Cuong's phrasing and interpretation of the AYGWM melody could not be more clear - or beautiful; a highlight of this set. And there are at least two other video versions of the "straight" version of this elsewhere - so glad they included this one like this. LIsten up, people!!!! This is the band of our time at their very best. "Great DVD--counterpoint to rogert678"Richard Bona's spotlight a blemish?--I saw the tour and it was one of the highlights of the show when Pat Methney ,Richard Bona and Antonio Sanchez played "Bright Size Life".Editing decisions are made when an artist decides to release a video (Unless they want to release the entire concert) and the only reason I'm not more dissapointed that this piece wasn't included is that it WAS included on the Austin City Limits show last year.Yes Bona is influenced by Jaco (as most electric bassist are),but he's not doing a Jaco imitation.He's very much his own player.I think one of the most terrific talents on the instrument in the world.Buy this DVD in spite of the omission.!!!!  "A Great Concert, yet.....".... there is still this business of how underutilized Richard Bona and Cuong Vu were to the whole enterprise. If you are unfamiliar with Bona or Vu, then you wouldn't understand the point. They are every bit the match and in many ways better than any other 2 guys Metheny and Mays and Rodby usually have standing in the back. Trouble is, Richard Bona is an extraordinary songwriter who could have opened PMG to an entirely new world, and Vu is the most individually creative and original trumpet player in jazz since Miles Davis. Vu's own discs (PURE< BOUND< COME PLAY WITH ME) are not for the feint of heart and certainly are not likely to pop up on any smooth jazz playlist. It's edgy, Asian fired and bold commanding music. Bona has an African sense of rhythm and seduction in his bass playing and singing that is entirely hypnotic be it on his own CDs (REVERENCE) or in partnership with like-minded explorative souls (Huong Thanh's DRAGONFLY). And therein lies the problem. Give Metheny credit for reaching out to 2 very dramatically different musicians than he normally has in the back, but perhaps Mays and Rodby felt threatened and closed ranks. There is little evidence that Bona and Vu are any different than the usual back up cast. Nonetheless, this is a dramatically better group effort than the studio CD. And thankfully, we are spared the inane observations of musicians on the road extolling the virtues of being on a lucrative tour and how that has enlightened them. Indeed. Instead, the film begins with Metheny on baritone guitar essaying "Last Train Home." It is absoluetly wonderful. The proceedings move into group gear thereafter and it is a terrific show that covers a gentle bossa nova as only Metheny can, plus the crowd pleaser "Are You Going With Me" and a strong cross selection from IMAGINARY DAY and SPEAKING OF NOW. The filmwork is terrific, even if Pat does look like he's added some pudge to the college boy looks he has always sported. Happens to all of us. You do get a sense of what Vu and Bona could do for this band, and with talk that the same lineup is ready to release a second studio CD, perhaps the reins will be released. Inspite of my carping, which really only matters if you have an interest in the solo releases of Bona and Vu, this is a terrifc concert that you'll enjoy a lot. Now, go push yourself a bit and check out Bona's MUNIA or any of Vu's CDs. ""AYGWM" not in its entirety"It's a great concert. I saw it live in Hong Kong. Mo_Native was right, the track "AYGWM" only included the prelude - a big let down. "Amazed"Pat Metheny is awesome! This DVD is a must have for all PMG fans. Aside from the fantastic audio, there are great zooms of Pat's incredible finger work. Richard Bona's solo is superb. I went to this concert twice in two days - this DVD will show you why. |
