Biography of Pat Metheny

Only a few guitarists in every generation achieve the kind of popular and artistic success that Pat has seen. He was an impressive virtuoso at an early age, and formed a beneficial early association with vibraphone innovator Gary Burton. Metheny studied and taught at Berkelee College of Music and University of Miami. He has had many successful albums from the beginning. He brings a bit of the mystique and allure of the rock star to his image, but his popularity centers on his compelling and polished performance style. Later collaborations, such as Song X (with Ornette Coleman) and 80/81 (with Charlie Haden and others), show a highly accomplished and versatile jazz artist. Though he has great instrumental technique and speed, he has developed a very accessible style, with great lyrical ability and a fine melodic sense, working for simplicity rather than flash. He was an early and tasteful explorer of electronic effects, such as chorus boxes, and one of the first to use guitar synthesizer effectively. He has also written music for films. Some later albums have tended toward a rather ethereal sort of Latin-influenced mood music. ~ David Nelson McCarthy