Pat Metheny

Musician

1954-08-12

Books by Pat Metheny

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I used to love going and playing jam sessions, doing things spontaneously. I can't do that anymore. Everything you do is documented, nothing is casual anymore.
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The guitar for me is a translation device. It's not a goal. And in some ways, jazz isn't a destination for me. For me, jazz is a vehicle that takes you to the true destination - a musical one that describes all kinds of stuff about the human condition and the way music works.
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My older brother Mike is an excellent trumpet player. By the time he was 12, he was playing around Kansas City in classical situations. He was already an amazing talent.
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I would always contend that talent is an element, but over the long run, ultimately, a minor part of it all; it is mostly hard work.
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I think jazz is actually quite unforgiving in its disdain for nostalgia. It demands creativity and change at its highest level.
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I'm always trying to find 'connections' between things. That art is the juxtaposition of a lot of things that seem unrelated but add up to something recognizable.
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No two notes are ever the same volume. With the guitar, you really have to model in your mind this wider thing; you're trying to create the illusion of a bigger dynamic range.
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From 1962 to 1965, the guitar became this icon of youth culture, thanks mostly to the Beatles.
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