Pat Metheny to mine monumental back catalogue for Hong Kong concerts
I thought it would be fun to put together musicians who could cover the widest range of everything I have done, says jazz giant of new line-up – but expect some fresh compositions too
Pat Metheny, who plays Hong Kong in June, is probably the most influential jazz guitarist of the past 40 years. Equally notable as a composer and instrumentalist, he has picked up no fewer than 20 Grammy awards since his first in 1983, for best jazz fusion performance for the album Offramp.
His debut as a leader, Bright Size Life – made with a trio which included the equally influential bassist Jaco Pastorius – came out in 1976, and he has since released around 50 albums under his own name or as principal collaborator, and appeared on many more as a sideman.
He is one of only four jazz guitarists to have been inducted into the Downbeat Hall of Fame – the others being Django Reinhardt, Charlie Christian, and his own particular musical hero, Wes Montgomery. However, he remains modest about his achievements. “It was a shock to me honestly,” he says of the Downbeat accolade. “I thought they must have made a big mistake or something. I don’t ever think of myself in those kinds of ways. I just want to get better, and I feel like I am just scratching the surface.
“That said, I have gotten some really nice awards and honours over the years, and I always appreciate it.”
