Ian: I recall your recent ferver, re: Pat Metheny Unity Group's new CD - KIN.
After having picked up tickets back on July 2, was finally led to the Promised GIG - Feb. 25.
Of course, what is immediately apparent with Pat's current configuration - along with predecessor Unity Band - is that:
It's jazz, man!
Even with a stage-full of orchestrion robots; which from my 4th row vantage point, sounded like a a small river of sonic whispers...not very prevalent in the main mix, whatsoever.
To those of us who harken back to the classic 80/81 album featuring Michael Brecker, the stellar musicianship of Chris Potter is perfect. This guy never seems to hit a wrong note!
I was particularly pleased by the sweet-sounding acoustic bass-playing by relatively young - Ben Williams.
I wish I could add some kudos for the newest member - Giuillio Carmassi on keyboards, but except for his being featured on an a-capella tune, he didn't penetrate much into the very loud mix (there was a one-story speaker sitting on the stage in front of us).
Antonio Sanchez is such a force on drums...I can't fathom how he does it night-after-night. (In fact, he seemed to have lost weight from the time I caught him leading a quartet with David Binney & Donny McCaslin in Hollywood).
What follows is a review of the succeeding night's gig - up the coast in Santa Barbara...
After having picked up tickets back on July 2, was finally led to the Promised GIG - Feb. 25.
Of course, what is immediately apparent with Pat's current configuration - along with predecessor Unity Band - is that:
It's jazz, man!
Even with a stage-full of orchestrion robots; which from my 4th row vantage point, sounded like a a small river of sonic whispers...not very prevalent in the main mix, whatsoever.
To those of us who harken back to the classic 80/81 album featuring Michael Brecker, the stellar musicianship of Chris Potter is perfect. This guy never seems to hit a wrong note!
I was particularly pleased by the sweet-sounding acoustic bass-playing by relatively young - Ben Williams.
I wish I could add some kudos for the newest member - Giuillio Carmassi on keyboards, but except for his being featured on an a-capella tune, he didn't penetrate much into the very loud mix (there was a one-story speaker sitting on the stage in front of us).
Antonio Sanchez is such a force on drums...I can't fathom how he does it night-after-night. (In fact, he seemed to have lost weight from the time I caught him leading a quartet with David Binney & Donny McCaslin in Hollywood).
What follows is a review of the succeeding night's gig - up the coast in Santa Barbara...
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