ONE QUIET NIGHT

Pat Metheny's One Quiet Night was not recorded on one quiet night but over the course of at least more than one - Recorded November 2001 through January 2003. And it comes up on The Chronolizer as I write this at nearly 8 in the morning.

Ah well. I've had this one since 2004 and while it isn't the first Metheny album I would turn to when I want to listen to some Pat music, so I can't give it better than a non-essential rating, but it really is one nice solo acoustic guitar album. Pat hasn't done a lot of solo albums. Others are an album of cover songs called What's It All About and New Chautauqua, where Metheny plays various acoustic guitars and electric bass. For this album it's just Pat and his baritone guitar. What's It All About is another one with multiple types of acoustic guitars.

This is a Pat Metheny album, as opposed to a Pat Metheny Group album. It is purely soft (baritone) guitar. Not as upbeat, complex, or jazzy as Metheny's standard, but it is compelling, gorgeous and interesting as ever. Sometimes dark and intriguing, other times brighter and more straightforward. Both aspects are fantastic.

At first glance, it seems that many of the tracks cannot be distinguished from each other, and there is not a whole lot of varying music here. But after further scrutinization, you begin to realize each track is distinct and has its own mood and feel. It's very, very beautiful and extremely intriguing. Listening to this at night just sends you beyond this universe. Its imagery is very full, and very strong.

One Quiet Night is another wondeful album from the jazz guitar king. It's a bit of a departure from what Metheny usually does. Don't overlook!