TRAVELS (PAT METHENY GROUP)

Often seeing a huge amount of smooth jazz products all around I believe there should be a market for them. And I even can imagine why people like it - this music is always easy accessible, pleasant and doesn't need too much attention from listener. You can listen it when cleaning a house or telling a long stories to your future girlfriend ( I heard many times that it helps to catalyze events dynamics).

So, if you are fan of such music, better listen best examples of it. Like this album.

Pat Metheny is quite controversial figure for me when speaking about progressive jazz fusion. He is great guitarist and have his nice moments, but largest amount of his work was openly oriented to more commercial targets. But, let say the truth, he is doing his job at very competent level.

So, this is first (double) live album in Metheny's discography. And it's live recording (during US-tour). There are many his most popular songs included, and smooth jazz live recording is never as hot as prog metal one. So, in fact it's more the collection of best songs from Pat's early times. But experienced year can hear the difference: same tunes are slightly different, not so sterile, and sound warmer there on this live recordings.

The music itself is Brazil/Latin smooth jazz, especially at the beginning, but somewhere in the middle of the recording became more serious and even contains few prog moments. Not too much, though. It doesn't destroy your dreamy (or even lazy) comfortable atmosphere.

Sound is airy (not strange - it's ECM recording), but extremely rounded and polished. But still doesn't sound as music for elevators. No connection with jazz-rock fusion of RTF, Weather Report or MO, just forget it.

So, if you're in a good mood, lazy summer evening on the terrace, watching sundown on seacoast, this music is good soundtrack for it. Or even if you hate all these lounge/acid jazz audio design for airport VIP zones, but don't want to be too radical, changing it, this album is a good choice. But if you're expecting "rock" component in your fusion, of just think that jazz shouldn't be too sweet and comfortable, better search in any other place.

Two and half rounded to 3.