„Pat Metheny 70” Sooäär–Randalu–Trump–Tafenau • Sügisjazz 2024

Legendary guitarist, composer, and exceptional musician Pat Metheny celebrated his 70th birthday on 12 August. The beloved artist’s jubilee tour and concerts dedicated to him will continue throughout the year on jazz stages around the world. Metheny’s remarkable reputation is built on his distinctive virtuoso playing style, his fascinating musical language and his uniquely fluid tonal textures.

For his captivating music and artistry, Metheny has earned 20 Grammy Awards and 39 nominations. Many of his compositions from his five-decade career are regarded as timeless jazz masterpieces. To Metheny, jazz represents a constantly evolving art form, and he himself has continuously reinvented his sound. This was evident in the music of the Pat Metheny Unity Group, which Tallinn audiences experienced at Jazzkaar in 2014, featuring contemporary musicians Chris Potter, Antonio Sanchez, Ben Williams and Giulio Carmassi. Throughout his 50-year career, Metheny has also collaborated with numerous other top musicians, including David Bowie, Joni Mitchell, Jaco Pastorius, Michael Brecker and others.

One of the most renowned ensembles led by the maestro is the Pat Metheny Group, founded in 1977. Much of the group’s repertoire was developed in collaboration with pianist Lyle Mays. The group gained unprecedented fame through stadium performances and received numerous Grammy Awards.

The programme, dedicated to Pat Metheny and, to some extent, Lyle Mays, features a quartet of Estonia’s top musicians. Their aim is to celebrate the legend’s anniversary with concerts showcasing pieces from Metheny’s early ECM period – ranging from his debut album Bright Size Life to the mid-1980s. The ensemble includes guitarist Jaak Sooäär, pianist Kristjan Randalu, bassist Janno Trump and drummer Ramuel Tafenau.

Project leader and guitarist Jaak Sooäär has chosen his favourite pieces from Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays’s extensive repertoire. Rather than aiming to replicate the original versions, the goal is to share exceptional music with the audience through a collective experience. Sooäär describes his approach to Metheny as follows: “Pat Metheny has naturally been one of my great idols and influences since my teenage years. As a guitarist, he is in a class of his own – authentic and entirely unique. As a composer, he is extraordinarily musical, often crafting complex compositions in such a logical way that they appear simple and accessible to listeners. Such qualities are rare in the history of music.”

Lineup:

Jaak Sooäär – guitar
Kristjan Randalu – piano
Janno Trump – bass
Ramuel Tafenau – drums