By: Robert Silverstein
ince the first Pat Metheny Group album-way back in 1977-PMG have evolved into one of the most widely acclaimed international jazz-rock groups. Eleven albums later, Metheny's guitar work is still breaking musical ground alongside long time keyboardist and co-composer Lyle Mays and co-producer/bassist Steve Rodby-now in his 20th year with PMG. Three years after their Imaginary Day tour, PMG regroup again with the recently released Speaking Of Now. With three new members in the lineup-Antonio Sanchez (drums), Richard Bona (vocals, percussion) and Cuong Vu (trumpet, vocals)-the group strive towards new musical heights on Speaking Of Now-recorded in NYC during the late spring and summer of 2001. Looking back on the creative process, Metheny reflects, "I am positive that these particular writing sessions will be remembered by both Lyle and myself for many years to come. This record includes some of the most fully co-written music we have ever come up with. This time however, the sheer speed at which this very ambitious music was able to get recorded kind of took us all by surprise. We have so many ideas in reserve now that we didn't even get to this time-I almost can't wait to get started on the next one already." Even since the days of the first Pat Metheny Group album on ECM, Metheny and Mays have more or less created a new musical language for fans of modern guitar-based, instrumental jazz-rock music to savor. That tradition of phenomenal musical excellence continues with the 2002 release of Speaking Of Now.
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