The vocal "Last Train Home" was used inwards a Christmas commercial yesteryear the Florida-based supermarket chain Publix, featuring relatives traveling to Florida yesteryear develop for Christmas. Metheny jokingly refers to the slice every bit "The Publix Song" when performing inwards Florida, every bit the commercial aired every vacation flavor from 1987 to 1996. The NPR radio exhibit "Radio Deluxe amongst John Pizzarelli" uses the melody every bit its closing theme. In 2015, the vocal served every bit the destination subject of the anime adaptation JoJo's Bizarre Adventure during the 2nd one-half of the show's Stardust Crusaders arc, together with after became the focus of Essential Collection Last Train Home, a JoJo-themed compilation album for Pat Metheny Group. The composition has too been featured during The Weather Channel's "Local on the 8s" playlist since roughly the belatedly 1980s. "(It's Just) Talk" has too been featured on the local forecasts on The Weather Channel since nigh the same time. The retail bedding manufacturer Sleep Train Inc which operates primarily inwards California uses the rail for their television set commercials.
While Brazilian music had captured Pat Metheny's attending since the '70s, he placed an especially strong emphasis on Brazilian elements inwards the belatedly '80s. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 master copy of uniting seemingly disparate elements every bit a cohesive whole, the imaginative guitarist effectively combines Brazilian-influenced harmonies together with beat amongst jazz, folk, together with pop elements on "So May It Secretly Begin," "Third Wind," "Minuano (Six Eight)," together with other celebrated gems included on Still Life (Talking). The Brazilian leanings are seat aside on ane of Metheny's most unique offerings ever, "Last Train Home," which boasts a charming Western subject that brings to remove heed a peaceful journeying across the Arizona desert. That may non audio similar the description of a jazz piece, but then, making the unlikely a reality is amidst Metheny's many admirable qualities.
Still Life (Talking) was the laid about Pat Metheny Group album for Geffen, next its 1984 swan vocal for ECM, First Circle, together with it remains ane of the group's finest efforts nearly 20 years downwards the road. The fact that v of the 7 tracks stimulate got shown upward regularly inwards Metheny Group alive shows since that time—more than whatsoever other unmarried Metheny Group album—suggests that the grouping too feels that agency nigh the record, amongst the overt Brazilian overtones of "Minuano (six eight) together with "Third Wind," every bit good every bit the anthemic "Last Train Home" beingness peculiarly pop choices together with fan favourites.
By this indicate the centre grouping had settled to include keyboardist Lyle Mays—who'd been amongst Metheny since the earliest days of the group—bassist Steve Rodby together with drummer Paul Wertico—both recruits from the early on 1980s. Still Life (Talking) saw the deviation of singer/multi-instrumentalist Pedro Aznar from First Circle together with the expansion of the grouping to a septet amongst the improver of singer/percussionist Armando Marçal together with singers David Blamires together with the recently-deceased Mark Ledford. Freed from the somewhat confining restrictions of ECM label possessor Manfred Eicher's approach to recording, Metheny was non solely able to stimulate got to a greater extent than fourth dimension amongst the recording, but exercise a multi-layered approach to production that had to a greater extent than precedents inwards pop music than jazz.
Which isn't to imply that Metheny Group records don't represent inside the jazz arena. But to a greater extent than than his side projects, Metheny Group records are e'er every bit much nigh composition every bit they are solo prowess, together with inwards that regard Still Life (Talking) is a meaning advancement over First Circle. Fans consider it to live the 2nd utilization of the group's "Brazilian Trilogy" which began amongst First Circle together with concluded amongst the follow-up Letter From Home. And inwards many ways it's the most successful of the 3 inwards price of its overall pull of writing and playing. With Metheny together with Mays the primary soloists, in that location are unopen to seminal moments on Still Life (Talking) —notably Metheny's staggering solo on the burning "Third Wind" together with Mays' ever-lyrical, ever-harmonically distinctive solo on the funkier Brazilian inflection of "(It's Just) Talk." The grouping too had the powerfulness to weave contrapuntal wordless vocals amongst 3 singers inwards the band, creating a potential for greater orchestration both on tape and, ultimately, inwards performance.
One of the overlooked aspects to Metheny's writing, every bit good every bit his longstanding collaborative run amongst Mays, is but how successful he's e'er been at creating music that sounds completely effortless, despite beingness considerably to a greater extent than detailed nether the sheets. Sure, the twain department that leads into the lastly restatement of the subject to "Minuano" is undeniably challenging; but generally the complexities are solely in that location if you're paying attention. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 double-edged sword that has sometimes rendered the jazz intelligentsia to bill Metheny Group albums of beingness "jazz lite," these critics mightiness live to a greater extent than respectful if they'd stimulate got the fourth dimension to examine what truly goes on inwards these tunes.
I ain over 18k albums together with c.d.'s. This recording has been a favorite of mine seen its unloose every bit an album. I already had a mild enjoyment of Pats music, but this was that placed him on a higher grade of musical honor inwards my music appreciation!!
Track listing
All music composed yesteryear Pat Metheny, except where noted.
1. "Minuano (Six Eight)" (Metheny, Lyle Mays) 9:28
2. "So May It Secretly Begin" 6:25
3. "Last Train Home" 5:41
4. "(It's Just) Talk" 6:17
5. "Third Wind" (Metheny, Mays) 8:37
6. "Distance" (Mays) 2:45
7. "In Her Family" 3:17
Personnel
Pat Metheny - guitar, synth guitar, acoustic guitars, electrical guitars
Lyle Mays - piano, keyboards
Steve Rodby - acoustic bass, electrical bass
Paul Wertico - drums
Armando Marçal - percussion, background vocals
Mark Ledford, David Blamires - vocals
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