Pat Metheny - One Quiet Night

Tom Storer · June-26th-2003, 07:57 AM

On a Metheny vs. Scofield thread I mentioned this album, saying: "I'm listening to the Metheny, first time through, as I type, and it's very nice. Think quiet, rainy afternoons, muted colors, sad-but-wise--that's the sort of atmosphere it creates. The compositions sound simple and natural at first listen but I suspect they will reward further listens by revealing subtle depths."

I've started to listen to it a lot, and this is truly a lovely record - sober, grave, somewhat austere, but the colors, while muted, are rich. The compositions are stately, at once calm and having a quiet intensity of feeling that is very affecting. So careful, too - each note, each gesture bringing a feeling of inevitability, of rightness, with subtle dissonances and rhythmic shifts creating unique moods. It's the opposite of in-your-face music, so hearing it gently in the background as you go about your day does get its ambiance across, and when listening to it carefully you realize how original it is and the work that went into it. Very, very impressive. Already one of my very favorite Metheny recordings.

P.S. I forgot to mention that it's a solo album, no overdubbing, using an acoustic "baritone guitar" with "Nashville tuning."

john williams · June-26th-2003, 08:09 AM

Yes Tom, I have been playing this one a lot lately and love it too. I work in a joint use public/college library and I have played it there. The two women who I work with both absolutely love it and each want copies. I got into trouble for taking the CD home again but I couldn't help it. :-)

I don't have many PM CDs but this one is my favorite so far and I also like "Question and Answer"which Shrugs recommended on the Metheny/Scofield thread.

I would go as far as to say "Quiet Nights"is a subtle masterpiece. I have spent far too much money, if that's possible, on CDs lately but I think I have played QN more than any of the others.

Dennis Gonzalez · June-26th-2003, 12:56 PM

JB(W), you might pick up "Bright Size Life" for a good, solid, simple trio CD.

john williams · June-26th-2003, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dennis Gonzalez
JB(W), you might pick up "Bright Size Life" for a good, solid, simple trio CD.

Cheers Dennis, I will pick it up when I see it.

ormsbop · June-27th-2003, 09:59 PM

Tom: nice review! I wish I could write that well. Pat's complex harmonic sense and sensitive chordal work are 2 major reasons I'm a longtime fan. His single line improvisations I'm less keen on nowadays- kinda too busy and starts to sound the same on each tune after a while, IMO. Anyway, I'm putting OQN on my to-get list (with Coltrane's Transition).

JBW: "Rejoicing" is another interesting trio setting w/ Higgins and Haden. Definitely worth checking out.

hermann · July-1st-2003, 06:46 AM

For the same reasons from the top note I recommend 'question and answer' by PM + DHolland + RHaynes, just now I'm hearing it.

baksheesh · November-3rd-2009, 01:37 PM

For fans of this one I would recommend New Chautauqua - one of the most beautiful albums ever IMO. One Quiet Night is not quite up at that level but there's some nice stuff nonetheless, including some of his patented strumming bits. With reference to Sco, I have a great Live in Italy album from the tour they did together after I Can See Your House From Here, and they play (along with some brilliant versions of stuff from that album) a wicked Summertime, with Pat doing his fullblooded strumming the whole way through and Sco soloing on top. Nice!
This post is not meant to diss OQN I hasten to add - It's a lovely, lovely record on its own terms, and hopefully he'll do another project like it soon.