80/81

Pat Metheny | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Label: ECM
• ASIN: B0000031R6
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #497,100 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brecker and Company Soar, July 28, 2005

By 

douglas mosher "[e-mail]" (Los Gatos, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 80-81 (Comp) (Audio CD)

I remember buying this album after playing a gig, and going to Tower Records to pick out a CD with my earnings. The Pat Metheny Group Album "The Way Up" had just been released and my friends were raving about it. So I went into the record store with the hopes of getting a Pat Metheny record. The only problem was, first I had no idea what he sounded like, and secondly, there were no sax players on his new release, which is not a bad thing, but I was in the mood for some powerful sax playing. So I got this album 80/81 because it had two unique sax players. From there...

I played the first disc and was immediately captivated by the simple yet honest chord stumming of Pat Metheny on the acoustic guitar. It immediately evoked images of corn fields, the midwest, driving down Highway 5 in California, etc. And then Mike Brecker entered with his gorgeous tone to state the melody. I had not even left the parking lot and I was ecstatic. Then comes Mike Brecker's solo...I know many listeners dislike Mike Brecker because of his perfect technique, and his tendency to repeat these phrases. But hey, most musicians do that. It depends on what you listen to by the artist. Many also accuse Mike Brecker of lacking emotion in his technical solos. But his solos on this record should lay all of those claims to rest. This album was recorded early on in his career, and his solo on "Two Folk Songs" ranks among one of my favorite instrumental solos of all time, and it certainly is one of his most creative. He does not opt for lightning fast runs, but instead develops his ten minute solo around the overtones of the tenor sax, soring in the altissimo range. It is almost like a bird flying over the country, swooping down close to the ground when Mike Brecker leaves the overtone range to catch his breath in the lower register, then skyrocketing back up well above the ground. From a technical standpoint, his solo is outrageous, but from the standpoint of emotional conviction - that is where Mike Brecker's solo really shines. His devopment, his emphasis on rhythm, his choice to bypass any sort of "normal" solo in the normal saxophone register, and his tone all contribute to this extremely powerful solo. It is on the wild side if you are new to jazz, but there is a strong sense of rhythm and simplicity, something most contemporary jazz musicians I have found lack. Instead of playing every chord under the sun to "support Mike Brecker and lead him on", Pat Metheny just strums the same three chord pattern with the same rhythm as does Charlie Haden and they just let Mike Brecker fly free - of course with Jack Dejohnette lending constant rhythmic support. A drum solo follows the tenor sax solo, then a bass solo that feeds into a slower tempo than the opening tempo of this lengthy track. Pat Metheny takes over and plays a simple yet poweful solo that shows that he is very well capable of expressing himself just as well as Mike Brecker. No lame jazz licks, just pure creativity. The song just fades out leaving the lasting impression of the environment, landscape, and culture that inspired the composition. A true masterpiece. Following this tour de force are a few staight ahead boppish tracks that are fine, but to me, they are no where near as powerful as the opening twenty minute magnum opus. That is not a bad thing, they just get less playing time because of the opening track. Dewey Redman takes over the sax chair for these tunes. On the second disc, Mike Brecker and Dewey Redman share some solos together - the compositions are upbeat and have a content feeling, something far different than "Two Folk Songs", which has an upbeat, yet mournfull and sad feeling. But the composition "Everyday I Thank You" is another tour de force. This again features Mike Brecker in a truly masterful solo, equal to the opener of the entire album. The tune is gorgeous. It is in essence a rock ballad that goes into a steady beat and time feel after a rubato introduction. The quality of Mike Brecker's solo is matched again by the perfect support of the rhythm section. Pat Metheny comps in a rythmic yet un-encroching way. The album closes with a peaceful Pat Metheny solo guitar composition. A perfect close to a masterful album. Mike Brecker shines, but nevertheless, Pat Metheny plays equally as brilliant as do the rest of the musicians. This album is perfect in my eyes and worth the money for just the three tunes I mentioned, the twenty minute "Two Folk Songs", the thirteen minute "Everyday I Thank You", and the three minute solo guitar tune "Goin' Ahead". A perfect album to listen to when driving for long distances, and a great album that evokes powerful thoughts. Give it a try. I did and I love it.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars do not squander!, November 11, 2002

By 

B. J Lam "[e-mail]" (littleton, colorado United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 80-81 (Comp) (Audio CD)

The heading for this review regards your time, your money and Metheny's approach -- only five years into his solo recording career he got right down to business of fulfilling his dream to both pay tribute to and play with Ornette Coleman. The former is done both on this cd and on (the 1984 recording) Rejoicing, the latter on (the 1986 recording) Song X. But, possibly, the most moving music of the three is achieved here. Here he has compiled former Ornette band mates Dewey Redman (tnr sx) and Charlie Haden (bs) with sympathetic musicians Jack DeJohnette (drms) and Michael Brecker(tnr sx, too). The results are impressive. From the Coleman authored "Turnaround" and the "open" jazz of "Open," to the tightly arranged and simply stunning "Every Day" (my friend calls it an "orgasmic" song as the tension builds and builds to its release) and the solo acoustic of "Goin' Ahead" which is better than anything on New Chautauqua (I'm not knocking that cd, but this song is superior in all respects to the music thereon). Pat Meth did not squander this opportunity and, by clicking "buy it," you won't squander yours either.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A FANTASTIC ONE-SHOT CLASSIC, September 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: 80/81 (Audio CD)

This 2-CD set (don't get the single CD; it leaves off a few cuts) was a real eye-opener when it came out in album form almost 20 years ago. I hadn't listened to Pat Metheny previously but I became an instant fan the moment I heard the opening "FOLK SONGS I & II." Much of the credit has to go to the support Pat gets from this stellar lineup. By turns furious and gentle, there's a lot to like here and it's unfortunate these guys didn't get together again but you can listen to this over and over. By the way, I made the mistake of buying the single CD when it first came out and didn't realize they left off a few tracks so beware. Otherwise, buy the 2CD set. Either way, you won't be disappointed by the music!