Product Details

• Actors: Pat Metheny, Lyle Mays, Steve Rodby
• Format: Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD, Live, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Eagle Rock Ent
• DVD Release Date: November 18, 2003
• Run Time: 135 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0000E2W0U
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #19,573 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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  #3 in	Movies & TV > Music Video & Concerts > Artists > Metheny, Pat
  #48 in	Movies & TV > Special Interests > Dance > Jazz
  #91 in	Movies & TV > Music Video & Concerts > Jazz

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

There's nary a flaw to be found in this lengthy (135 minutes) concert performance by guitarist Pat Metheny and his sextet, recorded in Tokyo in 2002. The musicianship is superb, the material (much of it drawn from the Metheny Group album of the same name) strong, the sound and visuals impeccable, the audience respectful... and therein lies the problem, such as it is. The whole effect is a bit sterile; there's little of the communication between listeners and players that can ignite jazz or rock shows in more intimate, less formal settings. Co-founders Metheny and keyboardist Lyle Mays, longtime bassist/co-producer Steve Rodby, and the three more recent members (multi-instrumentalists Richard Bona and Cuong Vu and drummer Antonio Sanchez) are all brilliant, versatile players. And it's nice to hear their interpretations of Jobim's "How Insensitive" and Metheny's lovely title tune from the film A Map of the World. But unless you get off on seeing a lot of close-ups of Metheny's facial contortions, listening to the PMG's recordings should suffice. --Sam Graham

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars don't let amazon's editorial put you off!, July 5, 2005

By	JESSE R. MC Glown "derosierjr" (Enterprise, AL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Shame on you guys at amazon...whoever wrote the editorial, anyway. The last sentence, in reference to Metheny's facial "contortions" discouraged me for a couple of months from buying this gem...then, after reading enough stellar "amateur" reviews to the contrary, I picked it up locally. WOW. The last jazz DVD to blow me away like this was Jean-Luc Ponty's "In Concert". The production and performance are phenomenal on "Speaking of Now Live"...Ironically, the previous Japan DVD "We Live Here" features far more close-ups of Pat Metheny's facial expressions than this new effort. I see a virtuoso guitarist in sheer rapture as his fingers blaze across the fretboard! Pat Metheny's band, regardless of incarnation, remains the eighth wonder of the modern world. This level of musicianship simply beggars description. If you're pondering whether or not you need "yet another Pat Metheny DVD", I heartily recommend this extravaganza. There is so much information coming at you for over two hours that you can't digest it all at once! WHERE does he find these players?? During the last number, the percussionist dons a bass and is suddenly flying all over it, simultaneously scat-singing! It's truly a shame that the average person gets no more exposure to this incredible music than as elevator music during the Weather Channel's "Local on the Eights" (!) Check this one out, folks.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars You gotta hear the last track...SWEET, December 9, 2006

By	Steven Sabin (Lake Tahoe, NV USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Several weeks ago, I posted a review of the PMG's "We Live Here" DVD and remarked that many of the songs performed live by the group on the DVD were almost indistinguishable from their studio performance on the CD of the same title. The selection of songs on the DVD also closely mirrored those on the CD. With that DVD, the only thing you are really getting is the chance to see the performers (not just hear them). You're also treated to some short interviews from the band's members.

In contrast, this DVD is a significant departure from the CD of the same title. Although 7 of the 9 songs from the CD are included here, we're also treated to 9 other songs. Overall it's a very different experience from the CD, and for that reason alone I can recommend this DVD. But there are plenty of other reasons as well (particularly the last track).

As with other PMG live concerts captured on DVD, the audio is outstanding. As on the "We Live Here" DVD, this concert was recorded live in Tokyo and appears to use essentially the same videography team. The videography was a bit better this time around, but frankly it's nothing special and it's the audio rather than video that makes these DVDs worthwhile. My primary interest in watching, rather than just listening, was to get a better feel for the performers themselves...what they look like, how they interact with each other and their instruments, and who plays what on various songs.

One thing I liked about this DVD compared to "We Live Here" was that it captured a feel for the performance better, abandoning the annoyingly abrupt segues and interspersed interviews, and just letting the music roll exactly as if you were at the concert. It felt more cohesive to me.

PMG newcomers Richard Bona and Cuong Vu are smokin' here and each brings his own influences that, while retaining that classic sound we've come to expect from the PMG, also evolve it into something that reflects their fingerprints as well.

Bona, originally from Cameroon, is a truly gifted performer and were there nothing else worthwhile on the video, I'd still recommend it just to see him. His fretless bass/vocal scat solo on "Song for Bilbao" is phenomenal and an otherwise docile crowd comes alive for it. Second only to Pat himself, Bona is featured numerous times on the video as a spotlight performer. This guy is a major talent. He plays too many instruments to mention here. Suffice to say, they all play a part in giving a full, intricate sound to the group.

As a trumpet player myself, I was particularly impressed with Vu. I remarked elsewhere that his playing reminds me of a minimalist painting - nothing wasted, everything counts. He reminds me of the proverbial "man of few words." When he speaks, you're advised to listen...he's got something to say, something worth hearing. His playing often has a mesmerizing, haunting quality to it - sometimes almost like the midnight keening of a bird over the lake. It's also a very mellow sound, not unlike a flugelhorn in some ways. And as with previous incarnations of the PMG where the players outside "core" members of the group played a multitude of instruments, Vu adds to the sonic texture of the group with things like the marimba, bells, vocals, and percussion.

Next, let's talk about the drums. As a Paul Wertico fan, I was not sure what to expect from Antonio Sanchez. But let's put it this way: I was not disappointed. He knows his way around a drum set. Big time. I enjoyed his playing every bit as much as Wertico. Actually seeing him play, rather than just listening, was interesting for me. He's an extremely serious guy. Wertico strikes me as more of a "free spirit" when he plays - having fun, a bit of a wild child. In contrast, with Sanchez you get the impression of somebody at work ... almost a Carl's Jr. "don't bother me - I'm drumming" vibe eminates from the guy. He takes his craft very, very seriously. And he's very, very good at it. We're treated to a tasty solo from him on the last track, "Song for Bilbao." It's the epitome of what I think of when I think "jazz."

As usual, Rodby is rock-solid on the bass. When you take the time to tune out the rest of the instruments and just listen to the bass lines, he's as much a driving force in grooving the band as Sanchez. On one of the songs, "Roots of Coincidence," Rodby uses the bow on the upright bass, rather than the usual plucking - giving a symphonic-like sound to an especially dramatic section of the piece.

Lyle Mays as usual is terrific and he solos quite a few times on this DVD. Never known as being a real animated fellow, he does manage to crack a smile or two and lets us know that behind the poker face there lives somebody who really does enjoy what he does for a living. I've spoke of his talents in my other reviews, and won't repeat them here. Bottom line: he and Metheny form one of the most prolific and talented teams in jazz today, and Mays is huge part of what makes the PMG special. He even picks up the guitar and joins Pat for one of the tracks ("On Her Way")...I didn't even know Mays played the instrument.

Striped-shirt Metheny himself spends quite a bit of time on acoustic instruments on this DVD, and I have remarked before on his ability to deliver a poetic, poignant experience on those instruments. He does so here on numerous occasions. We even get to see that really strange-looking custom-made 42-string guitar commissioned by Pat to Canadian instrument maker Linda Manzer - dubbed the Pikasso guitar - that sounds like a cross between a zither and a sitar. He uses it on "Are You Going With Me" and it sounds so different than the version on the album "Offramp" that I had trouble recognizing it was the same tune. The same can be said for many of the other 8 songs that appear on this DVD and aren't from the "Speaking of Now" CD. They appear on other PMG CDs, but you have to listen carefully because they are orchestrated and performed totally differently here. They feel like entirely new songs rather than old friends. One song in particular, "Roots of Coincidence" has moments that have a distinctly hard rock feel to them - something I've never heard from Metheny before.

All in all, I enjoyed the DVD. If you're a Metheny fan, this DVD is worth checking out. You'll get things here you won't get elsewhere, not even on the CD of the same title. If you're new to the PMG, it's worth noting that the selections on this DVD were a bit more eclectic than what you'll find on most of the group's CDs, so you might want to listen to some of their other CDs before rendering an overall verdict on their music. I recommend "Still Life Talking." It's their all-time best seller and I've never met anyone who doesn't like it.

In closing, my pick of the litter for the DVD was the last track: "Song for Bilbao." It captures the signature PMG sound, putting them squarely in that sweet spot where they groove the best. The tune showcases the whole band, including a Gillespie-like solo from Vu, an amazing bass/vocal scat from Bona that I already mentioned above, and a chance for Sanchez to really show us his chops. I must have played that track 10 times in a row and still couldn't get enough of it. Indeed, that one alone was worth the price of admission as far as I'm concerned. If for no other reason, get the DVD so you can experience that tune.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars PMG If you haven't heard you better ask somebody., November 27, 2005

By	F. Jacob (CT) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am a latecomer to the PMG following and I'm wondering why I never noticed them before. I now tell everyone about this group and I'm surprised how many people have no clue who I'm talking about. I bought the "As it is" album and was blown away. I never heard a group with such passion and spirit. It strikes directly deeply into the soul and gets at the emotions (yes I do blare it, I don't care if onlookers think I'm a weirdo) Every note and every beat it perfect and intentional. I will honestly tell you that you will only fully appreciate this music if you are really an avid listener or musician. Try playin this stuff on your instrument and you'll realize how crazy intricate the music is....listen to the song again and there are always minute new details you'll pick up on and say wow! You just can't get sick of it. There's always a new angle to it.

I had to buy the DVD and was floored! This DVD sits right in my 6-disc DVD changer (#6) and I never take it out. Everyone knows it's a permanent fixture there. From time to time I have to watch it again, over and over. It totally captivates me. It's a great production in terms of visual quality, length and sound quality. I do agree that the audience seems almost artificial but who cares! I have previewed other PMG materials; call me ignorant, but I think this is his best stuff. The creativity of the percusionist and his vocals (acting like a seperate instrument), the trumpet player that can do things I never heard. The bassist is 100% PERFECT. I was looking for at least 1 note he may have screwed up: NOTHING perfect! Uncanny! The drummer? Whoa! This dude is beserk! One of the best drummers I have ever heard and he has a kit that's expansive. Lyle Mays is sheer genius. People if you want to learn what good music really is, do yourself a favor and get this DVD. It's not enough just to hear the music. When you see it live and see how much these guys are into their music, it takes you away. A must buy, worth every penny, you won't regret it!