Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
With No Doubt His Best Trio Work, September 30, 2003
This album is a long jam of about half-and-half jazz standards and Metheny compositions. Great performance - great musicians. The sound gives you a feeling of being right there as it happens. It's recorded in only one day, and I know...that fact does not sound promising, but you must remember: These musicians are leading figures in modern jazz for a reason and they can definitely pull it off - This is perfect proof! Metheny, Holland and Haynes are extremely alert, you can definitely tell that this is something they've been doing their entire lives.
The standards "Solar," "All The Things You Are," and Metheny's "Three Flights Up" are very up-tempo, but still beautifully laid back in performance - no rushing or overplaying. "Three Flights Up" is played in over 300 bpm but the melody on guitar is very relaxed and doubled with a vibraphone-like sound (possibly an instant effect,) very beautiful. "H&H" is an entertaining piece (nice bass solo.) As far as I'm concerned, this isn't a typical Metheny composition - the solos are played over a blues form, while the theme itself is played over an usual (sort of progressive) form - the simple idea of the ending is great! There are a couple of nice ballads, too. "Never Too Far Away" is a definite highlight. The authentic sounds of the whole recording will give you a warm chill. I wish more of my jazz albums would sound like this.
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Jazz guitar - unsynthesized., February 8, 2001
The best thing about this recording is that the spontaneity of the situation comes through. With some days off, Metheny decided to jam with Haynes and Holland and record the results as though it was a live gig. And that's what it sounds like - a jam session. No studio treatments, no elaborate arrangments, just a guitar, bass, (a lot of) drums, and only one day in which to record them. Roy Haynes hyperactive drums kick things off as the trio runs through the Miles Davis classic "Solar". Throw in some Ornette Coleman (a big Metheny influence), some standards from the 1930s, and five well-written Metheny originals and you've got a real jazz album that stands up with the classics. There is some Synclavier on the last track, "Three Flights Up", but it's only used for background sounds and doesn't get in the way. An excellent recording.
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13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Metheny,Holland,Haynes: It doesnt' get any better, September 9, 1999
There is so much about this recording that is excellent I don't even know where to begin. One day, 8 hours and the alblum was cut. The first track took 15 minutes from the start of the session to lay down on tape. This was the first time these three had ever recorded together!!! People if you are a fan of either Pat Metheny, Dave Holland, and/or Roy Haynes than you've got to hear this alblum. Even if you've never heard of them and just love good pure jazz, this is gold. As for Pat Metheny, this alblum is by far one of the best projects he has put out. This is Metheny playing hard core jazz guitar, yet at the same time not abandoning the trademark sound and style that he's famous for. If you are a Pat Metheny fan and have never heard this alblum, then you haven't heard a large part of what makes Metheny the player/composer he is. I do believe this is perhaps the best recording I own of Metheny's and I own most of what he's put out. Roy Haynes is by far my favorite jazz drummer to listen to as well as drool over his playing. Incredible doesn't even do his playing justice, he is the authority of this trio. Listen to this cd and you'll hear a drummer take center stage, matching Metheny's solo's like he were a second guitar. Even Metheny himself refers to Roy Haynes as the father of modern day jazz drumming. To me, Roy Haynes playing the drums is like poetry in motion, nothing smoother nor finer around. He's an extremely busy player yet somehow not only does he make it work, he makes it into an artform for up and coming drummers to follow. This alblum is worth every penny you spend, I guarantee at the very least you'll walk away having heard a work of art. It simply doesn't get any better than this.
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by Pat Metheny 
