PAT METHENY – Bright Size Life (1976 ECM)

The eight tracks that make up Pat Metheny’s debut album Bright Size Life are exactly what I was looking for.  They hit the spot.

One Saturday afternoon in the summer I was enjoying instrumental jazz on the front porch.  I wanted more, and was recommended Bright Size Life by jazz enthusiast Robert Lawson.  The presence of the legendary Jaco Pastorius on fretless bass made me more intrigued.

From the very start of the title track, we’re treated to smooth, rich guitar tones and melodies.  Drift back, but not too far, because the lyrical basswork of Jaco deserves your full attention.  From harmonics to chord bending, his basswork is thick with technique.  Little waterfalls of notes splashing here and there.  Though sometimes fast and unpredictable, it always settles back into the groove of the song.  Meanwhile, Bob Moses on drums paints a picture with cymbals.

Bright Size Life is warm but sparse, featuring a basic jazz trio with Metheny playing both six and twelve string guitars.  His fingers dance a dance of tone and texture.  The melodies he plucks are challenging with unexpected notes and runs dotting the landscape.  The drums are often light and the cymbals bright.  Jaco’s bass is usually telling its own story.

You can hear the influence on instrumentalists since.  The guitar is the main focus, and it is always delivering interesting melodies to and fro, rarely repeating but always exploring.  It’s a clean, clear sound with richness and natural depth.  On some tracks, Metheny plays it slow and relaxed, on others like “Missouri Uncompromised”, it’s a race with Pastorius and Moses neck-and-neck.  Yes even so, an unexpected melody darts in here and there, keeping you on your toes.  Speed is employed effectively but not exhaustingly.

Top track:  “Midwestern Nights Dream”, a suitably noctunral beauty with smoke and atmosphere.  A Jaco bass melody dominates the second half to delicious effect.

5/5 stars