Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays • As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls

 

Review by Stephen Cook
This joint solo effort by Metheny and regular pianist and collaborator Lyle Mays is an impressive outing. In the process of stretching out away from the confines of the quartet setting of prior albums, Metheny and Mays presage the sleeker and more ethereal sound of the band's Geffen years on portions of the title track. And while this side-long number has some dreamy moments, it also bogs down in a trite climax or two; one gets the sense of a jazz fusion and prog rock marriage Metheny luckily never fully explored. Minor flaws, really, since the piece holds together in spite of the worrisome lapses of taste. The balance of the album is just fine, with the highlight being the Bill Evans remembrance, "September Fifteenth" (the date of Evan's passing, which occurred while the album was being recorded). Metheny and Mays appropriately opt for a serene and slightly elegiac piano and acoustic guitar duet. The set is balanced out by the fleet Americana of "Ozark" and the streamlined swinger "It's for You." Topped off by integral and tasteful percussion by future band regular Nana Vasconcelos, this 1981 Metheny date is certainly a worthwhile disc for fans to seek out, while not being essential.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/as-falls-wichita-so-falls-wichita-falls-mw0000192233

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Reseña de Stephen Cook
Este trabajo conjunto en solitario de Metheny y su pianista y colaborador habitual Lyle Mays es impresionante. En el proceso de alejarse de los confines del cuarteto de álbumes anteriores, Metheny y Mays presagian el sonido más elegante y etéreo de los años Geffen de la banda en partes de la canción que da título al disco. Y aunque este número de larga duración tiene algunos momentos de ensueño, también se empantana en un clímax trillado o dos; uno tiene la sensación de una fusión de jazz y prog rock que Metheny afortunadamente nunca exploró del todo. En realidad, se trata de defectos menores, ya que la pieza se mantiene unida a pesar de los preocupantes fallos de gusto. El equilibrio del álbum está muy bien, con el punto culminante del recuerdo a Bill Evans, «September Fifteenth» (la fecha del fallecimiento de Evan, que ocurrió mientras se grababa el álbum). Metheny y Mays optan apropiadamente por un dúo de piano y guitarra acústica sereno y ligeramente elegíaco. El conjunto se equilibra con la Americana de «Ozark» y el swinger «It's for You». Rematado por la percusión integral y de buen gusto de Nana Vasconcelos, futura habitual de la banda, esta fecha de Metheny de 1981 es sin duda un disco que merece la pena que los fans busquen, aunque no sea esencial.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/as-falls-wichita-so-falls-wichita-falls-mw0000192233


 

www.patmetheny.com ...
lylemays.com ...


Tracks:
1 - As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls - 20:42
2 - Ozark - 4:00
3 - September Fifteenth (Dedicated To Bill Evans) - 7:42
4 - "It's For You" - 8:17
5 - Estupenda Graça - 2:41

Credits:
    Berimbau, Percussion, Drums, Vocals – Nana Vasconcelos*
    Composed By – Lyle Mays, Pat Metheny
    Design – Barbara Wojirsch
    Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar [6-String], 12-String Acoustic Guitar, Bass – Pat Metheny
    Engineer – Jan Erik Kongshaug
    Photography By [Cover] – Klaus Frahm
    Photography By [Liner] – Rob Van Petten
    Piano, Synthesizer, Organ, Autoharp – Lyle Mays
    Producer – Manfred Eicher

Recorded September 1980 Talent Studio, Oslo

Label:    ECM Records – 821 416-2, ECM Records – 821 416-2 Y
Country:    Germany
Released:    1984
Genre:    Electronic, Jazz, Latin
Style:    Leftfield, Smooth Jazz, Contemporary Jazz, Fusion, Ambient, Post Bop
https://www.discogs.com/es/release/8931524-Pat-Metheny-Lyle-Mays-As-Falls-Wichita-So-Falls-Wichita-Falls

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