Pat Metheny - Bright Size Life

Larger ensembles may have provided Pat Metheny with his most visible successes, but he's repeatedly fired up his most fluid and personal playing in leaner trio settings, starting with this, his 1976 debut as a leader. Bob Moses brings both delicacy and effortless dynamics to his drumming, but it's the late Jaco Pastorius's lyrical electric bass that clinches the guitarist's coming-out party: with Metheny already displaying the liquid tone and exquisite touch that define his sound, old friend Pastorius radiates a sympathetic lyricism and unerring sense of swing. Metheny would match, but not transcend, this level of interplay in justly celebrated troikas with Charlie Haden and Billy Higgins (on Rejoicing) and Dave Holland and Roy Haynes (on Question and Answer). --Sam Sutherland. Amazon.com essential recording

Buy This Album!

This is hands down Metheny's best (and most edgy) album. I would even rank in the top 5 albums I have ever heard. I have listened to the album at least 1000 times and it does not get old. Jaco's bass playing is also among his finest, especially the solo on the track "Bright Size Life." I would especially recommend this album to people who like rock or alternative music and want to get onto jazz. December 22, 2008

concentrate on Bob Moses

I agree with all of the positive reviews for this music. As a drummer I am fascinated by the playing of Bob Moses. Bright Size Life was one of my first exposures to jazz music. It's 10 years later, all of the jazz genres have been taken into account, and this drumming still represents a peak of beauty to me. Missouri uncompromised and the concluding drum solo on the Ornette tune take the cake. Bob Moses!!! December 20, 2008

Perhaps Jaco's Best Work

I'm not a big Pat Metheny fan. It's not that I don't appreciate his genius; I just never got around to listening to him very much (much to my dismay). In truth, I got this album because of Jaco. At first, I thought the whole work was a little too low-key and esoteric, but as I kept listening, I began thinking that this may be Jaco's finest. His fretless sound is indeed at its best, whether he's playing a slower melody line as in "Sirabhorn," or a funkier riff as on my favorite cut of the whole album, "Omaha Celebration." I think what surprises me most is how laid back Jaco is, and how much I like that he is laid back. Don't get me wrong -- I love the "in your face" Jaco. It's just that when it comes to all-around musicianship, this work is just so much more meaningful and moving than his self-titled solo album (which is perhaps one of the most important jazz albums ever made)or "Heavy Weather." Of course, this is all subjective. The only thing I can say for sure is that "Bright Size Life" is one more piece of evidence proving that 1976 was Jaco's finest year. MBK February 5, 2008

A watershed recording

A watershed recording, and the first as a leader by Metheny. And the amazing thing is that some of these tunes were actually exercises that Metheny wrote for his Berklee jazz guitar students, after he segued from student to instructor. March 16, 2007

A Classic

While I'm a long-time jazz fan and sometimes performer, I've only lately come to appreciate Mr. Metheny's playing. This is a must-have in the library, not only for the guitar work, but Bob Moses and Jaco are on fire as well. March 14, 2007

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