Quartet (Pat Metheny album)

Quartet (1996) is the eighth studio album by the Pat Metheny Group. The album features Pat Metheny on guitar, Lyle Mays on keyboards, Steve Rodby on bass, and Paul Wertico on drums. The approach for the album was to not write lengthy compositions before recording but instead use merely sketches and rely mostly on improvisation in a setting with just acoustic instruments, a departure from the usual thoroughly orchestrated sound using synthesizers and sequencing the Group is usually known for. The result is experimental, moody, and loose, even dark in some moments. The instrumentation relies mostly on acoustic instruments including various keyboard instruments such as the spinet piano, Harmonium, Fender Rhodes, autoharp and various guitars including the 42-string Pikasso guitar. The Roland GR-300 guitar synthesizer makes appearances on "Oceania" and "Language of Time".

ReleasedNovember 1996

RecordedMay 1996

StudioRight Track, New York City

GenreJazz, jazz fusion

Quick facts Studio album by Pat Metheny Group, Released ...

Quartet
Studio album by Pat Metheny Group
Released	November 1996
Recorded	May 1996
Studio	Right Track, New York City
Genre	Jazz, jazz fusion
Length	66:01
Label	Geffen
Producer	Pat Metheny
Pat Metheny chronology
We Live Here (1995) Quartet (1996) Beyond the Missouri Sky (Short Stories) (1997)

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More information Review scores, Source ...

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings	[2]

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With the exception of "When We Were Free" on the Group's final Songbook Tour, the Group itself never played these songs live. "When We Were Free" however has been played in various other trios and groups centered around Metheny including a version recorded on Day Trip. Michael Brecker recorded versions of "As I Am" (on Time Is of the Essence), "Seven Days" and "Sometimes I See" (on Nearness of You: The Ballad Book).