Introduction
One Quiet Night is a solo guitar album released by American Grammy Award-winning guitar player and author Pat Metheny in 2003. As the twelfth studio album of Pat Metheny Group, it is a break of sorts from Metheny's more energetic jazz fusion works. One Quiet Night is characterized by its intimate, serene noise and creative use of an unique baritone guitar with transformed Nashville tuning. With a mix of both original compositions and covers, the album showcases Metheny's exceptional range and skill as a guitar player.
Background and Recording
The origin of One Quiet Night go back to 2001 when Metheny, amazed by the Nashville-tuned guitar, decided to experiment with this type of baritone guitar. Nashville tuning includes changing the basic guitar's lower strings with greater gauge strings, efficiently developing a "gentle" guitar noise. Searching for new musical possibilities, Metheny made some changes to standard Nashville tuning by reducing the pitch of the B string to match that of the E string and raising the low E string one entire action.
In November 2001, Metheny recorded the album in a single evening in his New York City house studio. Regardless of being recorded at a single session, Pat took another year tweaking and revisiting the pieces before it lastly got released in 2003. He utilized an unusual recording set-up that incorporated microphones placed both inside and outside the guitar, capturing the ambiance of the room and a distinct acoustic noise.
Track Listing and Compositions
One Quiet Night is a collection of twelve solo guitar tracks lasting for a little over an hour. The album includes initial compositions from Metheny, sprinkled with his analyses of noteworthy works by various songwriters such as Armando Trovajoli, Norah Jones, Gerry & The Pacemakers, and Keith Jarrett.
The album gets its name from Metheny's intimate composition "One Quiet Night", an expressive expedition of the possibilities of the solo guitar. Pat continues his journey with tracks like "Song for the Boys", a melodic and contemplative piece, and "Don't Know Why", a perfectly crafted performance of Norah Jones's hit that showcases Metheny's adaptation of a diverse series of guitar techniques.
Other standout cuts in the album include "Ferry Cross the Mersey", a reimagining of the renowned song in Metheny's signature style, and "Last Train Home", a stripped-down adjustment of his own traditional tune, initially part of the album "Still Life (Talking)".
Important Reception and Legacy
Upon its release, One Quiet Night was met with favorable critical reviews, earning Pat Metheny a Grammy for Best New Age Album in 2004. The album is admired for its raw and organic noise, which has been rarely heard in Metheny's polished studio work. Critics applauded Metheny's ingenious use of the customized baritone guitar, his ability to fuse standard folk, blues, and jazz elements, and his ability to showcase exceptional musicianship in a stripped-down setting.
Throughout the years, One Quiet Night has become a cherished album amongst fans of Pat Metheny and casual music listeners alike. It is frequently applauded as a landmark recording in terms of Metheny's imaginative prowess and flexibility, providing a reflective and reflective side of the well-known artist that greatly resonates with many listeners.
In conclusion, One Quiet Night is an unique and inspired masterpiece from among the leading figures in modern jazz guitar. Through his masterful playing and distinct vision, Pat Metheny has actually produced an album that stands not only as an essential listen for fans of the artist but likewise as an important and ageless entry into the world of solo guitar music.
Artist: Pat Metheny
Pat Metheny: American jazz guitarist, composer & bandleader. Born in 1954, known for his innovative approach & virtuosic technique. Explore his iconic quotes & 20-time Grammy-winning biography.
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