Tunes on Tuesday: Always and Forever

Why this tune?

Tunes on Tuesday celebrates the birthday of the great
guitarist and composer Pat Metheny with one of
his lovely ballads. He recorded this one on his 1992 album “Secret Story“
in a lush orchestral arrangement.

I had planned to play this song this week in any case,
following a chat with another musician at a jam session after he called another Metheny tune “Bright Size Life.” He mentioned this tune as another Metheny favorite,
and I have to agree.

Metheny’s songs have beautiful melodies and interesting harmonies that don’t
always fit “traditional” jazz patterns. In my experience, I haven’t heard many Pat Metheny 
tunes at jam sessions, even though some are part of 
the “canon” of jazz standards (i.e. in the Real Book). I suspect that’s in part because they are “harder” to
play and solo on than other songs closer to the
be-bop and American songbook traditions.

I’ll add this one to my list for future gigs, and will
look for other songs from the Metheny oeuvre
to work on.

Tunes On Tuesday Reel

Check it out!

Pat Metheny