reCAP :: Pat Metheny Unity Group :: 2014.11.19
Metheny began his show with a solo on his Pikasso guitar – a four necked, 42 stringed guitar, custom made for Metheny. The Capitol Theater was silenced, and it felt as if the audience was holding their breath, to savor each note from Metheny.
The rest of The Unity Group (Chris Potter - Saxophone, Ben Williams - Bass Guitar, Antonio Sanchez - Drums) joined on stage to play a few older tracks from 80/81 (“The Bat” and “Two Folk Songs,”), and the 1982 album with Lyle Mays, Offramp (“James”). He also played “Antonia” from 1993 album, Secret Story.
Metheny then said a few words, and read us the set list of what he had just played. He then told the story of The Unity Band, the same band since 2012, and at the end of their last tour, they decided to keep going. The Pat Metheny Unity Group has released a new album called Kin ←→.
Keyboardist Giulio Carmassi joined the stage to complete The Unity Group’s presence at The Cap. The Orchestrion was also revealed on the stage. We, now sufficiently up to speed with what we were about to witness, settled into the second part of the evening.
The Orchestrion, Metheny’s collection of mechanical musical instruments was not the backdrop, but not the main player either. The Orchestrion intertwined with the human elements of the band. Potter on tenor, alto and soprano sax, bass clarinet, flute and guitar and (I’m sure a few other instruments I’ve forgotten) is a master. At times it sounded like the music was written for Potter to create the same tones, in the same timing as Metheny would with his guitar. That allowed Metheny to create a new layering effect of his own, on top of the sax line.
Metheny solo’ed with every player – “Bright Size Life,” with bassist Williams, “Dreams of the Return,” with Guilio on keyboards and vocals and with Sanchez on “Go (Get It).” The encore was Metheny’s floaty “Are You Going With Me?” a clear crowd exciter. The audience floated into the crisp night, completely satiated at close to 3 hours of Metheny and The Unity Group’s genius.