This is not the first time that Pat Metheny has entered into the world of folk/classical guitar; remember his collaboration with Anna Maria Jopek back in 2002? This one, of course, is quite different in that Metheny only plays on one piece, and it’s not even his own composition. Rather, it is an interpretation of one a piece by possibly the greatest living composer, Arvo Part, “Fur Alina”, which has Metheny playing his patented 42 string guitar. This piece is a gorgeous tapestry mixing misty moods, harplike strums and rich melodicism that demonstrates Metheny’s ability to richly interpret someone else’s pen, another aspect of this musical giant.
The other two pieces are made for acoustic guitar. One, “Four Paths of Light”, is a four part suite performed by Jason Vieaux that has moments of rich Andalusian romance, Mason Williams modernity and genteel technique. The Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, consisting of Matthew Greif, William Kanengiser, Scott Tennant along with 7 stringer John Dearman, takes on the 6 Part “Road to the Sun”, with Metheny joining in for the Iberian “Part 2” and slightly edgy “Part 5”. There is a folkish pulse to “Part 4” and gorgeous harplike droplets on “Part 3” with the entire Opus filled with grace and beauty. Another color of Pat Metheny’s richly prismatic palate.