Pat Metheny: Get to know the legendary guitarist
Pat is one of the only artists to have been nominated in 13 different Grammy categories...
Last updated 12th Aug 2021
Who is Pat Metheny?
Pat Metheny is a widely-lauded guitarist who burst onto the international scene in 1974, his unbounded musical range is nearly without peer.
Over the years, he has performed with artists as diverse as Steve Reich to Ornette Coleman to Herbie Hancock to Jim Hall to Milton Nascimento to David Bowie while seamlessly projecting his own identity regardless of setting.
Pat Metheny - early life
Pat Metheny was born in Kansas City, in the US, on 12 August 1954.
Although Pat is known for his legendary guitar skills, he originally started his musical life as a trumpet player, making the switch to the guitar aged 12.
Pat was soon on the professional circuit, working with the finest musicians in Kansas City at just the age of 15.
Impressively, it was just his performance skills that were apparent - his intellect and educational skills also shone through. Pat became the youngest ever teacher at the University of Miami - aged just 18 - before going onto teach at the prestigious Berklee College of music a year later.
Jazz FM Awards and other accolades
The guitarist was also awarded 'PRS For Music Gold Award' at the 2018 Jazz FM Awards.
He has also picked up 37 Grammy Award nominations over his career, with 20 wins, across four consecutive decades.
Pat is the only artist to be awarded Grammy's in 13 different categories including Best Rock Instrumental, Best Contemporary Jazz Recording, Best Jazz Instrumental Solo, and Best Instrumental Composition, among others. Remarkably, he has won in 10 of them...
Pat Metheny discography
Pat Metheny has released 45 recordings across his career to date, achieving over 20 million sales across the world.
In March 2021, Pat released Road to the Sun, which marked his new relationship with BMG's Modern Recordings imprint.
There is a new live project on the horizon- SIDE-EYE NYC - (V1.IV) - which coincides with his upcoming tour to the UK. SIDE-EYE NYC - (V1.IV) is due for release on the 10th of September 2021 via Modern Recordings/BMG.
Pat Metheny tour dates
Pat Metheny has an extensive worldwide tour planned in 2022.
Reflecting on the tour, Pat has said "I was the beneficiary of so many older musicians giving me a platform to develop my thing through the prism of their experience and music. I hear regularly from new players who have professed an influence from my records and I often invite them up to my house to play. Very often, it is really natural and organic to the music to play with them, they have literally grown up with it. I find myself inspired by how they deal with the musical challenges that come with the territory of some of those older tunes, and at the same time I find myself intrigued with the possibilities of what might be possible in writing new music just for them"
At the moment, he is due to play in London's Eventim Apollo on Sunday 12 June 2022, alongside his new Side-Eye project. You can find out more about the tour here.