Pat Metheny – 80/81 (1980) Review | Two Albums Plus Two Tenors Equals “Meh”
Kronomyth 6: Oh, you 80/81 too.
Experience dictates that a double album of new material marks a peak of artistic creativity. In the case of 80/81, sperience has some splaining to do. It’s the first Pat Metheny album that failed to connect with me as a listener. Fortunately for you, I appear to be alone in my confusion. Critics consider it one of his most serious works and Metheny himself has described the experience as “magical.” I guess one man’s magic is another man’s hocus pocus. I’m naturally confounded by free jazz, at least most of the time. And, most of the time, 80/81 sounds like Metheny and his all-star band chasing its own tail. Dewey Redman and Charlie Haden carry a pedigree from the Ornette Coleman school of jazz, Mike Brecker is a top ten tenor, Jack DeJohnette is a walking drum clinic and Metheny is the obvious hair to Jim Hall. Why so much talent doesn’t add up to more than 80/81 is beyond me. If pressed, I would admit that Pretty Scattered swings, The Bat nearly soars and Every Day (I Thank You) is lovely. The pairing of Metheny with the tenor saxophone and a free jazz rhythm section leaves me with mental indigestion, however. Whether playing the acoustic or electric, Metheny’s unique style doesn’t mesh well with the other players. Again, this is just my reaction. Had this been pared down to a single album with Two Folk Songs, Turnaround and 80/81 left off, I’d likely have a favorable opinion of the whole experiment. Maybe Metheny bit off more than he could chew up this time, or maybe I just have terrible taste. (Go on, you say.) I will allow that the solo guitar piece at the end, Goin’ Ahead, serves as a nice digestif. 80/81 does work very well some of the time, but mostly it’s just work for the listener.
The Product
A. Two Folk Songs
A1. 1st (Pat Metheny) (13:17)
A2. 2nd (Charlie Haden) (7:31)
B1. 80/81 (Pat Metheny) (7:28)
B2. The Bat (Pat Metheny) (5:68)
B3. Turnaround (Ornette Coleman) (7:05)
C1. Open (Pat Metheny/Jack DeJohnette/Dewey Redman/Charlie Haden/Michael Brecker) (14:26)
C2. Pretty Scattered (Pat Metheny) (6:56)
D1. Every Day (I Thank You) (Pat Metheny) (13:16)
D2. Goin’ Ahead (Pat Metheny) (3:56)
The Players
Pat Metheny (guitar), Mike Brecker (tenor saxophone), Jack DeJohnette (drums), Charlie Haden (bass), Dewey Redman (tenor saxophone). Produced by Manfred Eicher; engineered by Jan Erik Kongshaug.
The Pictures
Photos by Dag Alveng and Rainer Drechsler. Design by Barbara Wojirsch.
The Plastic
Released on 2LP and cassette in 1980 in the US and Germany (ECM, ECM-1180/1/ECM 2E5 1180) and Japan (ECM, PA-6123/4) with gatefold cover. Reached #4 on the US Jazz charts.
- Re-issued on compact disc in 1984 in Germany (ECM, 815 579-2).
- Re-issued on 2CD in the US (ECM, ECM 1180/81) [made in West Germany].
- Re-issued on super high material compact disc on September 3, 2008 in Japan (ECM, UCCE-9134).
