Pat Metheny
Watercolors

The very young Pat informs the maestro Gary Burton that by the end of the year, he would leave the band to focus on his own project. It's 1977 and along with Lyle Mays on keyboards (it will be the first of many collaborations), Ebe Weber on bass (he's just a placeholder until Egan joins) and Dan Gottlieb on drums, Pat will bring to life Watercolors, his second solo album. The problem is that the producer, Manfred Eicher, heavily pushes for a spatial and deep cut to the work, forcing a less personal realization. Pat does not like this work and points out an absence of spirit in it.

Indeed, the tracks "Icefire" with a folk arpeggio, and "Oasis," full of reverberations and distant choirs, are a bit too languid and mystical, leaving the listener waiting for a sonic push that unfortunately never arrives. Too long, without body, and at times boring. However, the opening track "Watercolors" is very enjoyable, with its melodic theme floating among rhythm changes for a decent duration of 6 plus minutes. Truly fascinating and delightful is "Lakes," where Pat's grit and the synergy with Lyle do not go unnoticed. Rich in chords, the young keyboardist's solos and Weber's bass connections deserve special mention. Soft and pleasant is also "River Quay." Following in "Suite" (first part) is a curious dialogue between Pat and Dan Gottlieb, imbued with free-jazz, and the interplay works brilliantly. The second part of the suite is a ballad a bit too mystical, but aptly evokes Mediterranean landscapes. The folk arpeggio adds depth to the melody, but it’s nothing overwhelming. "Sea Song" truly has a spatial and very soft sound, with good exchanges between Pat and Lyle. The subdued siren-like choirs accentuate the melody, but the piece bores. It's too long, dispersive.

A somewhat weak work from a compositional standpoint, a step back compared to "Bright Size Life." Avoidable. Pat will still need to outline the contours of his PMG, with which only a few months later he will produce a new interesting musical project: the white album named "Pat Metheny Group," which will be released in 1978.