Pat Metheny
Question and Answer
Nonesuch Records
By George W. Harris

Why this beaut has been out of print for so long is beyond me. It was recorded way back in 1989 when Metheny was still leading his original and famous group with Lyle Mays. During this period, he was showing the jazz world that he had the chops and vision to become one of the “in” crowd, as up until 1985’s “Song X” with Ornette Coleman, he was always considered a bit of an outsider. During this period, he put out a slew of visionary discs like “Letter From Home” and “Still Life” that explored Brazilian rhythms. Still touring with his regular band, Metheny took a week off and got into a studio with drummer Roy Haynes and bassist Dave Holland for an unbelievable jam session, of which this disc is the result. Wow!

These three guys play like they’ve shared the stage together for decades. Their interplay on burners like Miles Davis’ “Solar” and Ornette Coleman’s “Law Years” is just bewildering. Haynes, then just a babe in his 60s almost steals the show with his workshop display of support, accents, variety and drive. He and Holland go toe-to-toe on “H & H”, while Holland himself is luscious on “Old Folks.” And needless to say, Metheny is on his game on this gig, as he shows all throughout the disc, but particularly on the pastoral “Three Flights Up.” The band sparkles as a unit on “All The Things You Are” and the gorgeous title track. Any chance for a reunion tour? This is jazz at its absolute zenith.