The Pat Metheny Group Travels Japanese Import SHM-2SACD

The Pat Metheny Group's first live album was released in 1983, and won the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Fusion Performance. Consisting of live material recorded in July, October and November 1982 in Philadelphia, Dallas, Sacramento, Hartford and Nacogdoches (Texas), the album's Group included Pat Metheny, Lyle Mays, Steve Rodby, Dan Gottlieb and guest Nana Vasconcelos.

SHM-SACD (Super High Material SACD) is the ultimate Super Audio CD that utilizes the materials and technologies that were developed for the SHM-CD to further enhance the audio-resolution. These discs are made with polycarbonate developed for the screen of the liquid crystal display. As it has a higher transparency, players can read the signal more faithfully. Also, it excels in fluidity, which enables you to cast a more accurate pit. What works wonders for a low resolution format such as CD should offer even greater sonic improvements in a real high resolution format such as SACD.

Percussionist Naná Vasconcelos is still listed as a 'special guest,' but ever since Wichita Falls, he had not only been a part of the group, he was the transforming element in the Metheny 'sound,' adding his various shakers, effects and ethereal vocals. Sidekick Lyle Mays gets deeper into floating, glistening synthesizer textures, but he is still able to take formidable and touching solos on acoustic grand piano. Still experimenting with new hardware, Metheny's work on a detuned guitar synthesizer gives the live 'As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls' an exotic Balinese-like sound. Other highlights are the hard Brazilian grooves on 'Straight On Red' and 'Song for Bilbao,' as well as the trademark Metheny glide of 'Are You Going With Me?' - and the brief title track has a winning, guileless simplicity much like that of Keith Jarrett in a prayerful mood. If you liked the popular Offramp, you'll fall for Travels, too...