As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls

Amazon.com essential recording
Guitarist Pat Metheny and his longtime keyboard collaborator/alter ego Lyle Mays saw in their rural American roots a mystical connection to an entire world of sounds, and with As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls, they began the process of fashioning an idiomatic folk expression all their own. With the help of master percussionist Nana Vasconcelos, they create a whistlestop tour of musical outposts on the extended title track that is at once gothic and atmospheric in the manner of Weather Report, bucolic and harmonious like the Byrds--with echoes of small towns, strip malls, and lonely railyards, over expanses of wide-open space that reflect their familial origins and countless miles wandering the interstate on a string of college-town one-nighters. In the four square major modes of "Ozark" and "It's for You" you can hear the beige tinge of the American experience that melded with African American music to give the U.S. its musical depth and breadth, while "September Fifteenth" is a prayerful, ruminative reflection on the spirit of their romantic forebear, pianist Bill Evans. --Chip Stern

Tracks:

As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls
Ozark
September Fifteenth - (dedicated to Bill Evans)
"It's For You"
Estupenda Graca

Amazon.com essential recording

Guitarist Pat Metheny and his longtime keyboard collaborator/alter ego Lyle Mays saw in their rural American roots a mystical connection to an entire world of sounds, and with As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls, they began the process of fashioning an idiomatic folk expression all their own. With the help of master percussionist Nana Vasconcelos, they create a whistlestop tour of musical outposts on the extended title track that is at once gothic and atmospheric in the manner of Weather Report, bucolic and harmonious like the Byrds--with echoes of small towns, strip malls, and lonely railyards, over expanses of wide-open space that reflect their familial origins and countless miles wandering the interstate on a string of college-town one-nighters. In the four square major modes of "Ozark" and "It's for You" you can hear the beige tinge of the American experience that melded with African American music to give the U.S. its musical depth and breadth, while "September Fifteenth" is a prayerful, ruminative reflection on the spirit of their romantic forebear, pianist Bill Evans. --Chip Stern

Customer Reviews:

38, 42, 55, 3.......2007-04-01

I adore this album. It's so deep, mysterious, and moving I even used a snippet of the title track in a student film I once did. I don't think Pat Metheny is ever really given the credit as a great jazz musician that he deserves. His music is extraordinarily ethereal and almost other worldy, and some narrow minded people mistake this for new age music, or worse, elevator, Kenny G style music, which is absurd. I doubt that Kenny G or John Tesh would create something like the epic title track here. The title track is one of the most majestic pieces of music I ever heard, almost like a concerto or a really complex prog rock piece. The song Ozark is a lot lighter than the rest of the album, but it's still really good. September 15th is wonderful, with amazing piano work by Lyle Mays, Metheny's frequent colloborator. "It's for You" is nice, and the album's closer is quite moving and simple. The title of the album is almost one of the more memorable titles in history. This, along with Offramp, 80/81, Song X, and Beyond the Missouri Sky, are my favorite Metheny albums.

Apocalyptic Metheny.......2007-01-12

I first discovered Pat Metheny when hearing "As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls" on a radio jazz program in university. My friend and I were laying on our living room floor with the lights out when this 18 minute song came on and totally freaked us out. I always interpreted it as some sort of apocalyptic warning or something. There was a lot of it in those days. But my friend and I never forgot it and bought the album the next day. It's taken me a long time to get the CD but I enjoy it just as much.

Of course the title track doesn't give you any idea of how awesome a guitarist Metheny is. The second side does however, but not as much as some of his other albums like "Offramp". But there are some very interesting melodic tracks on this album, from the ultimate driving song "Ozark", to the meditative "September 15th". All around, a great and unusual album.

Simply beautiful.......2006-08-14

Just the most heartfelt Metheny music I've ever heard. Being a longtime fan, I was delighted to hear some of this music on the soundtrack of the movie FANDANGO, with Kevin Costner and Judd Nelson. I especially loved their use of "It's For You" during the wedding. And "September Fifteenth" always brings me to tears.

I wish I could give this album 10 stars!.......2006-07-18

Okay, I am only 15 years old, and perhaps I am biased because my dad used to play this CD for me all the time growing up. Even so, I feel that this album is a group of timeless songs I'll like always and forever. It's hard to say exactly "why" i guess...every song is so beautiful, I don't need many words to describe them. They can speak for themselves. I plan to share this CD with all my friends and pass it along to my children because I hope they will appreciate the great instrumental work that went into these peices. One thing I do wonder is how you can say its "boring" or that you "just don't get them". I mean, I respect your opinion but...I will always stand behind my great love of Pat Metheny. Especially As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls.

I tried, I really tried.......2006-05-05

I was playing some ultra-hyper Ursula 1000 the other night when my wife said, "Could you please play something mellow?" I know I had listened to AFWSFWF before and thought then what I'm about to write now, after having these thoughts confirmed last night.

AFWSFWF sounds like a half-baked movie score, I don't know how else to describe it. I don't know what is is about the "epic' Metheny works. I just don't get them, neither all their supposed "profundity" or musical "briliance." They bore me. I can't finish them. They take themselves too seriously such that I want to scream, "Lighten up!" Ok, wow, so you mixed some Asian-sounding guitar, a steady drumbeat, some somnolent piano respites, Pink Floyd like voices in the background and other "noise." Folks, I'm out, nocturnally. Nightie-night, sleep tight.

As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls

Average customer rating:

As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls
Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays
Manufacturer: Ecm
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00006HB88
Release Date: 2002-09-23

Tracks:

As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls
Ozark
September Fifteenth [Dedicated to Bill Evans]
It's for You
Estupenda Gra

Album Description

Full title - As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls. Japanese limited edition reissue of 1980 album with Nana Vasconcelos, 24 carat gold disc packaged in a miniature LP sleeve. ECM Records. 2002.

Album Details

Japanese Limited Edition in an LP-STYLE Slipcase.

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