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Critically-acclaimed jazz musician @PatMetheny will showcase his artistic versatility and iconic guitar playing @KimmelCenter on 10/5. More info @ kimmelcenter.org
Press Contact:
Lauren Woodard Rachel Goldman
215-790-5835 267-765-3712
lwoodard@kimmelcenter.org rgoldman@alliedim.com
20-TIME GRAMMY® WINNING GUITAR ICON
PAT METHENY REDEFINES JAZZ ON
THE KIMMEL CENTER CULTURAL CAMPUS
OCTOBER 5, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Philadelphia, PA, September 5, 2018) – The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts is proud to welcome 20-time Grammy®-winning guitarist and composer Pat Metheny to the Kimmel Center’s Merriam Theater on October 5, 2018 at 8:00 p.m. Known for his versatility, Metheny’s acclaimed body of work includes compositions for solo guitar, small ensembles, electric and acoustic instruments, large orchestras, and more. From a young age, Metheny’s artistry has continued to redefine the genre by utilizing new technology while constantly working to evolve the improvisational and sonic potential of his guitar.
“We are thrilled to welcome the return of jazz pioneer and musical innovator Pat Metheny as part of our Kimmel Center jazz series,” said Anne Ewers, President and CEO of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. “We strive to bring iconic, world-class artists like Metheny to our Cultural Campus. His live performances truly fortify his position as one of today’s greatest musicians, as his fluid improvisation and strategic tonality captivate audiences from the first note to the last.”
Born into a musical family, Metheny started his musical journey on the trumpet at the age of 8, only to switch to guitar a few years later at the age of 12. He first came into the international jazz scene in 1974 with a 3 year stint with vibraphone great Gary Burton that showcased his soon-to-become trademarked playing style, blending the loose and flexible articulation reserved for horn players with an advanced rhythmic and harmonic sensibility. From the start, Metheny had a way of playing and improvising that was modern in conception, but grounded deeply in the jazz tradition of melody, swing, and the blues. He released his first album Bright Size Life in 1975 when he was only 21 years old, reinventing the traditional jazz guitar sound for a new generation of players. Over the years of his career, he has performed with many greats such as Steve Reich, Ornette Coleman, Herbie Hancock, Jim Hall, Milton Nascimento, and David Bowie.
In addition to being an accomplished musician himself, Metheny is credited for being a music educator at several universities, including being the youngest teacher ever at both the University of Miami and Berklee College of Music. He has traveled the world to teach music workshops from the Dutch Royal Conservatory to the Thelonius Monk Institute of Jazz to clinics in Asia and South America. He has also been a true musical pioneer in the realm of electronic music and was one of the very first jazz musicians to treat the synthesizer as a serious musical instrument. He has also been instrumental in the development of several new kinds of guitars such as the soprano acoustic guitar, the 42-string Pikasso guitar, Ibanez’s PM series jazz guitars, and a variety of other custom instruments.
Throughout his career, Metheny has attained both popularity as a musician and acclaim from critics and peers alike. Over the years, Metheny has won countless polls as "Best Jazz Guitarist" and awards including three gold records for (Still Life) Talking, Letter from Home, and Secret Story. His many Grammy® Awards span over a variety of different categories including Best Rock Instrumental, Best Contemporary Jazz Recording, Best Jazz Instrumental Solo, and Best Instrumental Composition. At one point, he won seven consecutive Grammys for seven consecutive albums. In 2015, he was inducted into the Downbeat Hall of Fame, becoming only the fourth guitarist to be included and its youngest member.
Metheny has spent much of his life on tour, often doing more than 100 shows a year since becoming a bandleader in the 70s. He continues to be one of the brightest stars of the jazz community, dedicating time to his own projects, those of emerging artists, and established veterans alike, helping them to reach their audience as well as realizing their own artistic visions.
Most recently, Metheny was named a 2018 National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master, stating “It is a true honor to be selected as a recipient of the 2018 National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master Fellowship Award. I am grateful and truly humbled to be included among the many musicians here who have personally inspired me and whose creativity has brought so much beauty and wisdom to the world. It is a deep and singular privilege to be part of the ongoing legacy that this music represents.”
Other featured upcoming performances on the Kimmel Center Cultural Campus include: Black Violin (October 27, 2018, Merriam Theater), Django Festival Allstars (November 3, 2018, Perelman Theater), August Greene featuring Common, Robert Glasper and Karriem Riggins (November 29, 2018, Academy of Music), and Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia – A Cole Christmas (December 15, 2018, Perelman Theater).
PAT METHENY
Merriam Theater
October 5, 2018, 8:00 p.m.
Tickets
Tickets are on sale now and start at $49.50. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, online at www.kimmelculturalcampus.org, or at the Kimmel Center Box Office. Group sales are available for groups of 10 or more and can be purchased by calling 215-790-5883. See www.kimmelculturalcampus.org for more information.
The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
Located in the heart of Center City, Philadelphia, the Kimmel Center’s mission is to operate a world-class performing arts center that engages and serves a broad audience through diverse programming, arts education, and community outreach. The Kimmel Center Campus is comprised of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts (Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater, SEI Innovation Studio, and the Merck Arts Education Center), the Academy of Music (owned by the Philadelphia Orchestra Association), and the Merriam Theater. The Kimmel Center is also home to eight Resident Companies: The Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Philadelphia, The Pennsylvania Ballet, The Philly POPS, PHILADANCO, The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society and Curtis Institute of Music. With nearly 9,000 seats per night, The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts is the region’s most impactful performing arts center, and the second largest in the country. TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is the season sponsor of the Kimmel Center’s 2018-2019 Season. American Airlines is the official airline of Broadway Philadelphia. For additional information, visit www.kimmelculturalcampus.org.
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For a PDF version of this press release, click here.