Customer Reviews
Metheny, we wait for better days! - By: Mr. Tobias W. R. Warren, 15 Jul 2008 
This album, like pretty much all his output since the early nineties, lacks that crucial element of experimentation & risk-taking. There's no doubt about Pat's talent but really I'm suprised that he is so stuck creatively. Dont start into his music with this album. I've followed his career since 1985 & was so impressed with 'Still Life' & 'Letter from Home'. This led me to his back catalogue & there are some amazing albums like 'First circle' & 'Watercolors'. Lyle Mays has been a great backup & solos just as inventively. Time moves on but sadly, middle age has made Metheny just too comfortable.
Modern Jazz - By: Deckard Descartes, 02 May 2008 
Guitarist Pat Metheny hardly needs any introduction. Though primarily a jazz musician, his music encompasses diverse genres, including, avant-garde music (with Steve Reich & Derek Bailey), world music, folk, & country. Day Trip is firmlyin the jazz camp, being rootedin modern mainstream jazz & post-bop. With the exception of the somewhat schmaltzy track `Is this America?' all compositions are straight-ahead jazz workoutsin trio format (guitar, bass, & drums). Metheny's pleasantly warm & melodic guitar sound recalls Wes Montgomery (Wes' influence seems to have become stronger over the years), but,in terms of its sheer virtuosity, isin a league of its own. This is the jazziest Metheny I have heardin a while. Compared to the sometimes bombastic sound of the Pat Metheny Group (as well as the Metheny-Mehldau recordings) the trio is a compact, bare-knuckle vehicle for Metheny's compositions. No gimmicks or sound effects, just pure jazz. Stripped down to the bare essentials of groove & improvisation, Day Trip is a masterly lessonin contemporary mainstream jazz thanks to drummer Anthony Sanchez & bassist Christian McBride. Sanchez is a polyrhythmic monster whose powerful drumming pushes Metheny's improvisations, while McBride's flexible bass lines & fat tone add give the trio a nice bottom sound. The mix on the record is very good, too. Especially Sanchez's excellent drum work is clearly audible. This is recommended listening for fans of modern post bop as well as the usual jazz guitar buffs.
Great playing from this stellar lineup - By: Jeremy Walton, 10 Mar 2008 
Apart from taking time out to play with Brad Mehldau last year, Metheny has been playingin this trio extensively since the release of his last Group effortin 2005;in fact, it turns out that all the pieces on this CD were laid downin October of that year during a recording session that lasted a single day (hence the title). Sanchez is the current drummerin his group, & McBride - while still onlyin his mid 30's - has played with the likes of Benny Carter, Freddie Hubbard, Michael Brecker & Sting. When these three stellar musicians get together, it's a powerful mix, ranging from the supremely confident opener, "Son Of Thirteen" to the terrific title track (known, somewhat confusingly, as "Number 13"in early live setlists). Others have already commented on the elegaic "Is This America?", though the titular connection with Metheny's hit single "This Is Not America" doesn't seem to have registered.
I bought this discin HMV Ottawa a couple of weeks ago, having had my eye on it since its release. Personally, my preference is always for Metheny's group outings with Lyle Mays, as they seem to offer a little more scope for his gifts of melody & texture, but I'll take himin pretty much any form that he chooses to dispense himself, as I've long thought of him as an artist of impeccable taste & ability.
Breathtaking - By: J. Wilks, 07 Mar 2008 Coming from someone who is not a huge Pat Metheny fan, this album is absolutely great. I love the space that each player occupiesin this 3 piece group. Well worth the purchase as it has rarely left my CD player.
dissapointed - By: steve m, 14 Feb 2008 Is everyone easily pleased ?
This is just another boring album , his recent music is sounding so dull & predictable,
i have been a great fan of pat methenyin the past, he produced some beautifull & imaginitve musicin the past, STILL LIFE TALKING being one of the best,he's a great musician but has become to self indulgent, he should get back with Lyle mays & the rest of the band & stop producing this lifeless test card music.
