October 30-November 5, 2003

musicpicks

Pat Metheny Solo & Trio

jazz

For guitar-heads, the tricks are the treats at this Halloween concert. For the rest of us, it's chemistry and musicality that win the day. Metheny, that rare character who blinds us with technique while keeping a firm grasp on the fundamentals of song. That's what you hear on One Quiet Night (Warner Bros.), a recent effort on solo acoustic guitar. (He actually makes something new out of Don't Know Why, the overplayed Norah Jones/Jesse Harris song.) His last trio, with bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Bill Stewart, was a taut ensemble with a decidedly Midwestern sound. It'll be fascinating to see how the new lineup changes the game. Drummer Antonio Sanchez, a staple of the Pat Metheny Group, is a master of nuance and color who can also slash his way through any groove. And bassist Christian McBride -- well, he's Philly. We all know what he can do.

Fri., Oct. 31, 8 p.m., $36-$52, Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St., 215-898-3900.

—Kyle Parker

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