The Way Up
{{More citations needed|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox album
| name = The Way Up
| type = studio
| artist = Pat Metheny Group
| cover = Pmg - way up.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2005|1|25}}
| recorded = 2003–2004
| venue =
| studio = Right Track, New York City
| genre = Jazz, jazz fusion
| length = {{Duration|m=68|s=07}}
| label = Nonesuch
| producer = Pat Metheny
| chronology = Pat Metheny
| prev_title = One Quiet Night
| prev_year = 2003
| next_title = Metheny/Mehldau
| next_year = 2006
}}
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = Allmusic
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |url= http://www.allmusic.com/album/r722817 |title=The Way Up - Pat Metheny Group | AllMusic |first=Thom |last=Jurek |work=allmusic.com |accessdate=19 July 2011}}
| rev2 = All About Jazz
| rev2Score = (favourable){{cite web |url= http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=16228 |title=Pat Metheny Group: The Way Up |first=John |last=Kelman |date=20 January 2005 |work=allaboutjazz.com |accessdate=17 October 2013}}
|rev3 = The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings
|rev3score = {{Rating|3|4}}{{cite book |last1=Cook |first1=Richard |authorlink1=Richard Cook (journalist) |last2=Morton |first2=Brian |authorlink2=Brian Morton (Scottish writer) |title=The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings |year=2008 |edition=9th |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0-141-03401-0 |page=995}}
}}
The Way Up is the eleventh and final studio album by the Pat Metheny Group. It was released in 2005 and won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album in 2006. It is the last album in the prolific three-decade collaboration of Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays.
Background
The album consists of one 68-minute-long piece, split into four tracks. The piece is through composed, featuring complex shifts of dynamics and meter, and precise transitions between solo improvisation sections.
Swiss multi-instrumentalist Gregoire Maret is showcased on the harmonica and joined the Group for the album's world tour. The tour included a performance at the Montreal Jazz Festival, and an official concert recording of the Seoul, South Korea appearance was released on DVD and Blu-Ray.
Track listing
{{tracklist
| all_writing= Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays
| title1 = Opening
| writer1 =
| length1 = 5:17
| title2 = Part One
| writer2 =
| length2 = 26:27
| title3 = Part Two
| writer3 =
| length3 = 20:29
| title4 = Part Three
| writer4 =
| length4 = 15:54
}}
Personnel
- Pat Metheny – acoustic and electric guitars, guitar synthesizer, slide guitar, toy guitar, producer
- Lyle Mays – piano, keyboards, toy xylophone, producer
- Steve Rodby – acoustic and electric bass, cello, violin, producer
- Cuong Vu – trumpet, vocals, toy whistle
- Grégoire Maret – harmonica
- Antonio Sánchez – drums, toy xylophone
Additional musicians
- Richard Bona – percussion, vocals, toy guitar
- Dave Samuels – percussion
= Technical personnel =
- Pat Metheny – producer
- Steve Rodby, Lyle Mays – co-producers
- Rob Eaton – recording, mixing
- Ted Jensen – mastering at Sterling Sound, NYC, USA
- Doyle Partners – design, photography
Awards
| class="wikitable"
!align="left"|Year !align="left"|Category |
| align="left"|2006
|align="left"|Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Pat Metheny Group}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Way Up, The}}