The Pat Metheny Interviews: The Inner Workings of His Creativity Revealed

Pat is one of the most articulate musicians alive when he talks about music, and the long-form interview suits him. Richard Niles built this book from conversations he recorded for a BBC series in 2007. It isn’t just a transcript. When Pat picks up the guitar to demonstrate an idea, those passages are written out in notation, so you can read what he means as well as hear what he says. Lyle Mays, Gary Burton and Michael Brecker are among the other musicians who add their perspective.

This site has a soft spot for that kind of conversation. Back in 1995, while researching my dissertation on Don Ellis, I tracked Pat down and he agreed to a phone interview, which ran for hours (the story is in the open thank-you letter). The journal has followed the tradition since, with Rick Beato’s long interview and Cory Wong’s Wong Notes conversation. This book is the printed, notated version of the same impulse.

The Lyle Mays material deserves special mention. After Lyle’s death in 2020, Pat’s reflection on their partnership reminded everyone how central Lyle was to the Pat Metheny Group sound. Hearing from him directly, in print, is rare.

It suits guitarists who want Pat’s thinking with examples attached, and any fan who prefers the musician’s own words to critical commentary. One practical note: the publisher’s product page has been retired, so new copies may come from remaining stock.