Missouri guitar maestro goes solo.
ouring involves long stretches of empty time between gigs and lots of ‘hurry upleans into his gentle side, conjuring a sequence of whispered tales, impressionistic twilights and thoughtful reflections that evince the ennui of long-distance travel and the loneliness of heartache. That prodigious technique, which has so often seen him reaching remarkable, expansive heights, is here focused on a mood that’s altogether more intimate, melodious, and downtempo. All of these guitar-only tunes come inlaid with Metheny’s stripped-back luminous tone and crystal-clear phrasing, whose simple storytelling is utterly absorbing.