From This Place

From This Place is a studio album by American jazz guitarist Pat Metheny, released on February 21, 2020, by Nonesuch Records.^[1] Featuring ten original compositions written by Metheny, the album marks his first collection of new material since the 2014 release Kin.^[2] The recording centers on a core quartet comprising Metheny on guitars, Antonio Sanchez on drums, Linda May Han Oh on bass, and Gwilym Simcock on piano, with orchestral arrangements performed by the Hollywood Studio Symphony under the direction of Joel McNeely.^[2] Special guests include vocalist Meshell Ndegeocello on the title track, harmonica player Grégoire Maret on "Sixty-Six," and percussionist Luis Conte on "Pathmaker."^[2] The album's tracks, such as "America Undefined," "You Are," and "Everything Explained," blend jazz improvisation with expansive symphonic elements, reflecting Metheny's exploration of personal and collective themes.^[3] Metheny approached the sessions spontaneously, recording without prior rehearsals in a manner inspired by the Miles Davis Quintet of the 1960s, aiming to capture direct musical communication.^[2] He has described From This Place as a culmination of his evolving artistic expressions, developed through years of collaboration and reflection on the role of music in connecting people across time and space.^[2] The album received critical acclaim for its ambitious scope and emotional depth, solidifying Metheny's reputation as a innovative figure in contemporary jazz.^[4]

Background

Conception

The conception of From This Place stemmed from Pat Metheny's response to the turbulent socio-political climate in the United States, particularly the aftermath of the 2016 presidential election. On November 8, 2016, as election results confirmed Donald Trump's victory, Metheny perceived the outcome as a "tragic moment" revealing deeper cultural issues. The title track, "From This Place," was composed in the early morning hours of November 9, reflecting a sense of melancholy and introspection while holding out hope for eventual improvement. Metheny later described the piece as capturing that moment that music could transcend, beyond transient political specifics.^[2][5] To realize this vision, Metheny assembled a distinctive ensemble drawing from his longstanding jazz collaborations, prioritizing musicians capable of spontaneous interplay. The core quartet—comprising drummer Antonio Sanchez, bassist Linda May Han Oh, and pianist Gwilym Simcock—had toured extensively with Metheny, performing his earlier repertoire to build an intuitive rapport. This group was augmented by the Hollywood Studio Symphony, conducted by Joel McNeely, to frame improvisational elements within orchestral arrangements, allowing the jazz foundation to expand dynamically. Special guests, including vocalist Meshell Ndegeocello for the title track, were selected for their aligned artistic voices, emphasizing live, unrehearsed recording to foster organic development akin to Miles Davis's quintet methods.^[2][6] Metheny sought a more cinematic and expansive sonic palette after a 15-year interval since his last album with longtime collaborator Lyle Mays, The Way Up (2005). This shift marked Metheny's most ambitious integration of orchestration to date, evolving his compositional style toward broader, layered textures while retaining improvisational core. The result positioned From This Place as a culmination of his influences, from 1960s avant-garde to CTI-era jazz fusion, reimagined through contemporary ensemble dynamics.^[2][7]

Writing process

The compositions for From This Place were developed over 2018 and 2019, resulting in ten original pieces entirely written by Pat Metheny.^[8] Metheny's approach to writing focused on post-bop structures designed to leave significant space for improvisation, while weaving in lush, song-like harmonic progressions and strongly etched melodic themes to guide the ensemble's spontaneous interactions.^[9][10] From the beginning, Metheny envisioned the material's compatibility with orchestral expansion, though he opted not to rehearse the core quartet beforehand, aiming to preserve the vitality of unscripted improvisations during the sessions. This choice reflected a deliberate balance between the expansive, dramatic scale of progressive rock influences and the intimate, lyrical essence of jazz expression.^[11] Tracks such as "America Undefined" emerged as a musical response to the era's national divisions in the United States, capturing a sense of turbulent uncertainty through its extended, multi-sectional form.^[12]

Production

Recording

The principal recording sessions for the core quartet took place in 2019 at Avatar Studios in New York City.^[13] Orchestral sessions occurred at Sony's Streisand Scoring Stage in Culver City, Los Angeles, involving the Hollywood Studio Symphony over the course of a week.^[14] Additional percussion overdubs were captured at Igloo Studio in Los Angeles.^[15] The album was co-produced by Pat Metheny and Steve Rodby.^[13] Recording and mixing at Avatar Studios were handled by Pete Karam, with assistance from Luke Klingensmith.^[16] Engineering at Sony Scoring Stage was led by Jay Marcovitz and Phil Levine, while Rich Breen oversaw sessions at Igloo Studio.^[17] Mastering was completed by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound in New York City.^[16] The core quartet—featuring Metheny on guitars and keyboards, Gwilym Simcock on piano, Linda May Han Oh on bass, and Antonio Sánchez on drums—recorded live in the studio without prior rehearsals, allowing for a sense of discovery and spontaneity in their interplay.^[2] Orchestral elements were added as overdubs, with arrangements contributed by Metheny, Simcock, Han Oh, Gil Goldstein, and Alan Broadbent.^[15] Guest contributions, such as Meshell Ndegeocello's bass and vocals on the title track "From This Place," were tracked separately.^[13] The production emphasizes a spacious, immersive mix that captures the room acoustics to convey an intimate, live-like energy.^[6] High-resolution audio versions are available for streaming and download on platforms including Bandcamp.^[3]

Personnel

The album From This Place features a core quartet led by Pat Metheny on guitars and keyboards, alongside Gwilym Simcock on piano, Linda May Han Oh on bass and vocals, and Antonio Sanchez on drums.^[18] Metheny also served as composer, arranger, and producer for the project.^[2][18] Special guests include Meshell Ndegeocello providing vocals on the title track, Grégoire Maret on harmonica, and Luis Conte on percussion.^[18][2] Orchestral arrangements were crafted by Alan Broadbent and Gil Goldstein, with additional arrangements by Simcock and Han Oh on select tracks.^[2] The Hollywood Studio Symphony, comprising over 50 musicians, provided the orchestral layers, conducted by Joel McNeely and recorded at Sony Scoring Stage in Los Angeles.^[18][2] The ensemble's instrumentation included:

• Violins (led by concertmaster Roger Wilkie): Julie Gigante, Tammy Hatwan, Tereza Stanislav, Jessica Guideri, Jackie Brand, Phillip Levy, Helen Nightengale, Maia Jasper, Sarah Thornblade, Eun-Mee Ahn, Songa Lee, Charlie Bisharat, Serena McKinney, Natalie Leggett, Amy Hershberger, Sara Parkins, Ben Jacobson, Lorenz Gamma.
• Violas (led by principal Shawn Mann): Alma Fernandez, Meredith Crawford, David Walther, Lynne Richburg, Diana Wade, Darrin McCann, Rob Brophy.
• Cellos (led by principal Andrew Shulman): Jacob Braun, Trevor Handy, Eric Byers, Cecilia Tsan, Dane Little, Vanessa Freebairn Smith.
• Basses (led by principal Nico Abondolo): Steve Dress.
• Flutes: Heather Clark, Jenni Olson, Steve Kujala.
• Clarinets (led by Dan Higgins): Stuart Clark.
• French horns (led by Dylan Hart): Laura Brenes.
• Trombones (led by Alex Iles): Steve Holtman, Bill Reichenbach.

Additional bass contributions came from Abondolo and Dress in the orchestral context.^[18] Production was co-handled by Steve Rodby, with recording engineered by Pete Karam at Avatar Studios in New York and orchestral sessions at Sony Scoring Stage.^[18] Assistant engineering was provided by Luke Klingensmith, mastering by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound in New York, and further support included studio management by Tino Passante, production coordination by David Sholemson, guitar technician Carolyn Chrzan, and technical direction by David Oakes.^[18] Photographs were taken by Steve Rodby and Rich Breen.^[18]

Musical content

Style and themes

From This Place blends contemporary jazz rooted in post-bop traditions with orchestral jazz elements, incorporating subtle prog-rock influences through its expansive structures and improvisational freedom. The album's cinematic scope emerges from lush arrangements that evoke film scores, achieved by integrating the Hollywood Studio Symphony's strings, brass, and woodwinds with Metheny's quartet. This fusion creates a sound that extends beyond standard jazz ensembles, drawing on Metheny's history of boundary-blurring compositions.^[7][19][20] Sonic elements emphasize expansive production, where full orchestral backing enhances the spontaneity of jazz improvisation without overpowering it. Metheny's signature lyrical guitar work—characterized by liquid, crystalline tones and airborne melodies—interweaves with ambient, synth-like textures generated by the symphony's layered arrangements. The rhythm section, featuring piano, double bass, and drums, provides a buoyant foundation, occasionally augmented by guest contributions like delicate vocals and harmonica, resulting in a rich, immersive tapestry that balances intimacy and grandeur.^[7][6][1] Thematically, the album delves into introspection on American identity and societal division, using the undefined "place" as a metaphor for personal and collective searching amid turmoil. It strikes a balance between melancholy and hope, reflecting the emotional weight of post-2016 U.S. political events while conveying resilience and transcendence through instrumental expression, eschewing overt lyrics for evocative, wordless narratives. This conceptual depth underscores a journeying spirit, evoking plush landscapes of American cultural reflection.^[6][20][7] Influences echo Metheny's Pat Metheny Group era, particularly collaborations with pianist Lyle Mays, but are refreshed with modern players and an orchestral framework that innovatively captures jazz spontaneity. The approach draws from Miles Davis's unrehearsed quintet recordings and 1970s CTI-era aesthetics, framing improvisation within symphonic contexts to highlight timeless musical communication.^[7][20][1]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Pat Metheny.^[13] The album has a total runtime of 76:37 and follows standard sequencing for CD and digital formats, with no bonus tracks on the initial release.^[21] Orchestral arrangements by the Hollywood Studio Symphony apply to all tracks.^[13] No commercial singles were released.^[22]

Release

Announcement and promotion

Nonesuch Records officially announced Pat Metheny's album From This Place on November 14, 2019, revealing a February 21, 2020, release date for the project, Metheny's first collection of original material since 2014's Kin.^[1] The announcement coincided with the digital release of the lead single "America Undefined," the album's opening track, which became available for streaming on platforms like Spotify and as an instant download with pre-orders.^{[1] [23]} Marketing efforts focused on digital accessibility, with no physical singles issued but several digital previews shared in the lead-up to release, including "You Are" in December 2019 and "Wide and Far" in January 2020.^{[24] [25]} Promotion highlighted high-resolution audio editions available via Bandcamp in FLAC format and streaming services like Qobuz in 24-bit quality, alongside standard digital downloads.^[3] Interviews tied to the rollout emphasized the album's political undercurrents, such as the inspiration for "America Undefined" drawn from James Baldwin's essay "The Discovery of What It Means To Be an American," reflecting on national identity amid contemporary turmoil.^[17] The album artwork, featuring a brooding image of a dark tornado viewed across water, symbolized emotional and societal upheaval, a motif Metheny connected to his childhood experiences with severe weather in the Midwest and the themes of the title track.^{[17] [5]} With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic shortly after release, promotional activities shifted to virtual formats, including behind-the-scenes content on Metheny's official website detailing the recording process and personnel.^[2] The album launched in CD, double vinyl, and digital formats, with deluxe high-resolution variants offered through select retailers.^[13] Post-release promotion extended to an official video for the title track "From This Place," featuring vocals by Meshell Ndegeocello, premiered on October 27, 2020.^[26]

Commercial performance

Upon its release on February 21, 2020, From This Place debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard Top Album Sales chart, marking Pat Metheny's highest position and first entry in the top 10 on that ranking.^[27] It also reached No. 1 on the Billboard Traditional Jazz Albums chart.^[28] In the United Kingdom, the album topped the Official Charts Company's Jazz & Blues Albums chart.^[27] Internationally, it entered the top 100 on overall album charts in Germany, Belgium, and Switzerland, while peaking at No. 2 on the worldwide iTunes Jazz Albums chart.^[27] The album demonstrated strong digital performance, accumulating over 11 million streams on Spotify by late 2025.^[29] Its vinyl edition, pressed on 140-gram audiophile vinyl, became a popular format among collectors, though specific sales data for physical copies remains limited due to the genre's niche market.^[30] The release timing, coinciding with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, restricted in-person promotion and physical retail opportunities, contributing to constrained traditional sales despite robust initial chart success.^[31] No major certifications were awarded for the album, consistent with the jazz genre's typically lower commercial thresholds compared to mainstream pop releases. Over the longer term, From This Place maintained steady airplay on jazz radio stations, appearing on JazzWeek's indicator charts with notable spins in the months following release and ranking among the top jazz albums of 2020.^[32][33] It achieved solid performance within niche jazz markets but did not secure significant crossover into broader pop audiences.^[34]

Reception

Critical response

Upon its release, From This Place received generally positive reviews from critics, earning a Metascore of 79 out of 100 on Metacritic, indicating favorable reception based on five aggregated critiques, with 80% rated positive and 20% mixed.^[35] Reviewers praised the album's blend of Metheny's signature lyrical guitar work with expansive cinematic orchestration, highlighting the superb interplay among the core quartet of Metheny, pianist Gwilym Simcock, bassist Linda May Han Oh, and drummer Antonio Sanchez.^[7] NPR noted the record's "light, windswept lyricism" that unites Metheny's past and present, creating textures uncommon in jazz through collaborations with the Hollywood Studio Symphony.^[7] Key tracks such as "Everything Explained" were frequently lauded for their memorable themes and freewheeling energy, with The Guardian describing the band's unrehearsed postbop experiments as executed with "freewheeling relish" and broad appeal.^[9] All About Jazz called the album a "genuine masterpiece," commending its consolidation of Metheny's diverse styles while pushing into new compositional depths, particularly on the cinematic "America Undefined."^[36] The production, handled by Metheny and Steve Rodby, was universally acclaimed for its immersive quality and muscular sound.^[10] Some critics, however, found the orchestral elements occasionally overwhelming, diluting the quartet's improvisational spontaneity and evoking a "mixed bag" effect.^[19] JazzTimes argued that the strings sometimes "washed out" the tension between craftsmanship and inspiration central to jazz.^[19] London Jazz News appreciated the glorious textures but critiqued moments of prog-like grandeur that bordered on portentous, suggesting a lack of a singular standout tune compared to Metheny's earlier works.^[10] Overall, the consensus positioned From This Place as a mature evolution of Metheny's style—ambitious, cohesive, and innovative in its orchestration—marking a significant milestone in his discography.^[37]

Accolades

From This Place earned a nomination in the Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals category at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2021 for its title track, arranged by Pat Metheny and Alan Broadbent; the award went to John Beasley and Maria Mendes for "Asas Fechadas."^[38][39] The album did not secure any major wins but received significant recognition within the jazz community for its production quality, Metheny's compositional contributions, and its exploration of orchestral jazz elements.^[40] In the 2020 DownBeat Readers' Poll, From This Place was voted the Best Jazz Album of the year, with Metheny also named Best Guitarist.^[41] It appeared on several year-end jazz lists, including fourth place in Jazzwise magazine's Top 20 Jazz Albums of 2020 and tenth in The Guardian's list of the 10 best jazz albums of 2020.^[42][43] Post-release, the album has been included in retrospective compilations of notable 2020 jazz releases, highlighting its enduring impact amid the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic.^[44]