Pat Metheny & The Metropole Orchestra - First Circle

Live at North Sea Jazz Festival at Den Haag in 2003
feat. Fay Lovsky, vocal and Hans Vroomans, piano
conducted by Jim McNeely, broadcast by nps

postprocessing by MrAkdnt

[rodneywitherspoon]

I am a black man 58yrs old seen this group in Los Angeles at the Greek theater in the 80's this music is so good I cried I love it.

[DavidTYork]

The piano solo is one of the greatest piano solos in contemporary music. The journey it takes you on is stunning.

[ChrisBCartagena]

The vocalist is amazing! She is Dutch!injection
of talent!

[Yetipfote]

this is such a strong antidote to darkness!

[MsMsmak]

There is no one writing music like this. No one. Except Pat.

[paul]

Fay Lovsky; unbelievable that there are people in the Netherlands who do not even know her name. Two feet at the ground but her voice from an other planet. Twents: Fay, dat hej good doan !!
:)

[thelamb]

Best Pat's composition for me... the most beautiful sound of the whole orchestra is the singer's voice (Fay Lovsky): enchanting, perfect.

[pfdfcc]

I honestly love all of Pat Methenys stuff but this song always sets my heart free. One of the most beautiful songs ever written!

[tzohar-cglt]

The song in true classical form maintains Metheny's musical integrity while expanding beautiful new orchestrated expressions. Nicely done

[FranzStrasse]

I became addicted to Pat Metheny after seeing him live in a "coffee house" in 1973? in Evanston, IL. I keep going back to him to refresh my musical space. But I tripped over this tonight and was blown away. Fantastic, Uplifting. I'm very glad I found it.

[genez]

Her smile at the end, was a smile saying... "this was well done."
God drops these moments into time... and then takes them back again. We want more.

[daoedn]

It was about 40 years ago when my father was watching him on tv. I just entered the living room and he said to me: you wanna know what real goid music is? Watch this man. And from that day i became a fan and for me one of the best muscians ever. 👍🏽💯
He is playing in Groningen (Netherlands) on 15 oktober 2024 and i wil be there. Its about 28 km from where i live. ☀️😉😁😀

[butchmorrow]

I first discovered Pat in the late 70's early 80's, listening to KIFM San Diego. After all these years, I think it can truthfully be said, that musically, nobody does what Pat does.

[DanielBarberMusic]

What a mixture of emotions listening to this (version) again (I've heard PMG do it hundreds and hundreds of times!). Listening to the piano solo I was wondering what Pat might have been thinking during it. Also appreciating this man's playing, being in the impossible situation of not being Lyle, but still having the great honor of getting to stand in for him on such an epic tune. Lyle's original studio solo, and several of his solos on this live are among the most beautiful and powerful piano examples of a what's possible on a piano solo. This guy did a really nice job honoring Lyle's solos while bringing his own offering to the table. What an incredible honor and beautifully done. Feeling so much gratitude to Mays and Metheny for bringing the kind of music to us that has so often made me so grateful for being human and able to appreciate such magnificent and joyful beauty.

[bossbob]

I first heard this when Pat Metheny and the group performed it in 1984 at a theater on the north side of Chicago. I am now 73. It was, and remains, one of the most magical concerts I have ever heard. It was extraordinary and transformative to see and hear live. I must admit, I miss Lyle Mays.

[jaydouglas]

It was the early 1980's and I had pretty much given up on commercial radio as it was a wasteland. I began listening to FM-88 the classical/ jazz station which on Sunday mornings had a 2 hour "New Age Jazz" program on at 10am. I heard this and everything changed ! Monday I went to the radio station to find out what this song was. Back in the day if you did not hear the announcer you had no way of identifying a piece of music. I went right down to the record store and bought " American Garage and First Circle" by Pat Metheny on cassette tape and damn near wore them out and it changed how I looked at music. To this day I still get the chills hearing Pat and Lyle put out these magnum opuses.
Got to see them several times in concert at jazz fests. Thank you Pat and Lyle (R.I.P) for the joy and inspiration you've given to so many !!

[tifiecampdirector]

I could listen to Pat's music all day...elevates me to another plain every time

[jordillach]

The more I listen to versions of this masterpiece, the more I appreciate Pedro Aznar's voice and interpretation.

[j.s.]

Some of the most beautiful music ever written and performed.

[jordanking]

i’m new to this song, but not the orchestra. very cool to see current members looking great in this throwback performance!