I recently revisited and ranked 46 Pat Metheny albums. The rewarding process acted as a reminder of the Lee’s Summit native’s steadfast commitment to change. Even for discerning Metheny fans who know to expect the unexpected, Road to the Sun may come as a shock. The classical orientation of the new album is unlike anything else in his catalog.
The first of Road to the Sun’s three distinct segments is guitarist Jason Vieaux’s rendering of Metheny’s suite “Four Paths of Light.” Vieaux’s assured mastery of the technically imposing composition evokes the brilliant legacy of the esteemed guitarist Julian Bream.
Metheny’s six-part title track is performed by the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. The album’s most conventionally Metheny-esque moments transpire in the second passage. The gonzo conclusion to the fourth segment will appeal to fans of the bold Mexican guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela.
Road to the Sun closes with Metheny playing his arrangement of Arvo Pärt’s “Für Alina” on a 42-string guitar. The ruminative quality of the piece is enhanced by ECM-esque reverb. All 57 minutes of Road to the Sun are extraordinary, but Metheny’s stunning version of “Für Alina” places the typically atypical album among his most significant works.