Song:First Song
Album:Beyond The Missouri Sky
Of course bassist Charlie Haden is best known as a member of the groundbreaking Ornette Coleman Quartet in the late 50s. He came from a musical family who performed country music on the radio. Haden was very versatile. He could play any kind of music with anyone. So it's not surprising that Haden recorded an album with the very popular guitarist Pat Metheny. In 1984 Haden met and married singer Ruth Cameron and she became his manager. She had plenty of ideas and was a big influence on Haden. For example, Ruth suggested he form Quartet West with Ernie Watts on sax, Alan Broadbent on piano and Billy Higgins on drums. Haden wrote First Song for Ruth and it appeared on the 1988 Quartet West album In Angel City. He also recorded it with Enrico Pieranzuni and Higgins on the 1990 album First Song and with guitarist Jim Hall on a 1990 album that was released in 2014. It was also around this time that Haden began the Montreal Tapes series. He recorded First Song with pianist Geri Allen and drummer Paul Motian in 1989. In the 90s Haden recorded duet albums with Hank Jones, Kenny Barron and then the 1997 album Beyond The Missouri Sky with Metheny. Haden appeared on the 1980 Metheny album 80/81 with Dewey Redman, Michael Brecker and Motian and he appeared on a couple of other Metheny albums including one with Ornette Coleman. A duet album is something they wanted to do for a while. It takes time to line up the scheduling. The album won the Grammy for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance. Metheny plays synthesizers in addition to his usual guitar. I think fans of both guys would enjoy the record. Here's Charlie Haden & Pat Metheny performing First Song at the 34th Internationale Jazzwoche Berghausen in Berghausen, Germany May 7, 2003.
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