Pat Metheny w/ Christian McBride & Antonio Sanchez - Day Trip (2008)

Issued in early 2008, DAY TRIP finds jazz-guitar hero Pat Metheny collaborating with the top-notch rhythm section of Christian McBride (bass) and Antonio Sanchez (drums). While McBride anchors the proceedings with understated grace, Sanchez often cuts loose with busy percussive patterns, though he never steals the spotlight away from Metheny.

The versatile veteran six-stringer spins deft Wes Montgomery-like lines on "Son of Thirteen," eases into a delicate acoustic mode on "Dreaming Trees," and amps up on "The Red One," resulting in an excellent showcase of his widely renowned artistic range. While preceding Metheny releases were more ambitious (THE WAY UP) or piano-oriented (see his albums with Brad Mehldau), DAY TRIP presents the guitarist getting back to basics while losing none of his eclecticism.