"The guitarist Pat Metheny has made some of his most engagingly forthright music in trios," writes the New York Times' jazz critic Nate Chinen. So, he continues, "it's no small thing that Day Trip ... is at least as good as any of the others."
Playing alongside bassist Christian McBride and drummer Antonio Sanchez on the just-released album, Metheny "savors the contrast between these proficient sidemen," writes Chinen. "Mr. McBride is a bedrock player, authoritative with tempos; Mr. Sanchez has a way of articulating pulse as a play of current and tide." Added to the mix is Metheny's own stellar playing, which, for Chinen, "conveys a sense of proportion, substance and coherence, along with rigorous clarity; solid benchmarks for any great improviser at the peak of his game."
With that kind of playing on the first Metheny trio record of all original compositions, the music "tenders its own rewards."
To read the review, visit nytimes.com.
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The Boston Globe lists Day Trip as essential listening, with critic Steve Greenlee saying the new album "represents Metheny
at his best, creating music of understated sophistication by
interacting sublimely with equally talented musicians." Greenlee sees the members of this trio as "three like-minded fellows who revel in their shared
experience ... But mostly," he continues, "they remind us why Metheny
remains, after more than 30 years, one of the most popular figures in
jazz."
To read the complete review, visit boston.com.
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BBC Music magazine weighs in from its print edition with a five-star review, touting the album as "a
tantalising combination of astute musical focus and bracing improvisatory freedom. A triumph."
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In the Times of London, writer John Bungey wittily refers to Day Trip as "one of those Metheny albums of such virtuosity that some would-be jazz guitarists will listen and promptly opt for a simpler option—like playing the spoons, or joining Oasis." The complete review can be found at entertainment.timesonline.co.uk.
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The Financial Times gives the album four stars, with reviewer Mike Hobart writing that Day Trip
finds Metheny on top form, sailing magnificently with rhythmic precision and a sound that bites over the sparse accompaniment of Christian McBride on bass and drummer Antonio Sanchez. The trio ... play with the effortless intuition that dispels all clutter, delivering top-dollar modern mainstream jazz from tricky-themed hard swingers to acoustic ballads.
The complete review can be found at ft.com.
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In another London publication, the Telegraph, critic Martin Gayford says of the album: "This is delightful stuff." He sees it as something "hard-core jazz listeners" will appreciate, complimenting McBride for his "marvellously deep, rich bass" and calling Metheny's playing "alternately pastorally lyrical and hard-swinging." You can read the review at telegraph.co.uk.
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Back in the States, Billboard calls the record a "fine on-disc debut" for the frequent touring group, with reviewer Dan Ouellette noting how well "the seamless rhythmic mesh" of McBride and Sanchez complements Pat's "fleet-fingered float." That review can be found at billboard.com.
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Day Tip is now available in the Nonesuch Store, with two exclusive live bonus tracks available for download, at no extra charge, with every purchase of the album.