Pat Metheny – Side-Eye III+ | JazzNights 2026

As part of his tour, he will perform in Flensburg, Lübeck, Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, Dortmund, Freiburg, Nuremberg, and Frankfurt.

Born in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Metheny discovered his love of music early on. He began playing the trumpet at the age of eight, but switched to the guitar at twelve – the instrument that would come to define his life. By the age of 15, he was regularly performing on stage with Kansas City’s finest jazz musicians, developing a musical maturity far beyond his years.

Metheny achieved his international breakthrough in 1974 alongside vibraphonist Gary Burton. Even back then, his distinctive style was already evident, a style that remains unmistakable to this day: flexible, almost vocal articulation, a modern approach to improvisation that nevertheless remains deeply rooted in jazz, and an exceptional sense of rhythm and harmony. With his debut album, Bright Size Life (1975), he fundamentally redefined the sound of jazz guitar, inspiring an entire generation of young musicians.

Few other guitarists move so effortlessly between genres and sonic worlds. Metheny worked with icons such as Steve Reich, Ornette Coleman, Herbie Hancock, Jim Hall, Milton Nascimento, and David Bowie, and composed for solo guitar, ensembles, orchestras, ballet, and his groundbreaking "Orchestrion" project.

He consistently pushed stylistic boundaries and explored the technical possibilities of his instrument—whether with the Synclavier in the early years of electronic music or with innovative guitars like the 42-string Pikasso.

Metheny also set standards as an educator: At just 18, he became the youngest lecturer at the University of Miami, and a year later, the youngest teacher at Berklee College of Music, which awarded him an honorary doctorate in 1996. He led workshops worldwide and inspired generations of young musicians.

For his work, Pat Metheny received virtually every honor the jazz world has to offer—including 20 Grammy Awards in various categories, three gold albums, and induction into the DownBeat Hall of Fame. In 2018, he was also awarded the NEA Jazz Master title, the highest distinction in American jazz.

A passionate live performer, Metheny has toured the world tirelessly for over five decades, playing well over a hundred concerts annually. In 2026, jazz fans and music lovers can once again look forward to extraordinary evenings where Metheny will present his impressive body of work as vividly as his unwavering openness to new ideas.