Enjoy “An Evening with Pat Metheny” Jan. 29 at UAB’s Alys Stephens Center

Metheny is one of the most accomplished jazz artists in history, and his versatility is nearly without peer on any instrument. He has won 20 Grammy awards in a variety of categories, and in 2015 was inducted into the Downbeat Hall of Fame.

Grammy Award winner Pat Metheny, widely known as the best jazz guitarist in the business, will perform Thursday, Jan. 29, presented by the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center.

“An Evening with Pat Metheny” will feature drummer/composer Antonio Sanchez, bassist Linda Oh and pianist Gwilym Simcock. The group has performed for sold-out audiences at previous stops on the tour. The concert at the Alys Stephens Center will take place at 7 p.m. in the center’s Jemison Concert Hall. Tickets are $48, $58 and $68. For tickets, call 205-975-2787 or visit www.AlysStephens.org.

Buy three or more tickets to any performance in the Alys Stephens Center Jazz Series and save 30 percent off the total cost. This offer is valid only online when purchasing tickets and may not be used with other offers; availability is limited. The offer expires April 12.

The concert will take place at 7 p.m. in the Jemison Concert Hall. Tickets are $48, $58 and $68. For tickets, call 205-975-2787 or visit www.AlysStephens.org.

UAB students and faculty may purchase $25 tickets; a limited number of $25 tickets are available for each show. All UAB students, faculty and staff may receive a 20 percent discount on single tickets.

Metheny is one of the most accomplished jazz artists in history. He has won countless polls as “Best Jazz Guitarist” and awards including three gold records for “(Still Life) Talking,” “Letter from Home” and “Secret Story.” He has won 20 Grammy awards in a variety of categories, including Best Rock Instrumental, Best Contemporary Jazz Recording, Best Jazz Instrumental Solo and Best Instrumental Composition, and at one point won seven consecutive Grammys for seven consecutive albums.

Metheny’s versatility is nearly without peer on any instrument. Over the years, he has performed with artists as diverse as Steve Reich, Ornette Coleman, Herbie Hancock, Jim Hall, Milton Nascimento and David Bowie. Metheny’s body of work includes compositions for solo guitar, small ensembles, electric and acoustic instruments, large orchestras, ballet pieces, and even the robotic instruments of his “Orchestrion” project, while always sidestepping the limits of any one genre.

In 2015, he was inducted into the Downbeat Hall of Fame, becoming only the fourth guitarist to be included (along with Django Reinhardt, Charlie Christian and Wes Montgomery) and its youngest member. Throughout his career, Metheny has continued to redefine the genre by utilizing new technology and constantly working to evolve the improvisational and sonic potential of his instrument. 

  • January 29