Hi, I'm kiter (aka Terri), currently living in the SF Bay Area and a
long-time fan of Pat Metheny. I've recently discovered Yahoo groups,
and have been invited to join a couple (AdrianBelewTribe, and
newgrassprog&more) and have enjoyed them so much that I thought I'd
look around for groups interested in discussing and exploring the
music of one of my other great musical passions of many years.

I'm here for the low-down, the down-beat, the smooth groove, the
news, and the word on the street - and I hope this is the place for
some lively discussion of Pat's work and plans and themes and
trends...everything possible that I can learn about the man and his
music.

I'm 45, female, married with one stepdaughter, and have a few health
problems that keep me from getting out much to concerts, but I love
collecting music and keeping up to date on the live music scene. I
have degrees in art and art history, but I'm a little shy on music
history and, specifically, the history of jazz, so I'm looking to
broaden my knowledge and understanding of jazz in general. And I'm
just looking for other people who are as excited about the talent of
this great artist as I am! I may not have much formal understanding
of jazz, but what I've heard of the music of Metheny and his
associates has reached deep into my soul, and I'm ready to expand and
honor that in myself and in the world. I'd love to get to know some
members here, if possible, and find links to the greater, world-wide
fan base that I'm certain exists for the great man himself.

This evening I rented on DVD the Woodstock Jazz Festival, 1981,
featuring Chick Corea, Pat Metheny, and Lee Konitz. It was sheer joy
to watch Pat perform, as well as the many other talented performers.
I swear, I'm not a big fan of the saxophone - although I totally
respect the skill required to play it well! - but Lee Konitz breathed
and squeezed some amazing sounds through that horn! All the
performers, in their own right, gave amazing (to me) performances.

It almost looks like there has been a rift, or a reorganization into
more than one Pat Metheny Yahoo group, fairly recently? Can someone
dispassionately tell me what that was about, so that I don't step on
anbody's toes, inadvertently? I don't mind being mailed offlist
(kiter at comcast dot net; I'm also on messenger as kite_grrl, and
would love to chat with members interested in catching me up to speed
on things, or sharing links and resources with a newbie here.

Thanks for letting me join, and I look forward to learning, making
friends, and celebrating the great work of a great artist!