80/81

Released in 1980 on ECM, 80/81 represents a critical turning point in Pat Metheny's career, signaling his arrival as a serious force in the acoustic jazz world. Recorded with an all-star quintet featuring Michael Brecker, Dewey Redman, Charlie Haden, and Jack DeJohnette, the album moved away from the polished fusion of the Pat Metheny Group toward a more raw, improvisational style. The record is notable for its 'double tenor' lineup, pitting Brecker's technical precision against Redman's more earthy, Ornette Coleman-influenced approach. The track 'Two Folk Songs: 1st' remains a landmark of the 'Americana-jazz' style Metheny helped pioneer, featuring high-velocity acoustic strumming that bridges the gap between folk music and jazz intensity. Critics often cite this album as the moment Metheny proved his avant-garde credentials, particularly on the 14-minute collective improvisation 'Open.' The production by Manfred Eicher captures the group with a dry, immediate presence that differs from the more reverb-heavy 'ECM sound' associated with Metheny's later work.