VOA标准英语2011--Pat Metheny Goes Solo on 'What's It All

Pat Metheny Goes Solo on 'What's It All About'

Acclaimed¹ guitarist Pat Metheny returns to playing solo acoustic² guitar on a new album of pop standards called "What's It All About."
It's not every day that you hear a remake of The Stylistics' "Betcha By Golly, Wow" played on a baritone guitar. And, while Pat Metheny's rendition retains a touch of the song's original soul flavor, there are elements of his signature blend of jazz, folk and new age.
While Pat introduced the baritone guitar eight years ago on his Grammy-winning album "One Quiet Night," this is the first time he has recorded an entire collection of songs by composers other than himself. The idea to make an album of hit songs from his past sprang from what he describes as "an exploration into unknown territory."
Besides having an emotional attachment³ to the lyrics⁴, Pat was deeply inspired by the melodies. He says, "My focus is really on the actual notes and harmonies that make these pieces interesting to me as a musician."
"Cherish" was a Number One hit for The Association in 1966, the year Pat Metheny began playing guitar. By age 15, he was already making a name for himself as a professional guitarist on the Kansas City jazz scene. His recording⁵ career spans more than three decades. During that time, he has earned a total of 18 Grammy Awards, both as a soloist⁶ and with the Pat Metheny Group.
The title of his latest album "What's It All About" comes from the opening line in the Burt Bacharach-Hal David tune⁷ "Alfie." Pat also interprets songs by Henry Mancini, Paul Simon, Carly Simon, Paul Williams, and Antonio Carlos Jobim. He plays a nylon string guitar on the John Lennon and Paul McCartney ballad⁸, "And I Love Her."

1 acclaimed   

adj.受人欢迎的

参考例句：

• They acclaimed him as the best writer of the year. 他们称赞他为当年的最佳作者。
• Confuscius is acclaimed as a great thinker. 孔子被赞誉为伟大的思想家。

2 acoustic   

adj.听觉的，声音的；(乐器)原声的

参考例句：

• The hall has a fine acoustic.这个大厅的传音效果很好。
• Animals use a whole rang of acoustic, visual,and chemical signals in their systems of communication.动物利用各种各样的听觉、视觉和化学信号来进行交流。

3 attachment   

n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附

参考例句：

• She has a great attachment to her sister.她十分依恋她的姐姐。
• She's on attachment to the Ministry of Defense.她现在隶属于国防部。

4 lyrics   

n.歌词

参考例句：

• music and lyrics by Rodgers and Hart 由罗杰斯和哈特作词作曲
• The book contains lyrics and guitar tablatures for over 100 songs. 这本书有100多首歌的歌词和吉他奏法谱。

5 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

6 soloist   

n.独奏者，独唱者

参考例句：

• The soloist brought the house down with encore for his impressive voice.这位独唱家以他那感人的歌声博得全场喝彩。
• The soloist had never performed in London before.那位独唱者过去从未在伦敦演出过。

7 tune   

n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整

参考例句：

• He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
• The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。

8 ballad   

n.歌谣，民谣，流行爱情歌曲

参考例句：

• This poem has the distinctive flavour of a ballad.这首诗有民歌风味。
• This is a romantic ballad that is pure corn.这是一首极为伤感的浪漫小曲。