Full of love — Lyle Mays

[ NANDO LAURIA ]

What was the first piece of music you heard from Lyle?

The first time I heard Lyle was through his collaboration with Pat on As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls, released in 1981 when I was 21. I remember being completely blown away by his playing. His solo on “Ozark,” his delicate and intricate playing on “September Fifteenth,” and then hearing his “trademark” sound on the melody of “It’s for you.” Wow! From that moment on, I became a big fan and was hooked on everything Lyle did.

Can you tell us your impressions about Lyle upon meeting him for the first time?

Oh, that was a BIG treat for me. A few days before, while studying at Berklee in Boston, I had recorded a demo cassette tape, singing “Close to Home” and “First Circle,” and left it at the office of Pat’s manager, David Sholemson, in Brighton. The same day I got a call from David, saying Pat wanted to meet me, and so he went to my apartment on Hemenway St. to talk about music and the Group. Then Pat asked me to do a live audition with the band at a Waltham warehouse outside Boston where he and Lyle were working on the songs for the new record (what later would be Letter from Home). Pat first showed me the room he was composing. Then upon opening the other room, there was Lyle with a big smile and gave me a big hug and said: “Hey Nando, welcome! How are you doing, man? Heard good things about you.” He made me feel so at home that I almost forgot I was meeting face to face with my biggest music heroes. That was so emotional for me.

Right after that, Lyle started to show me the new songs and what I should sing in each one of them (even before I had the “audition” that day…hahahahaha). He was very caring, attentive, and friendly with me, and so I could not have been happier in meeting him. That was in early November 1988 when I was 28 years old. A few days later, I would perform the first concerts with the Pat Metheny Group.

To you, what made Lyle such a special musician?

Lyle was a genius in many ways. His level of intelligence was very high and it showed in everything he would put his mind to whether it be in music, architecture, computer programming, or creating games (still have one he created and gave me during The Way Up tour called “Lingo”). Lyle’s music is full of love and you can feel he puts his heart into each and every note played. Besides his amazing chops and technique, his amazing sensitivity and incredibly good taste would always detach him from other piano players. In each solo, as well as in each composition, he was always telling a story, making such great use of dynamics, tension and release, contrasts, colors, and vibes. Behind all the songs he recorded with the PMG, other groups, or his solo projects, Lyle’s sense of orchestration and arranging talents shone so much, it would bring each and every song to a whole new level. To me, Lyle is a unique and irreplaceable musician.

Name one thing that surprised you about Lyle?

Lyle had lived few months here in Brazil, and learned how to play soccer. Because of that, after the coach of the youth soccer team from Columbus, Wisconsin (where he was living in the early nineties) quit, he volunteered for the job and became the new coach. He dedicated himself so much to this and created a VHS soccer library, wrote a complete soccer manual, and would practice routinely with the kids. Through the years, the other parents in the town have simply continued the library, continued to use the manual, and kids teach other kids. And because Columbus was winning every year, some other communities were petitioning to get Columbus ejected from the league, as the other teams would not have a chance. Lyle was the one responsible for teaching the Brazilian style of soccer playing in that city, which it is being passed on and on.

Can you tell us about working and recording with Lyle on your album Points of View? Also, when you hear that music today, what comes to mind?

I always wanted to record with Lyle, so when it was time to record my first CD, Lyle was the first one on my list. We agreed he would play on 2 songs of mine: “After Dawn” and “Saudade (Longing).” The vibe in the studio was so great, specially because Lyle was meeting Danny Gottlieb, from the early Pat Metheny Group, after so many years. Also, the other musicians were so excited to record together with these guys. I couldn’t be happier.

The recording went like a breeze, and everybody played their asses off. To me, Lyle’s solos on both songs were two of the most “magical” moments of the entire recording. I still listen to them constantly after all these years. But before leaving the studio and going back to the hotel, I wanted to show Lyle one more song. I started playing the intro guitar of “If I Fell” and he promptly sat at the piano and said, “Nando, let’s do this song all in samba rhythm?” So we kept the guitar Intro and ending I had composed/arranged and Lyle changed the entire harmony of the song on the spot. THAT was the extra bonus of having Lyle in the studio. I was smiling from ear to ear.

When I listen to what we have recorded together, it comes to mind that I was VERY LUCKY and HONORED to be one of a few musicians in the world that had a chance to have de genius of Lyle Mays play on your record. It breaks my heart that he is gone, and those are moments I will treasure it forever.

Please share some of your memories with the Pat Metheny Group via the tour on The Way Up.

The Way Up was a very demanding tour. Long flights, long bus travels (specially in Europe), sleeping fewer hours but I was exactly where I wanted to be, and living a dream of 17 years. Since Pat had asked me to be in the “Miscellaneous Instruments Section,” besides singing and playing guitar (my main thing), I had to practice instruments like melodica, kalimbas, marimba, Flugelhorn, and several percussion instruments, so it was a wonderful growth environment for me. There was so much emotion on each show, night after night.

There were many special moments. In fact, the entire tour was “a special moment.” Playing pool table with Lyle was one of those moments, where he was very competitive, focused, and played really well. I could not beat him, nor anyone else in the band. I also remember Lyle being really happy in some German city because that day he was going to meet in person the president of the LEGO world. Yes, Lyle was so into Legos that he had a room just for that in his house, and that day he was going to see the very rare PINK LEGO!

Another funny moment with Lyle was during our very last concert in Montreal was when Antonio Sanchez was doing a long drum solo - Pat hid himself behind Lyle’s piano to put some spray hair fix so the wind would not mess up his hair. At that time, Lyle looked at me and had that smirk smile on his face and we all smiled. Great memories never to be forgotten.