Lyle Mays, Evocative Pianist Who Helped Define The Pat Metheny Group, Is Dead at 66

[Cartoonist]

Too much good music to choose a clip.

[Midnight Writer]

1. His music is so beautiful it gives you chills.

I confess. I used to buy Pat Metheny records to hear Lyle Mays, more than Pat.

[NNadir]

2. Really bad news. I saw him live a number of times in the 70's and 80's.

First John Abercrombie. Now him. Very sad.

He was a tremendous musician.

[Starseer]

3. Hard news

When I heard this news yesterday, I was saddened almost beyond my ability to speak of it.

I was introduced to PMG when I did laser-light/planetarium show gigs back in the late 80's and early 90's in Dallas, and was profoundly affected by Lyle's gift of touch on the keys. Nearly 35 years later and I'm still a great fan of PMG, and introduce the group to anyone that I can. Lyle and Pat really formed the backbone of the PMG sound -- evocative and heartfelt in many places; a sense of wild, child-like fun in others.

Play on, Brother Lyle. We hear you.