Home » Jazz Articles » Play This! » Lyle Mays: Ascent

Lyle Mays: Ascent

By Scott Lichtman
March 12, 2024
Sign in to view read count

In 1986, master keyboardist Lyle Mays—known for his role in the Pat Metheny Group—issued his first solo album, Lyle Mays. It's full of compositions and improvisations that merit close listening, but the most astonishing piece may be "Ascent." The song's extended guitar solo, from Bill Frisell, redefines the sonic territory that an electric guitar can claim.

Starting at 3:32, listen to how Frisell's solo patiently builds chorus after chorus. Its phrasing crosses motifs, and the sound effect boxes make the notes sing like a violin. Eventually, the solo ceases to sound like its being played on guitar. Instead, it's pure sensation: it's an eagle swooping down on its prey; a firefighter rushing into a building to save a child; the ocean tossing. All the while, drummer Alex Acuña crashes and rolls the swells to new heights. "Ascent" is a rush that leaves you with a feeling of "Ah."

Contact Scott Lichtman on All About Jazz.
Jazz/fusion keyboardist & autograph collector in Stamford CT.

Contribute to Play This! Recommend a favorite song, album, or performance and we'll share it with your fellow All About Jazz readers. Submit it here.

< Previous
Sahib Shihab and the Danish Radio Jaz...

Next >
Lift

Comments

About Lyle Mays

Instrument: Keyboards

Tags

For the Love of Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help

To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.