LYLE MAYS Interview

I interviewed Lyle in Los Angeles for my BBC Radio 2 series “WHAT IS MELODY?” in 2007. He talks about his first meeting with Pat Metheny and discusses the composition of their then recent CD, “The Way Up”.

I first met Lyle when he joined the Pat Metheny Group and had the pleasure of working with him on the American Garage album in 1979. I remember being in the studio recording a tune called “The Search” and I suggested that the guitar melody, played on a 12-string might sound great in 3-part harmony. Pat and I discussed it for a couple of minutes and by the time Pat said, “OK, let’s try it”, Lyle had written the arrangement on a pad of paper. Whenever there was a problem in the studio, he would immediately go out to the dining area where he had a travel chess set.

Lyle had both a breathtaking musical talent and a wry sense of humor (as you’ll hear at the end of this interview!) I feel very fortunate to have known him.

 

[What is Melody? theme sung by Daisy Chute. End RadioRichard sting by Free Play Duo]