If 1980's
As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls was defined by
Pat Metheny's charisma, its less accessible but certainly rewarding successor,
Offramp, finds him leaning more toward the abstract. But as cerebral as
Metheny gets on such atmospheric pieces as
"Are You Going with Me?" and
"Au Lait," his playing remains decidedly lyrical and melodic. Clearly influenced by
Jim Hall, the thoughtful
Metheny makes excellent use of space, choosing his notes wisely and reminding listeners that, while he has heavy-duty chops, he's not one to beat everybody over the head with them. Even when he picks up the tempo for the difficult and angular title song, he shuns empty musical acrobatics. Throughout the CD,
Metheny enjoys a powerful rapport with keyboardist
Lyle Mays, who also avoids exploiting his technique and opts for meaningful storytelling. ~ Alex Henderson
![Waltz for Debby [1962]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0888072323261_p0_v2_s90x140.jpg "Waltz for Debby [1962]")
