Pat Metheny Group-Offramp (1982)

"Offramp" is the third album by the Pat Metheny Group, winner of the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Performance. It was the first of the group's ten albums and reached number one on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart. Unanimously acclaimed by critics, "Offramp" is one of the most superb jazz-rock albums ever recorded. Its wide variety of sounds and influences, ranging from rock to folk and traditional American music, which Metheny incorporated into the compositions, along with the remarkable balance between acoustic and electronic instrumentation, gave this work both immense popularity and commercial appeal. With its understated production, the album features tracks such as the hypnotic and fantastic "Are You Going With Me", the subtle "Au Lait", and the joyful "James", dedicated to James Taylor. With this album, Metheny positioned himself at the forefront of the contemporary jazz scene, and it has endured as a classic in the legendary guitarist's career and one of the seminal works of jazz fusion.