The Visionary

Metheny picked up the guitar at 12 and was sharing stages with jazz greats by 15, foreshadowing a career marked by relentless reinvention. His signature sound—fluid, horn-like phrasing rooted in deep jazz tradition—has expanded the possibilities of improvisation, while his technical ingenuity led to creations like the 42-string Picasso guitar and robotic Orchestrion project. Beyond his eight Best Contemporary Jazz Album Grammys, he’s the only guitarist to win in rock, new age, and instrumental composition categories, proving his cross-genre mastery. Honored as a 2018 NEA Jazz Master (America’s highest jazz accolade), Metheny remains a towering force, continually pushing boundaries and redefining what the guitar can do.