Perhaps Jaco's Best Work
I'm not a big Pat Metheny fan. It's not that I don't appreciate his genius; I just never got around to listening to him very much (much to my dismay). In truth, I got this album because of Jaco. At first, I thought the whole work was a little too low-key and esoteric, but as I kept listening, I began thinking that this may be Jaco's finest. His fretless sound is indeed at its best, whether he's playing a slower melody line as in "Sirabhorn," or a funkier riff as on my favorite cut of the whole album, "Omaha Celebration." I think what surprises me most is how laid back Jaco is, and how much I like that he is laid back. Don't get me wrong -- I love the "in your face" Jaco. It's just that when it comes to all-around musicianship, this work is just so much more meaningful and moving than his self-titled solo album (which is perhaps one of the most important jazz albums ever made)or "Heavy Weather." Of course, this is all subjective. The only thing I can say for sure is that "Bright Size Life" is one more piece of evidence proving that 1976 was Jaco's finest year. MBK

A watershed recording
A watershed recording, and the first as a leader by Metheny. And the amazing thing is that some of these tunes were actually exercises that Metheny wrote for his Berklee jazz guitar students, after he segued from student to instructor.

A Classic
While I'm a long-time jazz fan and sometimes performer, I've only lately come to appreciate Mr. Metheny's playing. This is a must-have in the library, not only for the guitar work, but Bob Moses and Jaco are on fire as well.

This is the One To Have
If you could only own one Pat Metheny recording, it would have to be this one, his freshman outing. The opening seconds of "Bright Size Life", with Pat's odd-interval-ascending melody and Jaco's first ringing chord are one of the most memorable beginnings of any recording I have heard. The rest of the record is a brief but astonishing tour through the mind of a great trio that only came together in the wonderful studios of Eicher's ECM. Thank god Gary Burton picked Metheny out of Missouri, and that Metheny teamed with the meteoric Jaco before he left us. At least we have Bright Size Life to cherish over and over.

Breathtaking ...
I'm not really a kid, but I never write reviews so making an account on amazon doesn't make any sense. I never write reviews but this time I can't keep my nouth shut.

What a brilliant album this is! It's quiet, intropective, and delightingly beautiful. Metheny has all the emotions at his fingertips, and brings them to the audience in a quiet and honest way. I especcially like the quieter tracks, like "Unity Village" and "Midwestern Night Dream". This is just plain beautiful stuff, honestly. Everyone can like this cd, may it be on occasion, late at night with a good drink (very recommendable), or just all day long (for jazz freaks only). Very highly reccomended. Everyone should've heard this once in a lifetime.