Tuesday, Sept. 4: Pat Metheny Unity Band

TOM SUROWICZ | Updated 9/11/2012

Pat Metheny's new project the Unity Band is at the Dakota Jazz Club at 7 p.m.

Pat Metheny performs at this month’s Newport Jazz Festival.
Photo by AP

PAT METHENY UNITY BAND

It's possible that the last time Pat Metheny played a club gig in town, it was the mid-'70s at the Longhorn Bar, better known as the breeding ground of Twin Cities punk. The guitar superstar meteorically graduated to concert halls, but his new project with the Unity Band -- Chris Potter, Antonio Sanchez and new face on bass Ben Williams -- is bringing him back to intimate venues. Multi-reedman Potter, a jazz insider's favorite, is getting his biggest mainstream exposure as the first sax player to grace a Metheny album since Dewey Redman and Michael Brecker traded licks on the double LP "80/81" more than 30 years ago.