Guitarist Pat Metheny is going from strength to strength. Following last year's instantly pleasing Pat Metheny Group album Letter from Home comes Question and Answer (Geffen Records, 7599-24293-1), a knockout session that teams the guitarist with two masters of jazz improvisation, bassist Dave Holland and drummer Roy Haynes.

The session came about when Metheny finished a world tour with his group, and felt like stretching out with some musicians he was not familiar with. He claims he did not intend to make a record, but the results were so good they had to be released. I am hesitant to believe the first claim (the tapes were rolling, after all), but will concur enthusiastically with the second.