Lone Jack is a 1978 track by Pat Metheny Group from the album Cross the Heartland. It closes the record with bursting energy, showcasing dynamic shifts in volume and tempo. The tune opens with two quick notes and rockets through fast changes and short choruses, with an ascending bridge built on angular chords. Pat Metheny delivers a fierce yet melodic guitar solo, followed by Lyle Mays on piano whose time feels elastic, and then the energy climbs even higher as the band comes back in. Live versions highlight rock-influenced improvisation within a jazz context, including a 1977 jam-style rendition and a Pat Metheny Trio performance noted for its intensity. Genre: Fusion Jazz.
