the music of Pat Metheny in Dover

A collection of talented Seacoast jazz artists will celebrate the music of guitar virtuoso Pat Metheny at the Barley Pub in Dover on Sunday, Nov. 30. Led by drummer Jose Duque, the band also consists of Nate Therrien on bass, Phil Sargent on guitar, Mike Effenberger on piano and Chris Klaxton on trumpet.

Joining the instrumentalists will be special guest vocalist Aubrey Johnson, a Boston-based jazz singer who graduated from the jazz studies program at Western Michigan University. Duque noted that Johnson is the niece of Lyle Mays, original pianist and writer for the Pat Metheny Group. She is also performing with Katie Seiler at The Press Room in Portsmouth on Dec. 21.

Metheny is considered one of the greatest jazz guitarists to emerge in the post-bop era of the 1970s and ’80s. A pioneer in the realms of progressive jazz and fusion, Metheny is known for his experimentations on guitar synthesizer, 12-string guitar and even the 42-string Pikasso guitar. He formed the Pat Metheny Group in 1977 and remains active with the New York-based band.

Duque, who is also at work on a new album with his band Zumbatres, said he was inspired to launch the Metheny tribute project after seeing Effenberger’s band, Fiveighthirteen, perform entire sets of music by Radiohead. Eager to recreate the music of one of his own biggest influences, he contacted fellow Metheny fans and began rehearsing some of his favorite tunes. He said the show would mainly consist of tracks from the albums “First Circle,” “Still Live (Talking),” “Letter from Home,” “Secret Story” and “Travels,” along with some lesser known material.

Duque said his band will mostly stick to the original tunes, but instrumentalists will have plenty of opportunities to improvise. Although Metheny’s intricate music is notoriously difficult to play, Duque and his band mates look forward to the show.

“In short, I decided to do it because I wanted a challenge,” Duque said in an e-mail. “Metheny’s music is quite an inspiration to me.”

The free show begins at 8 p.m. on Sunday at the Barley Pub, 328 Central Ave., Dover, 603-742-4226. 

The Divorced release new disc in Portsmouth

Indie folk-rock band The Divorced will unveil its long-awaited debut album with a CD release show at Bourbon’s in Portsmouth on Friday, Nov. 28. The 21-plus show will also feature sets by area rock bands Dreadnaught and Kings Highway.

Founded in 2004 in Newburyport, Mass., The Divorced has shifted its headquarters to South Boston, but cellist and vocalist Juliet Nelson lives in Portsmouth. The band’s soothing and evocative sound is rooted around the gruff but restrained vocals of front man John Ryan Gallagher.

The group has gone through several lineup changes over the last few years but appears to have established a static roster with Gallagher, Nelson, drummer Matthew Kulik, guitarist Scott Chasse, bassist Caitlin Frame and pianist Cat. The Divorced has already toured the nation and developed a following in the greater Boston area, and the debut disc, “200X,” hit stores last month.

The Divorced is likely to appeal to anyone with a penchant for soft-core indie folk melodies with a kick of peppy percussion. The rich moan of Nelson’s cello weaves between acoustic and electric guitar notes to produce a lush and wistful sound that is somewhat reminiscent of fellow Newburyport-born band Tiger Saw. 

The Divorced is also playing alongside area favorites One Hand Free and Tim McCoy and the Papercuts at the Dover Brick House on Wednesday, Nov. 26, beginning at 8 p.m.

The $6 show on Friday begins at 9 p.m. at Bourbon’s, downstairs from the Muddy River Smokehouse, 21 Congress St., Portsmouth, 603-430-9582. For more on The Divorced, visit www.thedivorcedmusic.com or www.myspace.com/thedivorcedmusic.