Secret Story

Product Description:

Personnel: Pat Metheny (acoustic & electric guitars, guitar synthesizer, electric sitar, trumpet, flugelhorn, Synclavier, synthesizer, keyboards, piano, electric bass, electric percussion); Mark Ledford, Akiko Yano (vocals); Nana Vasconcelos (vocals, percussion); Ryan Kisor, Michael Mossman (trumpets, flugelhorns); John Clark (French horn); Tom Malone (trombone); Dave Bargeron (trombone, tuba); Dave Taylor (bass trombone); Andy Findon (flute); Toots Thielemans (harmonica); Skaila Kanga (harp); Lyle Mays, Gil Goldstein (acoustic pianos, accordions); Anthony Jackson (contrabass guitar); Will Lee (electric bass); Steve Rodby (acoustic & electric bass); Charlie Haden (acoustic bass); Armando Marcal, Steve Ferrone, Paul Wertico (percussion); Danny Gottlieb (cymbals); Members of the London Orchestra.

Additional vocals: Members of the Pinpeat Orchestra of the Royal Ballet and the Choir of the Royal Cambodian Palace.

Recorded at the Power Station, New York in the fall and winter of 1991-92 and at EMI-Abbey Road Studio, London, England.

All songs written by Pat Metheny.

Personnel: Pat Metheny (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, electric sitar, piano, keyboards, synthesizer, guitar synthesizer, keyboard bass, electric bass, percussion); Nana Vasconcelos (vocals, percussion); David Blamires, Akiko Yano, Mark Ledford (vocals); Skaila Kanga (harp); Andy Findon (flute); Toots Thielmans, Toots Thielemans (harmonica); Gil Goldstein (accordion, piano); Mike Methney, Michael Mossman, Ryan Kisor (trumpet, flugelhorn); John Clark (French horn); Dave Bargeron (trombone, tuba); Tom Malone (trombone); Dave Taylor (bass trombone); Lyle Mays (piano, keyboards); Steve Rodby (acoustic bass, electric bass); Charlie Haden (acoustic bass, bass guitar); Stever Rodby (acoustic bass); Will Lee (electric bass, bass guitar); Anthony Jackson (bass guitar); Paul Wertico, Paulo Braga, Steve Ferrone, Sammy Merendino (drums); Danny Gottlieb (cymbals); Armando Marcal (percussion); Members Of The London Orchestra, Members Of The Quebec Children's Choir, Jeremy Lubbock, Gavyn Wright.

Audio Remasterer: Pete Karam.

SECRET STORY is Pat Metheny's most ambitious solo project to date. Striking out on his own after many successful years with his Pat Metheny Group, the guitarist makes a grand statement with this collection of works that spans the globe in scope. Although some pieces could easily have come off of a PMG collection, Metheny borrows from a wide range of textures here, from Cambodian choirs to Brazilian percussion to European orchestras. All of this is held together by Metheny's always-expressive guitar playing.

Right away the listener is keyed into the fact that this is a unique project by the otherworldly vocal chants of the opening "Above The Treetops," a short introduction to a broader sonic world. More familiar ground is covered in such Group-esque works as the exciting "Facing West" and the exceptional "See The World." However, it is the more eclectic pieces like the dramatically intricate "Finding And Believing," which can only be described as Indian-flavored funk (!), and the dream-like "Rain River" where Metheny is at his creative best. Of special note are the many dramatic ballads like the beautiful "Always And Forever," the delicate "The Longest Summer," and the epic "The Truth Will Always Be."