Orchestrion

I saw Pat perform Orchestrion live at the Robert Ferst Center at Georgia Tech in 2010. This performance was such a treat and I had a first row seat. Every time I play the CD it reminds me of the concert and how he brought in each instrument one by one when he performed "Spirit of the Air". I will never forget it. :) improvisation is truly a gift from God.

I love Pat Metheny and have listened to him for a quarter of my life. Orchestrion is vintage Metheny in scope, if not so much in style and I love the fact that he is ever pushing the envelope. But having said that, I did not enjoy Orchestrion as much for one basic and I think essential reason. Jazz (the spirit of, not the musical style) is all about the beautiful interplay between musicians, the creative process of discovery, the question and answer, the synergy. This dynamic gets lost when soulful notes become mere sound produced by one musician, even though enhanced by technology. Pat's new toys are a dazzling accomplishment, for sure, I will give him that. But it's still technology. There is a bit of "hollowness" to Orchestrion, and I don't just mean a mistrust of computers on a human level, a fear that "artificial intelligence" has now evolved into "musical intelligence". Ok, maybe that IS part of my reticence, but back the music: Orchestrion sounds a bit glossy and contrived to me, like an old Rock and Roll band that you loved in concert with all it's gritty edges and spontaneous leaps of faith, then the album that comes out is heavily overdubbed and polished to the point of banality. Let me state again that I think what Metheny and his techno-buddies have achieved is stunning in scope. I will also say that Pat being Pat, he is all about exploring and evolving and he might even agree with me that this is only the beginning of what he might accomplish with the gadgetry. But as I review Pat's extraordinary musical journey with his huge breath of musical collaborators and resulting influence (perhaps the longest list in the history of jazz), I absolutely love the influences of this sound and that, this riff and that riff. This passage made so much deeper by this PMG member or that legendary jazz great. This fantastic gumbo of musical influence has made Metheny into what he is today, not only a great musician but a great musical storyteller. It has also done much to advance jazz into our new century, when it seemed to be dying in the 90's. I have always believed that Pat's strength wasn't in his guitar, but in his mind and heart. His full and enthusiastic embrace of jazz and jazz musicians past, present and future has enriched his own music and us listeners in the process. Frankly, I can't come to terms with the notion that he might place technology ahead of people, computer bytes ahead of the soulful contributions and musical mystery of the human touch. Is this just a fad for him, a technological achievement? I hope so. It's been years now since the Pat Metheny Group has produced anything. His triplets and quartets have always been great, but I have also yearned for him to spread himself out wider into other genres, like Bela Fleck has done. But bottom line for me is this: however interesting, technology should be a compliment to music, not the driving force.

this album is just amazing!! i could wasily say this is one of my favorites!!

Always changing, never stagnant or stale. Reaching beyond the walls of his imagination and blessing true Metheny fans with his great works. Each and every artist on the disc compliments the other and what you have is just pure music, pure joy. Freaking thumbs up again.... Has never disappointed me

I listen to jazz because it relaxes me. And this album does just that. So if you are looking for a relaxing experience pick up this album today.

I find this release to be kind of like most superhero action movies of the last ten years: lots of interesting special effects, but no story line. A month later, you forget everything about the movie except for the effects. This MUSIC is fine, I suppose, if you've never heard anything by Metheny. If you have more than 5 or 6 releases, you've heard these chord progressions, timings, nuances before. Whatever's new isn't that interesting. Often artists who have been performing for many years endure a perfectly understandable "slump." How can you create something new when you've created so many wonderful pieces before? Often you will try new collaborations with other artists (Mehldau, Jopek). Sometimes you "discover" new instrumentations. That's what Metheny has done here. Experiments are what makes an artist grow, and one can't expect "Travels 3" out of Metheny. Give him room to grow. Experiments are hit or miss. I believe this is a miss, because there's nothing new for me to hum to, tap my feet to, ruminate on musically. But I'm glad he did it, and I wait patiently for the next evolutionary moment.

When i want to be alone i listen to anything Pat Metheny his music is so soothing.

Come and see.. and Feel.. Pat's Orchestrion Live! His surprising performance is so fantastic. I saw his live at LG Art Center in Seoul (4 June 2010) I'm crzy... he said.. Exactly I think he crzy. :-)

I have to say it took me much longer to appreciate this CD than some of Pat Metheny's other projects ("Imaginary Day" comes to mind - (great CD)). "Orchestrion" is Pat at his most creative self - doing his own thing and still asking the question, "Are You Going With Me?" If you ever get a chance to see his show live, I highly recommend you go. "Orchestrion needs to be experienced live - the visuals and his mix of old stuff with new robotics was amazing. While I, like a lot of other reviewers miss PMG, after seeing "Orchestrion" live, I have grown to love this CD! I also grew up believing everyone's entitled to their opinion. This is mine. Thank you.

This is not in lieu of Pat Metheny Group projects silly. :-) Why are folks so judgmental? Enjoy it (or don't) for what it is! Stop writing a fictional chapter book when you have no factual clue why t decided to do this!!