Secret Story (album)

Updated on Nov 26, 2024

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Released July 1992 (1992-07) Length 76:11 Artist Pat Metheny Label Geffen Records		Recorded 1991–1992 Producer Pat Metheny Release date 8 July 1992

Studio The Power Station, New York City Secret Story(1992) Zero Tolerance for Silence(1994) Genres Jazz, Jazz fusion, World music, Crossover jazz Awards Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album Similar Still Life (Talking), Travels, Bright Size Life, Letter from Home, What's It All About

Pat metheny above the treetops

Secret Story is an album by Pat Metheny released in 1992. All of the music is composed by Metheny (shared credit on one track), and it is one of his most ambitious and successful studio ventures, integrating elements of jazz, rock, and world music. On the performing side, it includes collaborations with the Pinpeat Orchestra of the Royal ballet of Cambodia), the London Symphony Orchestra and its conductor Jeremy Lubbock, the Choir of the Cambodian Royal Palace, Toots Thielemans, and Lyle Mays.

Pat metheny secret story live 1993 2 facing west

Background

The opening song, "Above the Treetops", is an adaptation of a Cambodian spiritual song; other pieces, such as "Antonia", take influence from Eastern Europe. Japanese pianist and singer Akiko Yano appears on "As a Flower Blossoms", earning the only co-writing credit on the album. Yano had previously collaborated with Metheny on "Lots of Love", from her 1991 album Love Life, and on two Metheny covers: "'It's for You'" on Welcome Back (1989) (which also featured Metheny performing on two additional songs) and "Praise" on Super Folk Song (1992). Orchestral arrangements for the album were conducted by Jeremy Lubbock.

Metheny took Secret Story on a concert tour, and a video recording of a live performance at New Brunswick, New Jersey, was issued. This film, also called Secret Story, was re-released on DVD in 2001.

Reception

AllMusic reviewer Thom Jurek awarded the album 4.5 stars."

Remaster

In September 2007, the album was released again with noticeably retouched mixes and a bonus CD of five unreleased tracks from the same sessions. The remaster was issued on WEA and Nonesuch Records.

Track listing

All music composed by Pat Metheny, except where noted.

Bonus disc of the 2007 reissue:

All music composed by Pat Metheny.

Personnel

Pat Metheny – electric guitars, acoustic guitars, bass, keyboards, piano

Gil Goldstein – accordion (tracks 4, 7, and 9)

Toots Thielemans – harmonica (tracks 8 and 11)

Lyle Mays – acoustic piano (tracks 2 and 6)

Mark Ledford – vocals (tracks 3 and 4)

Akiko Yano – vocals (track 10)

Charlie Haden – acoustic bass (tracks 1 and 8)

Steve Rodby – acoustic and electric bass (tracks 4–7, 9, and 11)

Will Lee – electric bass (tracks 4, 6, and 12)

Armando Marçal – percussion (tracks 1–7, 9, and 12)

Naná Vasconcelos – percussion (tracks 1, 4–5, and 10–12)

Danny Gottlieb – cymbal roll percussion (tracks 3 and 11)

Paul Wertico – drums (tracks 4–5, 7–9, and 11)

Steve Ferrone – drums (tracks 3–5 and 12)

Sammy Merendino – drums (track 6)

Andy Findon – flute (track 7)

John Clark – French horn (track 9)

Anthony Jackson – contrabass guitar (track 9)

Tom Malone – trombone (track 9)

Dave Taylor – bass trombone (track 9)

Dave Bargeron – trombone, tuba (track 9)

Michael Mossman – trumpet, flugelhorn (track 9)

Mike Metheny – trumpet, flugelhorn (track 9)

Ryan Kisor – trumpet, flugelhorn (track 9)

Skaila Kanga – harp (track 13)

Technical

Pat Metheny – producer

Steve Rodby and David Oakes – co-producers

Mastered by Ted Jensen

Recorded Fall-Winter 1991–92 at the Power Station, New York City

Songs

1Above The Treetops2:44
2Facing West6:06
3Cathedral In A Suitcase4:52

References

Secret Story (album) Wikipedia

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