IT’S APRIL FOOLS’ DAY but I won’t be writing about “politicians”…oops…I mean fools although it does seem tempting and looks kind of fun. But we’ll reserve that for another day.
And if you think we’re going to talk about some secret story, about the sordid erotic escapades of Geronimo Treñas a.k.a. Jerry Treñas (wait a minute, does he even have one?) perish the thought. We are not and it would not be in good taste if we do.
Neither are we talking about the perceived love affairs of Cocojam a.k.a. Jam-jam Baronda as that would be quite boring indeed, bearing in mind if she has one in the first place, and even if she has multiple affairs that’s absolutely none of our business.
Just watch 50 Shades of Grey or Pornhub to satisfy your kinky desires.
Anyway, we would love to talk about Cocojam, that pioneering Pinoy reggae band as it gives off more pleasant and hip vibes. But that’s another column.
And we segue to something more progressive, i.e. art, specifically music for those with a “sense of style.”
From that free online encyclopedia a.k.a. the internet:
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 Orchestra and its conductor Jeremy Lubbock, the Choir of the Cambodian Royal Palace, Toots Thielemans, and Lyle Mays.
And Pat Metheny is: Patrick Bruce Metheny an American jazz guitarist and composer.
He is the leader of the Pat Metheny Group and is also involved in duets, solo works, and other side projects. His style incorporates elements of progressive and contemporary jazz, Latin jazz, and jazz fusion. Metheny has three gold albums and 20 Grammy Awards and is the only person to win Grammys in 10 categories. He is the brother of jazz flugelhornist Mike Metheny.
If you have not heard or familiar with the music or cannot tell the difference between Pat Metheny and a fig tree definitely you are artistically and culturally challenged.
Really it’s quite obvious that you have no sense of style and your taste in music is similar and uninteresting as that of a doorknob.
Then again who cares?
And we go back to Pat Metheny and our featured album Secret Story. Here are excerpts from an AllMusic Review by Thom Jurek:
Secret Story is among the more provocative recordings in Pat Metheny‘s oeuvre. Combining the relaxed groove of the early Pat Metheny Group recordings, it is full of odd sounds, exotic instrumentation, and the participation of members of the London Orchestra conducted by Jeremy Lubbock. Along with regular group members – bassist Steve Rodby, drummer Paul Wertico, percussionist Naná Vasconcelos, pianist-keyboardist Lyle Mays – numerous guests adorn these tracks as well: bassists Charlie Haden and Will Lee, percussionist Armando Marcal, vocalist Mark Ledford, jazz harmonica legend Toots Thielmans, Gil Goldstein, and Pat‘s brother Mike Metheny. But what’s most notable is that none of these players are constants, as this is most certainly a Metheny solo effort: Secret Story is his own song, so to speak. His acoustic and electric guitars are augmented by synthesizers and samplers, and no matter how lush these proceedings get, they are never overwhelmed by production. Metheny is one of the few jazz musicians working today who completely understands what technology is used for, and his production never overwhelms his compositions. The entire disc comes off as a sort of interior travelogue, a heart’s remembrance, a memento mori; it is one of the most emotionally expressive recordings in his career.
Besides Secret Story there’s another album, Shadows and Light, a collaboration with singer/songwriter Joni Mitchell, perhaps the greatest jazz bass player the late Jaco Pastorius and Pat Metheny that combines the elements of progressive jazz and folk rock in my book one of the epitome of jazz fusion next to Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew album.
But we will talk about that in another day.
Almost two decades ago on a road trip to lands end of Northern Luzon, specifically Tuguegarao City the capital of the province of Cagayan (basically a 12 hours’ drive by private vehicle from Metro Manila) I had a profound experience with the music of Pat Metheny as soundtrack.
As the first lights of dawn were breaking through the darkness one sees images of breathtaking landscapes and mountain ranges.
I had Pat Metheny’s Secret Story on the Discman (yup, back then there were no iPhones) and blasting on the headphones while watching the surreal landscape emerging with the first light of day. I was overwhelmed with the perfect fusion of progressive jazz and nature’s artistic creation that tears where flowing down my eyes.
My mind was as clear as day. No caffeine, alcohol or marijuana, just the awesome majesty of nature and the music of Pat Metheny. (brotherlouie16@gmail.com/PN)
