Secret Story (album) explained

Secret Story
Type:	studio
Artist:	Pat Metheny
Cover:	SecretStory.jpg
Recorded:	Fall 1991–Winter 1992
Studio:	Power Station, New York City
Genre:	Jazz, jazz fusion, world music, world fusion
Label:	Geffen
Producer:	Pat Metheny
Chronology:	Pat Metheny
Prev Title:	Question and Answer
Prev Year:	1990
Next Title:	The Road to You
Next Year:	1993

Secret Story is an album by Pat Metheny released in 1992 that won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album in 1993.All of the music is composed by Metheny (shared credit on one track), and it is one of his most ambitious 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, legendary harmonica player Toots Thielemans, and keyboardist Lyle Mays from Pat Metheny Group.

Background

The opening song, "Above the Treetops", is an adaptation of a Cambodian spiritual song. 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 her 1991 album Love Life'. 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.

The album was certified Gold by the RIAA on December 1, 1995.^[1]

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 previously unreleased tracks from the same sessions.^[2] The remaster was issued on WEA and Nonesuch Records.

Track listing

Note

• Bonus CD of the 2007 Deluxe Edition reissue. The numbering for bonus disc tracks 2–4 in the booklet and on the packaging is wrong. The tracklist below is as the music is presented on disc.^[3]

Personnel

• Pat Metheny – guitars, bass guitar, keyboards (all tracks)
• Armando Marçal – percussion (tracks 1–7, 9, 12, 16)
• Steve Rodby – double bass, bass guitar (tracks 4-7, 9, 11, 16)
• Paul Wertico – drums (tracks 4–5, 7–9, 11, 16)
• Naná Vasconcelos – percussion (tracks 1, 4–5, and 10–12), voice (track 11)
• Steve Ferrone – drums (tracks 3–5, and 12)
• Will Lee – bass guitar (tracks 4, 6, 12, 19)
• Gil Goldstein – accordion (tracks 4, 7, and 9)
• Lyle Mays – piano, keyboard (tracks 2, 6, and 16)
• Toots Thielemans – harmonica (tracks 8, 11, and 15)
• Charlie Haden – double bass (tracks 1, 8, and 15)
• Danny Gottlieb – cymbal roll, percussion (tracks 3 and 11)
• Mark Ledford – vocals (tracks 3, 4, and 16)
• Ryan Kisor – trumpet, flugelhorn (track 9)
• Mike Metheny – trumpet, flugelhorn (track 9)
• Michael Mossman – trumpet, flugelhorn (track 9)
• Dave Bargeron – trombone, tuba (track 9)
• Tom Malone – trombone (track 9)
• Dave Taylor – bass trombone (track 9)
• John Clark – French horn (track 9)
• Andy Findon – flute (track 7)
• Skaila Kanga – harp (track 13, 17)
• Anthony Jackson – contrabass guitar (track 9)
• Sammy Merendino – drums (track 6)
• Akiko Yano – vocals (track 10)
• Paulo Braga – drums (track 19)

Technical

• Pat Metheny – producer
• Steve Rodby and David Oakes – co-producers
• Mastered by Ted Jensen
• Recorded 1991–92 at the Power Station, New York City
• Orchestra recorded at Abbey Road Studio One, London, UK^[4]

Awards

Grammy Awards

Notes and References

1. Web site: Gold & Platinum - RIAA. RIAA. 19 May 2017.
2. Web site: Kelman. John. October 20, 2007. Pat Metheny: Secret Story: Deluxe Edition. November 11, 2021. All About Jazz.
3. Web site: Secret Story by Pat Metheny. Nonesuch Records. 4 October 2017.
4. Album Liner Notes