Secret Story (album)


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, 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.

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 "Good Girl", "Lots of Love", and "Love Life", from her 1991 album Love Life, and on two Metheny covers: "It's for You" on Welcome Back and "Praise" on Super Folk Song. 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.

Reception

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

Note
Grammy Awards
YearCategory
1993Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album