Pat Metheny's One Man Band

[mjzee]

"It's not synthesizers. It's not samples. It's actual physical, living, breathing, smacking-and-getting-hit stuff," says jazz guitarist Pat Metheny. "Guitars, marimbas, vibes, dozens of percussion instruments, cymbals, drums, some custom-made instruments—an ensemble of stuff that I can then write for and improvise with. That's essentially what the Orchestrion Project is." He is in his workshop in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn, the spacious chapel of what used to be a small Greek Orthodox church, speaking about his latest "band"—an automated set of jazz instruments that he has recorded with and is taking on the road.

The term "orchestrion" once described a self-playing, multi-instrumental music machine that disappeared almost a century ago. Think of a player piano plus accompaniment. The name feels big and heroic: one man "playing" all the parts of a very large band, live and acoustic.

More here:

Wall St Journal

[CJ Shearn]

Those of us who are Patheads, know the article details are nothing new.. but this really is a unique idea and one that works well musically. The title track and "Expansion" is among Pat's best writing ever. I want to see this in NYC the final night of the tour.

[AllenLowe]

is he doing that thing where he kicks the bass one drum with one foot, and gets the rubber thing going with the other?