Fascinating!  That is one word I can think of to describe Pat Metheny’s latest recording, Orchestrion.  Musically, long-time fans of Metheny’s work will immediately notice how much this solo project resembles some of his past projects with the Pat Metheny Group.  But for this particular project, quite unique in the world of music (and especially, jazz), the fascinating part is not how the music sounds, but how it was made.  Metheny’s idea stems from a fascination with an instrument in his grandfather’s basement, and was finally able to fulfill his desire to take the same concept and apply it to his music.

The unique part of Orchestrion is that the band…isn’t.  Or rather, the “band” is Pat Metheny, or better yet an extension of himself.  No, this isn’t an overdub project, or Pat’s guitar playing along to a sequenced synthesizer.  In the past, an Orchestrion described a musical instrument that was originally an enhanced version of a player piano.  But instead of just playing a piano (as was the case in Metheny’s grandfather’s basement), an Orchestion features additional instruments (percussion, wind instruments, even other string instruments) that played via “piano rolls”, to put it simply.

Pat’s updating takes the Orchestrion into the 21st century by utilizing MIDI, computer technology, hydraulics and electromechanics (think of dozens of solenoids triggered by the MIDI data stream).  Utilizing various methods, he can actually direct and influence the playing of the instruments in the Orchestrion via his own guitar playing.  So in a sense, it’s like the phrase I used above–it is an extension of himself, his own nuances, pace and rhythm, while he plays his guitar.  While there are indeed limitations of the mechanical and electrical systems that prevent them from fully replacing human musicians, they are still capable of giving a dynamic and musical performance.

Among the many instruments in this Orchestrion are a drum set and percussion, pianos and vibraphone, bottles, guitars, and others.  Metheny controls these via his playing, and a set of foot pedals that likely trigger different events or modes.  I would think that there is also an amount of sequencing or programming going on with his triggering via MIDI.  To fully describe how it works would probably take a dozen pages or more.  The whole execution of it leaves an electro-mechanical geek like me fascinated by how it all works together.

Another amazing part of this project is that he is actually touring in support of this album…with the Orchestrion!  This would be an interesting concert for sure, although the tech geeks like me would probably prefer to spend a few hours in the studio with Metheny and the developers of all of these devices, showing us how it all works, and how he controls it.  (I’m sure that would be a golden opportunity for a bonus documentary on the inevitable tour DVD.)

From the songwriting aspect of it, Metheny has described the Orchestrion as a “platform.”  Which, the computer-minded among us, can relate to.  If you are writing computer code for a Windows computer, it often will not translate easily over to a Linux computer, or a mobile device.  Likewise, writing for the Orchestrion is a challenge.  You have a fixed number of instruments, and each of them has their limitations.  You are also limited by the platform itself–it is capable of a lot, but there is likely a point beyond which you can’t control everything you’d want to.  Within that platform framework, Metheny composed five lengthy pieces that take full advantage of the Orchestrion’s capabilities, and comes away with quite the musical result.  (One could even argue that Pat’s Pikasso guitar, with the dozens of strings, is yet another “platform” he works with.)

As I mentioned earlier, the songs on Orchestrion will remind you of past Pat Metheny Group projects.  They have the same lyrical and melodic qualities to them, and a couple of these are long-form compositions that bring to mind the Wichita Falls album, and the singular work The Way Up.  The title track, “Orchestrion,” gives the unit a major workout. This is perhaps the best demonstration of its capabilities.  This tune takes the Orchestrion through its full range of emotions–quiet, playful, and even hard-driving at times, such as during the climactic ending.

However, by the time this tune concludes, one thing suddenly comes to mind:  you remember that this was performed by Pat…and a machine!  In other words, after the first moment or two, you are no longer aware that you are listening to a complex “gadget” making all of that music, and the novelty value of it all.  Metheny’s music just carries you away and you find you’re just enjoying the music, like you would with his other projects.  I’ve always found Metheny’s music to be captivating, and Orchestrion is no less captivating than other recordings of his, I’ve found.  It is quite an accomplishment for Metheny to create music to his standards utilizing a “platform” he was previously unfamiliar with.

The only time I find that it’s not quite up to “human” performance standards is in some of the dymanics.  Yes, it can play loud and soft, but due to the mechanical limitations of the solenoids at work, there is only so much you can do.  Granted this is a very minor observation where the dynamics just seem a bit flat, but as I mentioned above, you get so involved in the music, you don’t usually tend to notice a cymbal or snare drum could have been smacked a bit harder by the drummer.

Regardless, I feel that once listeners get past the novelty value of “a machine that plays like a band”, they’ll get caught up in what’s basically another fine Pat Metheny album.  For my part, I’m enjoying the music, and I recommend others do the same.  Metheny has pulled off some incredible accomplishments here–designing and assembling the Orchestrion, and writing compositions that make full use of its abilities.  All without drawing attention to the fact that this is basically a big electro-mechanical instrument, controlled by Metheny in performance.

“Orchestrion” comes recommended by yours truly based on the music alone, and the Orchestrion’s role in the recording is the icing on the cake.  This one is not to be missed!  Orchestrion is available from Amazon.

View the EPK for “Orchestrion”, where Pat Metheny introduces the music and how it was made…

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