All I can say is “Wow”. After seeing the live performance of this ultimate one man show, (actually he was joined by classical guitarist Romero Lubambo) I was speechless. If not for the sheer technicality of the concert, live at the Walt Disney Concert Hall/LA Phil, in Los Angeles, but for the ultimate musical performance itself. Pat is an under-spoken, mad scientist of a musician. Playing with all ten fingers his precision and chords make my hands hurt just watching him play. When I first heard of this Orchestrion project I had no idea what to expect nor whether it would hold for a complete album. The Orchestrion is a player piano on Transformer/Hulk level steroids. A wall of percussion’s and drums, odd looking glass tubes, xylophones, pianos, guitars, heck, everything you could ever imagine and then some all being controlled some live or triggered by Pat during the show. Little LED lights flashed with each triggered movement giving the stage a robotic sparkling effect. At the center of it all was Pat, guitar in hand moving around like a chef in a huge kitchen tending to this, stirring that, chopping this and flipping that. He even bowed to his massive Orchestrion after each performance. If you ever get the chance to see this live, don’t walk, RUN to it. It is a performance to remember for a lifetime, no matter what kind of music you like. Personally I am a straight up Jazz fan but at times the music defied explanation or category. I would say he is a classical Jazz artist is as close as I can describe him b,ut classical in the way of a Beethoven or Mozart. He is a genius and treasure to the musical world. The Orchestrion album itself is available everywhere but to see it live is something behold. I can’t wait for it on DVD. PAT METHENY
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