Leading a trio that includes bassist Charlie Haden and drummer Billy Higgins, Pat Metheny delivers a strange but beautiful program that includes several Ornette Coleman tunes (notably the trippingly beautiful title track) as well as “The Calling,” an extended improvised skronk-fest that comes as a truly startling departure from the otherwise relatively straight-ahead proceedings. On more accessible fare like “Humpty Dumpty” and Haden’s composition “Blues for Pat,” Metheny employs his usual rich and soft-edged tone, but on “The Calling” he taps into his effects and produces a bright, trumpet-like tone before the sound collapses into complete chaos. The overall effect is an album that is alternately gorgeous and exhausting — and I mean that in a good way.

– Rick Anderson