Rejoicing cover
Released

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

Recommended by

Suggestions
Further Explorations cover

Further Explorations

Paul Motian, Chick Corea, Eddie Gomez
Clarity cover

Clarity

Alexa Tarantino
The Space cover

The Space

Kenny Werner
Michael Brecker cover

Michael Brecker

Michael Brecker
Trip cover

Trip

Mike Stern
One Time Out cover

One Time Out

Paul Motian
Oasis cover

Oasis

Isabelle Olivier, Rez Abbasi
For Now cover

For Now

Billy Hart, Fred Hersch, Brian Landrus, Drew Gress
Play Doh cover

Play Doh

Carmen Sandim