PAT METHENY — Upojenie (with Anna Maria Jopek) (review)

PAT METHENY — Upojenie (with Anna Maria Jopek) album cover Boxset / Compilation · 2008 · Vocal Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
snobb
Probably even devoted Pat Metheny fans have never heard about this album. Originally recorded in 2002 in Poland, and released in Poland and the Far East only, until 2008 it was the best kept secret from the rest of the world.

Originally considered a release by Polish diva Anna Maria Jopek, in 2008 it was reissued by Nonesuch under Pat Metheny's name. Anna Maria Jopek is an excellent Polish artist, not a very strong jazz vocalist, but a soulful singer, beautiful woman and she has strong artistic appeal. "Upojenje"("Extasy") was recorded soon after Anna met Pat Metheny at a European jazz festival. Reworking some old Metheny compositions (and adding Polish lyrics), plus some of Anna's songs and a few more modernised Polish folk songs, this album represents that rare and strange magic you very often can't describe.

After the few very first Metheny albums, I lost interest in his polished straight-ahead fusion, world tunes and easy-listening contemporary jazz albums. His rare experimental albums sounded even less interesting, yet here on this work with the Polish diva, I find what he does best: combining his tunes and nice lyrical musicianship with pop-jazz/adult-pop vocals, plus soulful Eastern European folk-fusion and melodies. On this CD Pat demonstrates the best formula I have heard from him yet.

With support from leading Polish jazz musicians (incl. pianist Leszek Mozdzer) and known world fusion percussionist Mino Cinelu, this long album sounds pleasant, but very far from being boring (the international version is even longer - it contains 3 bonus tracks, 17 songs at all).

Don't expect the usual Pat Metheny fusion from this release though - dreamy soulful jazz-influenced Eastern European songs (sounding very modern) are what you'll find here. If you like stylish jazzy adult-pop vocal songs and are interested in hearing unusual sounding classic Metheny compositions - find this album, you won't be disappointed.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

My Ship Hard Bop
WILLIE JONES III
Buy this album from MMA partners
Ice Breaking Post-Fusion Contemporary
DAG ARNESEN
Buy this album from MMA partners
Lee Ritenour & Dave Grusin : Brasil Latin Jazz
LEE RITENOUR
Buy this album from MMA partners
From The North - Gogo Penguin Live In Manchester Nu Jazz
GOGO PENGUIN
Buy this album from MMA partners
Anthony Braxton Saxophone Quartet : Sax QT (Lorraine) 2022 Avant-Garde Jazz
ANTHONY BRAXTON
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

03 Willie Jones III My Ship #NightIsAlive
WILLIE JONES III
snobb· 3 hours ago
Fall
SUNNY KIM
js· 17 hours ago
Twilight
RANDY SCOTT
js· 1 day ago
Trifecta - Beck and Call - official video (taken from The New Normal)
TRIFECTA
js· 2 days ago
Phoenix
GRÉGORY PRIVAT
js· 2 days ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed