Guitarist
Pat Metheny had long expressed admiration for
Ornette Coleman's music, had recorded his compositions, and had worked extensively with bassist
Charlie Haden, so a collaboration was not totally unexpected, though who would have guessed that it would be on the Geffen label?
Metheny's almost rock star status has worked against him in other partnerships from time to time (notably, his overbearing playing on his project with
Derek Bailey, The Sign of 4), but here he happily sublimates his showier instincts and works as sympathetic co-leader, deferring to
Coleman's experience and genius. The music itself bears strong similarities to that of
Coleman's Prime Time ensembles wherein all players solo at once, bracketed by the themes of the piece.
Metheny often manages to be a quite expressive second voice, racing along beside the master saxophonist, offering alternative strategies and never showboating. The tandem percussion team of
Jack DeJohnette and
Coleman's son
Denardo are ferocious when need be, and
Charlie Haden is his standard exemplary self.
Metheny fans owe it to themselves to listen to some of his most exploratory and least "pastel" playing and, in fact, the album also contains some of
Coleman's best work since the mid-'70s. ~ Brian Olewnick