Pat Metheny & Anna Maria Jopek
Upojenie
Nonesuch
By George W. Harris

Recorded back in 2002, but only recently released stateside, this recording is like no other Metheny project. The initial vision was to capture the voice of Polish pop star Anna Maria Jopek in the context of Polish folk music mixed with Jopek and Metheny compositions. The result is the most sublime and intimate portrait of music that has ever come out of the guitarist’s catalogue. Fans will recognize tunes like “Letter From Home” and “The Meaning of The Means”, but with Jopek’s serene voice, the music has an extra texture of pastoral charm. The collection of=2 0supporting musicians create a wondrous mix of exotic instrumentation with Jopek’s floating vocals, as the songs float like a morning mist on verdant hills, as on “Here Comes the Silent Dusk”. Jopek’s crystal enunciation glides around Metheny’s various acoustic and electric guitars with aplomb. Subtle and acquiescent for most of the session, Metheny lets loose on a dramatic reading of “Are You Going With Me” with Jopek’s wordless vocals making a wavelike introduction to the piece. This release satisfies on a surfeit of levels and we are fortunate to finally have it accessible to us. Seven years down the pike, and Metheny is still setting the pace!