Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Pat Metheny: Dream Box
Pat Metheny: Dream Box
ByMetheny's discography is a testament to his influence and talent, with 50 recordings and 20 Grammy wins across twelve different categories. From his groundbreaking album New Chautauqua, (ECM, 1979), which redefined instrumental steel-stringed Americana, to his exploration of free-improv in Zero Tolerance for Silence (Geffen Records, 1994) and the innovative use of technology in The Orchestrion Project, (Nonesuch, 2013) Metheny consistently pushes the boundaries of what a solo performer can achieve.
Dream Box follows the path of Metheny's previous solo baritone guitar recordings, One Quiet Night (Warner Bros, 2003) and What's It All About, (Nonesuch, 2011) but with a fresh twist. The album's title holds multiple meanings, symbolizing the jazz slang for a hollow-body guitar while capturing the dream-like quality of Metheny's musical vision. As he explains in the liner notes, the music in Dream Box exists in an elusive state, often discovered apart from any particular intention, resembling the dream logic that is coherent yet hard to pin down.
The album opens with "The Waves Are Not the Ocean," introducing the gentle and introspective nature of the record. Metheny's sparse chords and melodic lines create an intimate atmosphere, drawing the audience into his musical world. "From the Mountains" follows, with its majestic Latin-tinged melody, showcasing Metheny's ability to evoke a wide range of emotions through his compositions. Throughout Dream Box, Metheny displays his mastery of the electric guitar, effortlessly navigating intricate melodies and harmonies. The tracks "Trust Your Angels" and "Ole & Gard" demonstrate his lyrical and expressive playing style, paying homage to his mentors

Jim Hall
guitar1930 - 2013

Charlie Haden
bass, acoustic1937 - 2014
After the first four original compositions, Dream Box presents two elegantly rendered covers. The first is an inventive interpretation of Russell Vernon Longstreth's (aka Russ Long) lesser-known yacht rock classic, "Never Was Love." Metheny strips away the glossy pop artifice, revealing the intricate bluesy melody's sophisticated nature. The second cover, Sammy Cahn's "I Fall in Love Too Easily," resonates with echoes of pianist

Bill Evans
piano1929 - 1980
Dream Box emerges as yet another standout achievement in Pat Metheny's solo discography. It showcases his ability to unveil his musical visions and demonstrate his exquisite technique on the electric guitar. The album presents a dream-like musical world, where emotions and melodies intertwine, culminating in a truly immersive sonic experience. ">
Track Listing
The Waves Are Not the Ocean; From the Mountains; Ole & Gard; Trust Your Angels; Never Was Love; I Fall in Love Too Easily; P.C. of Belgium; Morning of the Carnival; Clouds Can't Change the Sky.
Personnel
Pat Metheny
guitarAlbum information
Title: Dream Box | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: BMG
Tags
Comments
PREVIOUS / NEXT
Pat Metheny Concerts

Pat Metheny
Teatro Gran RexBuenos Aires, Argentina

Pat Metheny
Grand National Theater Of PeruSan Borja, Peru

Pat Metheny
Teatro ColsubsidioBogotá, Colombia

Pat Metheny
Teatro DianaGuadalajara, Mexico

Pat Metheny
Sala NezahualcoyotlCiudad de México, Mexico

Pat Metheny
The KateOld Saybrook, CT

Pat Metheny
The KateOld Saybrook, CT

The Park Theatre
The Historic Park Theatre & Event CenterCranston, RI
Support All About Jazz
