Song X: Twentieth Anniversary Edition

by

Pat Metheny and Ornette Coleman

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In honor of Ornette Coleman's 75th birthday as well as 20 years since the recording of Pat Metheny and Coleman's groundbreaking collaboration "Song X", Metheny and Nonesuch records bring us "Song X: Twentieth Anniversary".

Remastered and remixed with superior quality, the anniversary edition not only presents "Song X" with the album's original eight tracks but also features an additional six from the same 1985 recording sessions. Instead of being tacked onto to the end of the album, the disc opens with the bonus material which is in the same vein as the original album with a few experimental turns and twists. "Compute", for example, includes some far-out electronic percussion effects from drummer Denardo Coleman (Ornette's son) while "All Of Us" is a fast-charged unison piece that races at rapid speed before ending at just 15 seconds.

As for the previously released material, it is presented in a stunning new mix with all of the instrumentation being given greater depth and space. This is especially apparent on the 13-minute free-for-all "Endangered Species" in which the tight dissonant improvisations now appear to be less cluttered. Also, listen for Pat's shout of excitement during the drum solo in this piece ("Wooo") which was mixed out of the original album.

Mixing improvements are also prevelant in "Video Games", "Trigonometry" and the closing track "Long Time No See" which feature more prominent drums and beefier equalization to the guitars and saxophone.

Indeed, the twentieth anniversary of "Song X" is something very dear and special. The chemestry between Pat and Ornette really shines with brilliance here. Their solid rhythm backing of Denardo, Jack DeJohnette and Charlie Haden gives the extra push this music needs to be perfectly flawless. With its bonus material, new liner notes, original artwork and deluxe packaging, "Song X: Twentieth Anniversary" is highly recommended. Even if you already have the original CD, it's worth it to buy it all over again.

On a personal note: I bought the original "Song X" in 1994, eight years after its original release. Although I had been a big Metheny fan for 10 years at the time, I had never heard of Ornette Coleman until I heard "Song X". It was my introduction to Ornette's music and have been a fan ever since.

Interesting precursor to the thrash-jazz movement comes packed with explosive avant-garde interplay but also suffers from the strained dynamics. While the Metheny-Coleman alliance is an interesting one, it does not always work in favor of the music. Only when the duo go all out, abandoning tradition in search of brass-bliss cacophonies that the experimentation does not feel like a double-edged sword. Besides for rampant dissonance, there are a few tracks, especially on the new version, which demonstrate actual attempts at symbiosis. There is a lot to find in between cracks on this one, the end result is just uneven and even unsure.