Secret Story (album)
Secret Story is an album by Pat Metheny released in 1992 that won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album in 1993. All of the music is composed by Metheny (shared credit on one track), and it is one of his most ambitious studio ventures, integrating elements of jazz, rock, and world music. On the performing side, it includes collaborations with the Pinpeat Orchestra of the Royal Ballet of Cambodia, the London Orchestra and its conductor Jeremy Lubbock, the Choir of the Cambodian Royal Palace, legendary harmonica player Toots Thielemans, and keyboardist Lyle Mays from Pat  Metheny Group. Background. The opening song, "Above the Treetops", is an adaptation of a Cambodian spiritual song; other pieces, such as "Antonia", take influence from Eastern Europe. Japanese pianist and singer Akiko Yano appears on "As a Flower Blossoms", earning the only co-writing credit on the album. Yano had previously collaborated with Metheny on "Good Girl", "Lots of Love", and "Love Life", from her 1991 album "Love Life", and on two Metheny covers: "It's for You" on "Welcome Back" (1989) (which also featured Metheny performing on two additional songs) and "Praise" on "Super Folk Song" (1992). Orchestral arrangements  for the album were conducted by Jeremy Lubbock. Metheny took "Secret Story" on a concert tour, and a video recording of a live performance at New Brunswick, New Jersey, was issued. This film, also called "Secret Story", was re-released on DVD in 2001. The album was certified gold by the RIAA on December 1, 1995. Reception. AllMusic reviewer Thom Jurek awarded the album 4.5 stars. Remaster. In September 2007, the album was released again with noticeably retouched mixes and a bonus CD of five previously unreleased tracks from the same sessions. The remaster was issued on WEA and Nonesuch  Records. Track listing. Note Awards. Grammy Awards