Parallel Realities

Jack DeJohnette | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 27, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mca
• ASIN: B0000001XM
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #147,773 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the best hidden Metheny albums, April 25, 2001

By 

Gavin Wilson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Parallel Realities (Audio CD)

Having written or co-written more than half of the tracks on this album, it was exceedingly modest and generous of Pat Metheny not to insist that this be called a DeJohnette-Metheny album. Pat's compositions are up to his usual standard, but with the title track, 'Parallel Realities', he contributed a real corker. All Metheny Group fans have to have this CD for that track alone. The central part is great driving music, where all three musicians gets to improvise over a rhythm reminiscent of Pink Floyd's 'On The Run' from 'Dark Side of the Moon'.

My question about this CD is: how late did Herbie Hancock come to the project? Both DeJohnette and Metheny play keyboards on most of the tracks -- they even alternate on keyboard bass -- with Hancock only providing acoustic piano, except on the last track. The impression is of a well-structured two-man project, to which a pianist has been added at almost the last minute. Hancock is welcome, and his colourations add much to the tone of the whole album. But it would have been great if he had written a piece.

I saw the band when they went on tour to promote this and, strangely, Metheny's 'Question and Answer' album together. Rather than use keyboard bass, they employed acoustic maestro Dave Holland. It was a great UK concert and my only frustration was that the audience didn't demand an encore, to enable the band to play 'Parallel Realities'.

This was Metheny's first album of the 1990s, and in retrospect, he didn't quite have the stellar decade we had hoped. I sincerely believe that Metheny is the most important popular music composer of the last quarter of the 20th century. In the 80s he fulfilled so much of the promise that he had showed in the second half of the 70s. But in the 90s, rather than giving us something akin to say, the late quartets that Beethoven produced, Metheny has spent much of his time playing with the surviving jazz greats and producing the odd film soundtrack.

This album was another of Metheny's expeditions with the roster of jazz greats, and is enjoyable, if not profound, fusion music.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Parallel Realities.. A viable alternative., April 27, 2000

By 

"mavennd" (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Parallel Realities (Audio CD)

Jack De Johnette with Pat Metheny and Herbie Hancock, a stellar dream line up, with the conspicuous absence of a bassist of record. Pat actually plays the bass on this recording. This recording had some high points but I felt given the personnel, I had expected more. The result is for the most part very accessible. If one is to have jazz/fusion starter kit this one should be included. "Jack In", "Dancing" and the title track are true high points. Nine Over Reggae is pleasant enough, clever and radio friendly. This recording left me hoping that the band would reunite and pull out all the stops as they did in Dancing and the title track. Jack plays powerfully throughout, I thought that Herbie was remarkably reserved here. Pat is an obvious presence and is out front on most of the pieces. For me the title track with it's abstract, ambient beginning, slowly the pieces coalesces from seeming fragments to where the piece becomes rhytmic and forceful. Jack drives it along at a steady pace as Pat and Herbie hover above like seagulls over a turbulent sea. John McKee was a the bluesiest groove oriented piece. Overall I recommend this recording.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 3 Greats on one CD, November 11, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Parallel Realities (Audio CD)

This CD features the legendary drummer paired with Pat Metheny and Herbie Hancock. It is a very interesting CD and takes much of its flavor from Pat Metheny's composing style. The interplay between all three is great with particular interest arising in the musical relationship between DeJohnette and Metheny. Hancock plays fantastic as do the rest. For those of you who wondered what Metheny would sound like with more drums going on underneath, this is your CD.