One of the main features of jazz that has attracted me to this genre of music is the use of improvisation; creating a spontaneous musical idea based on internal and external stimuli. An example of such an occurrence is the gathering of multiple human musicians. Emotions react to emotions, drummers react to SBDs (Silent But Deadly......). The human psyche is an unpredictable feature that makes improvisation so inviting. With that being said, what happens when your musicians are all robots that think in binary code. Normally, when someone says that they are talking about just a computer program reacting to calculated random response. However, I am talking about computers responding to a human being's emotions using the rudimentary tenants of improvisation. This is sort of what acclaimed jazz guitarist Pat Metheny tries to acomplish with his lastest album, Orchestrion. Taking his cues from the types of machines that are the title and subject of his album, Orchestrions are machines that play music and are designed to sound like bands or orchestras. They are normally operated by one person and utilize foot pedals or more commonly, sheet music to produce sound.
As such, what about the freaking album? A collaboration between man and machine typically yields preconceptions of a piece of work that is calculated and artificial. However, with Orchestrion, Metheny uses the idea of Orchestrions and combines them with 20th century solenoid technology to bring about an album that is remarkably more organic than any of his previous solo works.
The machines play the music that he has written. However, there response is not precise. His one-man orchestra includes a bass, pianos, marimbas, guitar-bots and blow bottles all working on software programs and solenoid switches controlled by Metheny's musical response via guitar picking and pedals. The opening title track is the usual affair that all Metheny fans have been use to, but with less drawn out solos. This was one theme that Metheny focused upon too much on his last group album, The Way UP. The response from the robots was much like Metheny playing with himself. So what does this have to do with Librarianship? What?!!!!! What indeed. Librarians are in a occupational flux where they can no longer depend on there co-workers for help. They have to use their own creativity more so than ever to facilitate patrons to learn and find information. New technologies, such as standardized and advanced blogging are ways in which 21st century librarians are communicating with the masses from long distances. Ok, enough with the library moment. The consensus of the Pat Metheny album, Orchestrion is that it is Great!! He accomplished his goal. Conclusively, this album shows me that new horizons from Jazz still exist beyond the realm of acoustic musicianship.
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