Imaginary Day

Imaginary Day is the ninth studio album by the Pat Metheny Group. It was released in 1997 by Warner Bros. Records. The album was strongly inspired by world music from Iran and Indonesia, and won the 1999 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album. The song "The Roots of Coincidence" won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance; critic Richard Ginnell of AllMusic described the song as a dramatic departure for the group: "[an] out-and-out rock piece with thrash metal and techno-pop episodes joined by abrupt jump cuts."

The album cover design by Stefan Sagmeister uses a simple pictographic substitution cipher for the name of the group and the title of the album.

Official DVD recorded live at the Mountain Winery, Saratoga, California, USA in July 1998, released in 2001.

This album was also made available on DVD-Audio 5.0 multichannel, surround sound.

History
This album marks the final appearance of longtime drummer Paul Wertico, who would leave in 2001 before the recording of Speaking of Now to work on other projects.

Personnel

 * Pat Metheny – acoustic and electric guitars, guitar synthesizer, 42-string Pikasso guitar
 * Lyle Mays – piano, keyboards
 * Steve Rodby – acoustic and electric bass, cello
 * Paul Wertico – drums
 * David Blamires – vocals, electric guitar, baritone acoustic guitar, trumpet, mellophone, violin, recorder
 * Mark Ledford – vocals, trumpet, bass trumpet, flugelhorn
 * Dave Samuels – percussion
 * Glen Velez – percussion
 * Don Alias – percussion
 * Mino Cinélu – percussion

Production

 * Pat Metheny – producer
 * Lyle Mays, Steve Rodby – co-producers
 * David Oakes, Rob Eaton – associate producers
 * Rob Eaton – recording, mixing
 * Ted Jensen – mastering at Sterling Sound, NYC, USA
 * Sagmaister inc. – design
 * Latifa Azhar – photography

Awards
Grammy Awards