Gary Burton, born January 23, 1943, is one of the greatest Vibraphonist in Jazz ever. I do somewhat feel like I should write about Milt Jackson before doing Gary Burton or Bobby Hutcherson, but as a Gay man in Jazz Gary Burton is very important.
Surprisinglyfor an artist coming from the jazz world, Burton landed at RCA Victor throughthe auspices of country guitar legend Chet Atkins, then head of the label’sNashville division. It’s here that Take Another Look picks up the story,opening with a lively sprint through Clifford Brown’s “Joy Spring” fromBurton’s 1961 leader debut, New Vibe Man in Town. Atkins’ involvement is moredirectly manifested in the country-jazz fusion of Bob Wills’ classic “Faded Love”from the Nashville-recorded 1967 album Tennessee Firebird. Theinfluence of Burton’s classic rock upbringing shines through from the firsttime in the original incarnation of the Gary Burton Quartet, with Larry Coryell(the first of many guitarists who passed through the vibist’s band en route tomaking their mark on the instrument), drummer Roy Haynes, and longtimecollaborator Steve Swallow on bass. Two tracks from 1967’s Duster includeBurton’s first recording of a piece by Carla Bley, which leads into a trackfrom the left-turn follow-up, A Genuine Tong Funeral – the iconoclasticcomposer’s “Dark Opera Without Words.”. Disc threespans Burton’s iconic 16-year run on ECM, which includes the beginning of anunprecedented 45-year partnership with keyboard giant Chick Corea on 1972’sCrystal Silence. It was also during this tenure that Burton discovered thesix-string wizardry of Pat Metheny, paired bass innovators Steve Swallow andEberhard Weber, and helped define the German label’s now instantly identifiablesound.
At the end of the ‘80s Burton followed Corea into the fold of Dave Grusin’sGRP Records, where his flirtations with fusion and even smooth jazz can befound on disc four. Disc fivebrings the story to a close with Burton’s final decade-and-a-half of recordingsfor Concord and Mack Avenue, including what the man himself calls “some of mymost creatively mature projects I think my artistic evolution had finallygotten to where I had always been heading.” Here can be found a pair oflatter-day duo meetings with Corea as well as “Question and Answer” from theall-star reunion Like Minds, where the pair was joined by Burton alumni RoyHaynes, Pat Metheny, and David Holland. There’s also a beautiful Ravel piece bythe vibraphonist and longtime duo partner Makoto Ozone and pieces from historch-passing ensembles Next Generation and the New Quartet.
ELIGIBLE WINNERS: 1 DAYS REMAINING: 23Enjoy Three Days on the Beach with Snarky Puppy, Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band, Lettuce, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Lila Downs, Michael McDonald Acoustic Quartet, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Flor de Toloache and more—February 14-16, 2020 at the North Beach Bandshell in Miami, FL.The winner receives a 3-day pass for two. Excludes travel or lodging.Acclaimed by the New York Times as one of the “Top 10 Definitive Moments of the Decade in Jazz Music,” GroundUP goes beyond the typical festival experience, breaking down the barriers between audience and artists.