CD of the Month - "Gary Burton Quartet Live"

CD of the Month
Gary Burton, Pat Metheny, Steve Swallow & Antonio Sanchez: "Quartet Live" (Concord/Universal) 2009

Vibraphonist Gary Burton's classic quartet of the late `60s, consisting of Burton and guitarist Larry Coryell (later, Pat Metheny), bassist Steve Swallow, and drummer Roy Haynes, are often credited with laying the groundwork for the aggressive jazz-rock fusions of the `70s. Nearly four decades on from their initial, pioneering efforts, original quartet members and jazz legends Burton, Metheny, and Swallow, along with newcomer drummer Antonio Sanchez, have assembled for this "Quartet Live" CD, an 11-song live document recorded at Yoshi's Jazz Club in Oakland (California) on June 10 & 11, 2007. Revisiting Burton (and Metheny) penned originals as well as material by Duke Ellington and Chick Corea, the group reaches new virtuosic heights, offering a fresh, modern slant on the fusion genre.

Produced by Burton & Metheny, with liner notes by the four band members, includes "Sea Journey" (Chick Corea), "Coral" (Keith Jarrett), "Fleurette Africaine" (Duke Ellington), two tunes by Carla Bley ("Olhos de Gato" and "Syndrome"), as well as two others by Carla's husband, Steve Swallow ("Falling Grace" and "Hulo, Bolinas") plus other intriguing compositions by guitar wiz Pat Metheny.