Of the 10 musicians honoured in ECM’s 10-album Works series, Gary Burton perhaps best epitomises Manfred Eicher’s house style. The vibraphone, by nature, tends to produce a soft, ambiguous sound, and Burton exploits this to the full. He also works exclusively with reflective and rarified compositions, usually sparsely notated and harmonically complex.
None of the selections on this compilation stray far from this aesthetic. The music is self-consciously intellectual, the emotional message extremely subtle, and although Burton has declared his desire for an eclecticism that embraces rock and blues influences, these strains are well diluted. Burton does not deal in ‘grooves’, but is rather more concerned, it seems, with academic distillation.
Once accepted, this approach and this record yield much to be enjoyed: Olhos evokes images of the Spanish Sahara, Desert Air offers more impressionism, while Tunnel Of Love is mainly Eberhard Weber’s, for a sonorous bass solo, and Vox Humana is almost spirited. Three brings us back to more ethereal pastures, the effect enhanced by a symphonic backcloth, and Brotherhood is a brief solo vibes recital, without improvisation. Ralph Towner makes his solo appearance on Matchbook, while Chelsea Bells finds Steve Swallow at his most typically ecclesiastical as composer. Perhaps the outstanding tune, from a more orthodox standpoint, is Keith Jarrett’s beautiful ballad Coral.
This selection will provide the Burton novice with a good grounding, while confirmed followers who already have the albums containing these tunes might be interested in the record’s value as a limited edition.
Discography
Olhos De Gato; Desert Air; Tunnel Of Love; Vox Humana (24.32) – Three; Brotherhood; Matchbook; Chelsea Bells (For Hern); Coral; Domino Biscuit (22.13)
Gary Burton (vib) plus various personnel: Mick Goodrick, Pat Metheny, Ralph Towner (g); Abraham Laboriel, Steve Swallow, Eberhard Weber (b); Harry Blazer, Bob Moses, Ted Seibs (d/pc); Chick Corea, Steve Swallow (p). Selected from various ECM recordings 1973-76.
(ECM 823 267-1)
