Originally published June 17, 2009 at 4:53 p.m., updated June 17, 2009 at 4:53 p.m.
"Quarter Live!" (Concord Jazz)
ARTIST: Gary Burton-Pat Metheny-Steve Swallow-Antonio Sanchez
STARS: 4 out of 5 Stars
SOUNDS LIKE: Warm and wistfully stylish contemporary jazz with a pastoral feel.
The Gary Burton Quartet has its beginnings in 1967. That was the year bassist Steve Swallow, guitarist Larry Coryell and drummer Roy Haynes joined Gary Burton to form the original group.
The Quartet's first album "Duster" was one of the earliest experiments into jazz rock fusion. The music, a unique mix of country, rock and jazz had a bluesy sort of pastorally introspective feel. Burton's four-mallet technique added a dream like quality that came to typify the group's sound.
In 1974 Guitarist Pat Metheny, a Lee's summit Mo., native joined the group. It would be his first step into what would become an already legendary jazz career.
"For me, as a teenager in Missouri just starting to appreciate jazz, Gary's group was the most innovative and around," said Metheny from a press release.
Burton, Metheny and Swallow remained friends for several years after leaving the group, playing together on different occasions.
Drummer Antonio Sanchez became part of that friendship after joining the Pat Metheny Group about 10 years ago.
For old times sake, the three of the original Burton Quartet members with Sanchez scheduled a gig in 2005 at the Montreal Jazz Festival. The group toured for a couple of years before reuniting again in 2008.
"Quartet Live!" was recorded at Yoshi's Jazz Club in Oakland California as part of that tour.
The flavor of the original quartet is evident from the first tune, Chick Corea's Sea Journey" on the 11 song album. It has that bright familiar country road traveling sort of quality familiar to both Burton and Metheny fans.
Fans will also recognize Metheny's languidly pastoral "B & G (Midwestern Night's Dream)" and the oft-played jazz rock standard "Question and Answer."
Quartet Live! shows all four performers at the top of their game. It introduces new listeners to the classic laid-back sound of the original quartet. And they do this without sounding dated, which is also a testament to the timeless quality of this group's music.
Quarter Live! also features a colorful album cover done by popular 1970s pop artist Peter Max.
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