Duster-Gary Burton Quartet (audiophile vinyl rip, vibraphone jazz, RCA label)

I first became familiar with this favorite era of Burton's through an excellent French RCA boxset that I purchased eons ago from the old Rounder Mail-Order service. It contained the three quartet albums with Larry Coryell, 'DUSTER,' 'LOFTY FAKE ANAGRAM' and 'LIVE.' 'DUSTER' had been available for a hot minute on a German CD in the early days of CD, and is also currently available as a pricey Japanese import. 'COUNTRY ROADS & OTHER PLACES' was also available for a short time in 1998 on the Koch Jazz label, with rare copies going for heart-attack prices. BGO has recently released this and three others on two "2'fers": ' DUSTER' and COUNTRY ROADS & OTHER PLACES' and 'LOFTY FAKE ANAGRAM' and 'A GENUINE TONG FUNERAL'. Cherry Red has also released 'THE GARY BURTON QUARTET IN CONCERT,' all are essential......

Vibraphonist Burton was self-taught beginning at the age of six, later taking piano lessons during high school before attending the Berklee College Of Music between 1960-1961. He began his recording career at RCA, releasing his first album, 'NEW VIBE MAN IN TOWN' in 1961. His initial albums for the label were mostly composed of jazz standards, Swallow became his steady bassist beginning with 'THE GROOVY SOUND OF MUSIC,' an album of jazzed-up arrangements of the titular film's score. His first foray into blended genres was 1967's 'TENNESSEE FIREBIRD,' his first try at blending jazz and country music that also featured such Nashville legends as Chet Atkins, Buddy Emmons, Charlie McCoy and Kenny Buttrey. Swallow and Haynes also participated, along with later Coryell collaborator Steve Marcus. It was with the addition of Larry Coryell on guitar that Burton could finally translate his vision to vinyl on the resulting 'DUSTER.' With Bob Moses taking the drum chair, the quartet honed their chops and style on the critical favorite 'LOFTY FAKE ANAGRAM.' Next came the Carla Bley composed 'A GENUINE TONG FUNERAL' album, that also featured her on keyboards with an expanded quartet that included Steve Lacy, Gato Barbieri, Jimmy Knepper, Howard Johnson and Bley's husband, Michael Mantler. Coryell made his final quartet appearance on vinyl with the release of their 1968 Carnegie hall performance, issued as 'THE GARY BURTON QUARTET IN CONCERT.' 1969 found Burton releasing his final RCA platter, 'COUNTRY ROADS & OTHER PLACES'......

Considered to be one of the first "fusion" efforts, 1967's 'DUSTER' still sounds fresh and vital. The band, Burton (vibraphone), Larry Coryell (guitar), Steve Swallow (double bass) and Roy Haynes (drums), give an impeccable demonstration of telepathic musicianship. Three of the album's tunes were composed by Gary's former teacher at the Berklee College Of Music, Michael Gibbs, with two by Swallow, one apiece from Burton and Coryell, and one by the young and upcoming composer Carla Bley, who became a favorite composer of Burton's. Even when cooking, and man can they cook, the band exudes a gossamer vibe that some may feel is too mellow for their tastes. What they lack in grit is more than made up with bursts of furious melodic and harmonic interplay. You can catch hints here and there of Coryell's tentative steps toward a more aggressive style of playing, especially on his intense and free "One, Two, 1-2-3-4." Other highlights include the cool and swingin' lead-off "Ballet," the dreamy "Sweet Rain," Swallow's intricately melodic "General Mojo's Well Laid Plan" and what I feel is the album's highlight, a beautifully understated take of Bley's "Sing Me Softly Of The Blues".....

After leaving RCA, Burton signed with Atlantic. His first album there, THROB featured Swallow, Hahn, Bill Goodman on drums, and Richard Greene (of SEATRAIN fame) on violin. After recording four more albums for the label, including a solo session, and co-leader dates with Stephan Grappelli, and Keith Jarrett, Burton signed with ECM. Many feel that Burton's tenure with ECM was the pinnacle of his career and it's hard not to argue. His album of Carla Bley compositions, DREAMS SO REAL with Swallow, Moses, and Pat Methney and Mick Goodrick on guitars, is considered by some (including me) to be his masterwork. After his ECM stint Burton recorded for GRP and then Concord Jazz, where he's remained since 1996......

"DUSTER' (RCA, 1967)

"Ballet" - 4:54 (Mike Gibbs)
"Sweet Rain" - 4:24 (Gibbs)
"Portsmouth Figurations" (Steve Swallow) - 3:03
"General Mojo's Well Laid Plan" (Swallow) - 4:58
"One, Two, 1-2-3-4" (Gary Burton, Larry Coryell) - 5:56
"Sing Me Softly of the Blues" (Carla Bley) - 4:05
"Liturgy" - 3:26 (Gibbs)
"Response" (Burton) - 2:15

the band:
Gary Burton - vibraphone, piano
Larry Coryell - guitar
Steve Swallow - double bass
Roy Haynes - drums (Amazon Review)