For those unaware, this incredible 4CD set compiles eight of the finest albums recorded by vibraphonist and jazz fusion pioneer Gary Burton. Made during the 1960s for the RCA label, these albums document Burton’s progression towards the emergence of the fusion genre and are certain to be an essential collection for dedicated collectors and those curious about the work of this visionary musician.

Born in 1943 and raised in Indiana, Gary Burton taught himself to play the vibraphone, developing a unique approach that set a new standard for four-mallet playing. At the age of 17, he made his recording debut in Nashville, Tennessee, with guitarists Hank Garland and Chet Atkins. Two years later, Burton left his studies at Berklee College of Music to join George Shearing and subsequently Stan Getz, with whom he worked from 1964-1966.

As a member of Getz’s quartet, Burton won Down Beat magazine’s Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition award in 1965. By the time he left Getz to form his own quartet in 1967, Burton had also recorded three albums under his name for RCA. Borrowing rhythms and sonorities from rock music, while maintaining jazz’s emphasis on improvisation and harmonic complexity, Burton’s first quartet attracted large audiences from both sides of the jazz-rock spectrum.

Such albums as Duster and Lofty Fake Anagram established Burton and his band as progenitors of the jazz fusion phenomenon, and Down Beat magazine awarded Burton its Jazzman of the Year award in 1968. During his subsequent association with the ECM label (1973-1988) the Burton Quartet expanded to include the young Pat Metheny on guitar, and the band began to explore a repertoire of modern compositions.

In the 1970’s, Burton also began to focus on more intimate contexts for his music. His 1971 album Alone at Last, a solo vibraphone concert recorded at the 1971 Montreux Jazz Festival, was honored with a Grammy Award. Burton also turned to the rarely heard duo format, recording with bassist Steve Swallow, guitarist Ralph Towner, and most notably with pianist Chick Corea, thus cementing a long personal and professional relationship that has garnered an additional two Grammy Awards.

Also in the 1970s, Burton began his career with Berklee College of Music in Boston. Burton began as a teacher of percussion and improvisation classes at Berklee in 1971. In 1985 he was named Dean of Curriculum. In 1989, he received an honorary doctorate of music from the college, and in 1996 he was appointed Executive Vice President.

Burton recorded for GRP records in the 1980’s and ’90s. In 1990, he paired up again with his former protege Metheny for Reunion, which landed him the top spot on Billboard magazine’s jazz chart. Burton is now recording for Concord Records. Departure (Gary Burton & Friends) was released in 1997 by Concord Records as well as Native Sense, a collaboration with Chick Corea, which garnered a Grammy Award in 1998.

Also in 1997, Burton recorded his second collection of tango music, Astor Piazzolla Reunion, featuring the top tango musicians of Argentina, followed by Libertango, another collection of Piazzolla music. His 1998 Concord release, Like Minds, featuring his frequent collaborators Chick Corea, Pat Metheny, Roy Haynes, and Dave Holland, was honored with a Grammy, Burton’s fifth.

And his music overall, is interestingly studied, but just as remarkable in how much enjoyment it provides. Each track has highlights to share here amongst this impressive 4CD collection. Profound and playful, sophisticated and emotionally direct, the music truly is the reflection of decades of music spent with highly distinctive personalities, all having collaborated without ego and with complete confidence in each other.

Disc 1:
1. Joy Spring 2. Over The Rainbow 3. Like Someone In Love 4. Minor Blues 5. Our Waltz 6. So Many Things 7. Sir John 8. You Stepped Out Of A Dream 9. Storm 10. I’ve Just Seen Her 11. Fly Time Fly (Sigh) 12. Conception 13. Get Away Blues 14. My Funny Valentine 15. One Note

Disc 2:
1. Hello, Young Lovers 2. Gentle Wind And Falling Tear 3. You Are My Lucky Star 4. I Could Write A Book 5. Sounds Of The Night 6. Cielito Lindo 7. Stella By Starlight 8. Blue Comedy 9. There Will Never Be Another You 10. Blues Tonight 11. When My Dream Boat Comes Home 12. On Green Dolphin Street 13. Melanie 14. Careful 15. Six Improvisatory Sketches 16. Something’s Coming 17. Little Girl Blue 18. Summertime

Disc 3:
1. Climb Ev’ry Mountain 2. Maria 3. An Ordinary Couple 4. My Favorite Things 5. Sixteen Going On Seventeen 6. Do-Re-Mi 7. Edelweiss 8. The Sound Of Music 9. The Sunset Bell 10. Six-Nix, Quix, Flix 11. Interim I 12. Chega De Saudade (No More Blues) 13. Childhood 14. Deluge 15. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) 16. Interim II 17. Falling Grace 18. My Funny Valentine

Disc 4:
1. Gone 2. Tennessee Firebird 3. Just Like A Woman 4. Black Is The Color Of My True Love’s Hair 5. Faded Love 6. I Can’t Help It (If I’m Still In Love With You) 7. I Want You 8. Alone And Forsaken 9. Walter L. 10. Born To Lose 11. Beauty Contest 12. Epilogue 13. Ballet 14. Sweet Rain 15. Portsmouth Figurations 16. General Mojo’s Well Laid Plan 17. One, Two, 1-2-3-4 18. Sing Me Softly Of The Blues 19. Liturgy 20. Response

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