Gary Burton, Pat Metheny, Steve Swallow, Antonio Sanchez - Quartet Live

Chaz Longue · May-26th-2009, 05:39 PM

Having seen Gary Burton's quartet with Pat Metheny half a dozen times decades ago, the release of this makes me very happy for a number of reasons. Not least of these is that this is really the first time a group like this (with Metheny, and Swallow playing a solid body instrument in a group lead by Burton) has been documented.

If you like melody, harmony and rhythm, this one's a keeper: the writing is exceptional, because so many of the most memorable pieces in the books of Swallow, Metheny and Burton are included. There's actually nothing missing I'd want to have had included: a more or less definitive version of Swallow's magnificent milestone "Falling Grace", 3 Metheny pieces which I haven't heard played to excess, a couple of Carla Bleys and a Jarrett piece which Burton has been playing for years, a Chick Corea number and an Ellington ballad.

Even the liner notes are terrific: Written by the members, and not only very informative, but in the case of one paragraph, something of a manifesto.

You even get cover art by Peter Max.

Highly recommended.

bigtiny · May-26th-2009, 07:18 PM

There was a release about 10 years ago with Metheny, Burton, Chick Corea, Dave Holland, and Roy Haynes that's real good too. I never hear anybody talk about it, but it's a fine album. Maybe on Concord (or Chicks label Mad Hatter) can't remember...

bigtiny

baksheesh · May-26th-2009, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigtiny

There was a release about 10 years ago with Metheny, Burton, Chick Corea, Dave Holland, and Roy Haynes that's real good too. I never hear anybody talk about it, but it's a fine album. Maybe on Concord (or Chicks label Mad Hatter) can't remember...

bigtiny

Yeah, Like Minds, it was called. Pretty good stuff. It was on Concord by the way. Holland really held the whole show together - he was out of sight. Pat got off some good ones as well, on Country Roads, and Straight Up and Down

Ron Thorne · May-26th-2009, 10:19 PM

Thanks for the heads up, David! That's a winning group of players/composers, and ones I rarely tire of, especially when they're together in some way. My only wish is that my friend, drummer Danny Gottlieb, was in the drum chair ... for purely selfish reasons.

Yes, Like Minds was a fine recording, too. Don't know if I'd go so far as to suggest that (Dave) "Holland really held the whole show together". Unless you're not suggesting that Holland was the only "glue" on-board, of course. For anyone interested, there is now an SACD version of this recording.

lonely-at-the-top · May-27th-2009, 01:42 AM

I've never been a huge Metheny fan until last year when I went on an almost continuous "Day Trip" and saw the trio on their German tour.

Now the quartet's resurrection, good thing!
As usual the release date here is somewhat later than for you guys, can hardly wait Friday to come!

Tom Storer · May-27th-2009, 02:37 AM

Good news! I too saw Burton's group a few times in the 70's, twice, I believe, with Metheny and Goodrick together. That band was documented on "Dreams So Real," my favorite Burton album from that period, and also "Passengers," which had Metheny, Swallow, and Eberhard Weber on his electroacoustic bass. This 70's-style Burton music is sui generis, I think.

gonzo · May-27th-2009, 04:08 AM

it good. its real good. this is a band i'd love to see live.

CraigP · May-27th-2009, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Storer

Good news! I too saw Burton's group a few times in the 70's, twice, I believe, with Metheny and Goodrick together.

Wow, you're old!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Storer

That band was documented on "Dreams So Real," my favorite Burton album from that period...

That was a great album, and sadly, I loaned it to someone who never returned it. I wonder if it was ever issued on CD.

lonely-at-the-top · May-27th-2009, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CraigP

Wow, you're old!

That was a great album, and sadly, I loaned it to someone who never returned it. I wonder if it was ever issued on CD.

sure was: ECM Touchstones last year. Good price, too. A must have I agree!

David Gitin · May-27th-2009, 09:34 AM

I saw this group (Burton, Swallow, Metheny, Sanchez) on 6/11/06 at Yoshi's (Oakland), a fine evening. First saw Burton with Getz when Gary joined; I remember his mother coming to the gig. Another gig was at the Fillmore in '67 when Gary opened (with Larry Coryell in the band), Electric Flag followed (with Mike Bloomfield), and Cream (with Eric Clapton) headlined. Once at Kuumbwa in Santa Cruz two decades later, I mentioned this to Gary, and without hesitation, he named the exact date of the event...

lonely-at-the-top · May-27th-2009, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Gitin

Fillmore in '67 when Gary opened (with Larry Coryell in the band), Electric Flag followed (with Mike Bloomfield), and Cream (with Eric Clapton) headlined.

got one word for you, Sir: E N V Y

bigtiny · May-27th-2009, 09:55 AM

My first time for Burton was at Tampa Theater in 1979 -- the band was Bob Moses on drums, Steve Swallow on bass (the old Gibson), Burton, and Tiger Okoshi on trumpet. They played their asses off. They were promoting what I think is a HUGELY underrated album called 'Times Sqaure'....

bigtiny

Tom Storer · May-27th-2009, 10:07 AM

Was it Moses on drums, or Roy Haynes? Haynes is on the album. It's a keeper.

David, you must be the jazz fan that all musicians know. I can see it now:

Roy Haynes: Gitin? Great fan. First time I saw him in the audience must have been, let's see, '61. I was subbing for Elvin in Trane's band.

Gary Burton: I remember my first time seeing Gitin in the audience was my first concert with Getz. I was so excited! Next time was when I opened at the Fillmore for Electric Flag and Cream in 1967. I went up to talk to Gitin between sets at Kwuumba in Santa Cruz twenty years later and he remembered the exact date!

David Gitin · May-27th-2009, 10:25 AM

I don't know how I figure in their lives, but they're huge to me. FWIW, I did meet a large number of musicians when I was a jazz dj (and earlier, first half of '60s, when I fantasized about becoming a musician).

In SF, it was Bob Moses...
(and I did hear Roy with Coltrane at Newport '63)

baksheesh · May-27th-2009, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Thorne

Don't know if I'd go so far as to suggest that (Dave) "Holland really held the whole show together". Unless you're not suggesting that Holland was the only "glue" on-board, of course. For anyone interested, there is now an SACD version of this recording.

Well, of course Haynes played his part too! I just find that Holland is a mesmerising player, who, when he's on form (which is pretty much always) seems to be playing just the *right* thing for that particular moment.

Tom Storer · May-27th-2009, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Gitin

(and I did hear Roy with Coltrane at Newport '63)

'63, I knew I recalled you mentioning that, but I got the year wrong. Maybe there's an online David Gitin concertography?

Seriously though, you should consider writing some jazz-fan memoirs. 50 years or near enough of serious concert-going, apparently with some documentation; that could be a precious historical document.

David Gitin · May-27th-2009, 12:22 PM

Tom, Primary documentation I have is for past 30 or so years (since a divorce...my wife used to keep a diary); the rest is memory. Extended writing is too difficult for me (retired from teaching because of rheumatoid arthritis in both wrists). Thanks, anyway.
If we ever get to meet, you'll find I'm a talker!

baksheesh · May-27th-2009, 12:38 PM

How about a dictaphone David? Then you can hire someone to transcribe it.

Tom Storer · May-27th-2009, 02:40 PM

Hell, I'll type it. I type fast.

Quote:

Extended writing is too difficult for me

That explains the poems, then. [pounds floor laughing at own cruel humor]

For those who don't know, David is a noted poet, and some of his poems are quite short, hence the sick humor. But seriously, David, very sorry to hear about the arthritis. I have a copy of Fire Dance and enjoy it.

I'm serious about typing your memoir, too. Send me a PM if you're interested!

Chaz Longue · May-27th-2009, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigtiny

There was a release about 10 years ago with Metheny, Burton, Chick Corea, Dave Holland, and Roy Haynes that's real good too. I never hear anybody talk about it, but it's a fine album. Maybe on Concord (or Chicks label Mad Hatter) can't remember...

bigtiny

"Like Minds", under Gary Burton's leadership. On Concord. Another cd I adore! This was the first time Chick and Metheny had worked together, I believe.

Chaz Longue · May-27th-2009, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gonzo

it good. its real good. this is a band i'd love to see live.

There are just a few dates on Gary's site. I have a ticket for the Montreal show, and won't be able to go

But I'll see them in Saratoga, since I'm going to that Spac weekend, which I used to go to for 17 years before I abandoned it for Montreal...

bigtiny · May-27th-2009, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Storer

Was it Moses on drums, or Roy Haynes? Haynes is on the album. It's a keeper.

David, you must be the jazz fan that all musicians know. I can see it now:

Roy Haynes: Gitin? Great fan. First time I saw him in the audience must have been, let's see, '61. I was subbing for Elvin in Trane's band.

Gary Burton: I remember my first time seeing Gitin in the audience was my first concert with Getz. I was so excited! Next time was when I opened at the Fillmore for Electric Flag and Cream in 1967. I went up to talk to Gitin between sets at Kwuumba in Santa Cruz twenty years later and he remembered the exact date!

You're right, Haynes was on the album, but Moses played the tour. When I was at Berklee, Tiger told me that somebody else was supposed to play on that record...I remember it was a well known player...a sax player I think, but I can't remember who he mentioned. Anyway, the night before the session in NY, Gary Burton calls him in Boston and asks him if he can do the session....something had some up with the other person.....YIKES!!! =:-)

bigtiny

Fred K · May-27th-2009, 07:14 PM

I'm going to hear them in Annapolis in June. It's expensive, but it's a smaller club with good seats. I'm especially looking forward to hearing Swallow. I've only heard him once (with the Carla Bley BB) and he doesn't seem to play live much anymore.

baksheesh · May-27th-2009, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred K

I'm especially looking forward to hearing Swallow.

Much respect for Steve Swallow! My collection of stuff he's been on runs from the Giuffre Trio through to Enroute and there's just soooo much great playing on those albums. I've been listening to Damaged in Transit lately and i rate it pretty high.

bigtiny · May-27th-2009, 10:32 PM

Ordered my tix for the Berklee show this afternoon.

I always liked Swallow's album called 'Home' on ECM....I don't know if it's in print or not...

bigtiny

CRF Mark II · May-27th-2009, 10:51 PM

Just downloaded the new album form EMusic. I'd soured on Metheny - mostly the Pat Metheny Group stuff - but in this context he's great. Swallow is excellent, as usual. I like Sanchez a lot and had a chance to see his quartet at the Jazz Standard last year with David Sanchez, Miguel Zenón and Scott Colley - a nice band. He's more than up for playing with these guys. Burton hasn't lost anything since the ECM days. At first listen this is as good as anything he did back then. It's nice that it starts off with Corea's "Sea Journey" from "Passengers", the first ECM album I bought.

I went ahead and bought a ticket for their show in Annapolis on the 23rd. Looking forward to it.

lonely-at-the-top · May-28th-2009, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigtiny

Ordered my tix for the Berklee show this afternoon.

I always liked Swallow's album called 'Home' on ECM....I don't know if it's in print or not...

bigtiny

sure is, good things don't get lost

CRF Mark II · May-28th-2009, 09:13 AM

"Home" is one of my favorites too. It was my intro to Sheila Jordon.

Ron Thorne · May-28th-2009, 04:30 PM

Steve Swallow's recording Home may still be available here and there, but it's pretty pricey since it's (apparently) OOP. Expect to pay $30.00+ for a CD copy if you can find it. I'd be interested to learn if others find if for less.

Chaz Longue · June-5th-2009, 01:21 PM

I sure like Swallow. And I like him more now that he plays a bass with a little more sustain... Back in the day, he used to play those semi hollow bodied basses which didn't sound all that great to me... He sounds great on this cd...