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Gary Burton/Chick Corea – Crystal Silence – ECM Records 

Gary Burton/Chick Corea – Crystal Silence – ECM Records 

by | Jul 10, 2018 | Jazz CD Reviews, SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews

Gary Burton/Chick Corea – Crystal Silence ECM Records 1024 ST (1972/2018) (distr. by Universal Music Group) 180-gram stereo vinyl, 44:23 *****: This vinyl reissue of a Gary Burton/Chick Corea duo recording is stunning! (Gary Burton – vibes; Chick Corea – piano) ECM (Edition of Contemporary Music) Records was founded by Manfred Eicher in 1969. At the core of the label is the array of jazz artists including Pat Metheny, Gary Burton, Chick Corea,, Charlie Haden, John Abercrombie, Dave Holland, Keith Jarrett, Dave Liebman, Ralph Towner, Jan Garbarek, Eberhard Weber, Egberto Gismonti and Terje Rypdal, Although, these are renowned jazz artists, the label provided a creative environment for musical genre-expansion. In addition, ECM is celebrated for groundbreaking releases in Western Classical,  Global Music and a variety of film-related projects. The ECM reputation for pristine recording is represented by their motto, “The Most Beautiful Sound Next to Silence”. They have earned Downbeat’s Label Of The Year 10 times. The superior recording technology is evident in both analog and digital formats. Now, ECM is continuing the tradition of prestigious analog recording with 180-gram releases. That includes several re-issues of notable albums. One of these is the unforgettable Gary Burton/Chick Corea collaboration, Crystal Silence. […]

Talking Sticks (2016)

Talking Sticks (2016)

by | Jan 28, 2017 | DVD & Blu-ray Video Reviews

Not just a film bio of Arthur Lipner but a trip around the earth viewing many aspects of mallet instruments worldwide. Talking Sticks (2016) Cast: Arthur Lipner, Gary Burton, Mike Mainieri, Vida Chenoweth, Bernard Woma and other top percussionists Studio: Living Arts Productions Video: for 16:9 screens, color Audio: English DD stereo Length: 63 min. Rating: ****1/2 A fascinating global percussion journey, as Lipner goes everywhere there are seemingly some sort of mallet instruments and players and builders of them.  I had no idea that the marimba/xylophone was so widespread over the earth. He visits Mexico, Ghana, Iceland, Brazil, and perhaps the most amazing are the ice mallet instruments created in Norway which melt when the sun finally comes out. Lipner is searching for  deeper personal connections with various cultures and creativity thru his music, and is obviously nuts for mallet instruments – and I wasn’t aware there were so many of them. This is a wonderful documentary which probably would not have been possible before cheap and portable video equipment which meets film standards. It should appeal to more than just the aficionados of music. The several talks with Burton and Mainieri are especially interesting. This film should inculcate […]

Eberhard Weber – The Jubilee Concert (2016)

Eberhard Weber – The Jubilee Concert (2016)

by | Nov 4, 2016 | DVD & Blu-ray Video Reviews

Weber – The Jubilee Concert (2016) A heartfelt tribute to a pioneer of European jazz! Performers: Eberhard Weber, Pat Metheny, Gary Burton, Jan Garbarek, Paul McCandless, SWR Big Band Studio: WDR/Jazz Haus (Distr. by Naxos Germany) Director: Thorsten Hubruch Video: 16:9 Color Audio:  PCM stereo (24-bit/48K) Length: 90 min. TrackList: Resume; Touch; Tubingen; Maurizius; Street Scenes; Hommage; Killer Joe; Notes After An Evening Ratings: Audio: ***      Video: ***     Overall: ***1/2 Eberhard Weber is best known as a double-bassist and jazz composer from Germany. He became renowned as a vital recording artist for ECM Records. In addition to solo projects, he collaborated with various ECM stars including Gary Burton, Ralph Townes and Pat Metheny. He became an icon to European jazz. One of his innovations was a five-string acoustic bass guitar (the additional string tuned to C), and he became an early proponent for the solid-body electric doublebass. His musical stylings ranged from traditional jazz to avant-garde fusion, minimalism, ambient music and chamber jazz. The dozen or so ECM releases were hailed for their versatility and unique utilization of ostinato. Unfortunately, his career was cut short by a serious illness in 2007. As a tribute to this […]

Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto – Getz/Gilberto ’76 – Resonance / Stan Getz – Moments in Time – Resonance

Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto – Getz/Gilberto ’76 – Resonance / Stan Getz – Moments in Time – Resonance

by | Feb 23, 2016 | Jazz CD Reviews

Two more archival historical releases from Resonance Records- Getz/Gilberto ’76 & Moments in Time… Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto  – Getz/Gilberto ’76 – Resonance HCD 2021, 55:15 ****: (Stan Getz – tenor sax; Joao Gilberto – vocals, guitar; Joanne Brackeen – piano; Clint Houston – bass; Billy Hart – drums) Stan Getz – Moments in Time – Resonance HCD 2020, 64:41 ****1/2: (Stan Getz – tenor sax; Joanne Brackeen – piano; Clint Houston – bass; Billy Hart – drums) In early 1962 Stan Getz helped bring bossa nova to mainstream American audiences with the Jazz Samba recording with guitarist Charlie Byrd. In March 1964, he furthered the bossa nova craze by bringing famed Brazilian guitarist Joao Gilberto and pianist/composer Antonio Carlos Jobim to New York City to record Getz/Gilberto. It became one of the best selling jazz albums of all time and featured “The Girl from Ipanema” sung by Joao’s wife, Astrud Gilberto. Its intoxicating sensual groove proved irresistible to American audiences. Getz soon returned to straight-ahead jazz as well as fusion, and recorded with Gary Burton, Chick Corea, and Bill Evans.  In May 1975, Stan reunited with Gilberto to record The Best of Two Worlds. It was released in […]

Home Page for October 2013

Home Page for October 2013

by | Oct 1, 2013 | Home Page

Our October drawing/giveaway is unusual: We are awarding seven 180-gram double-disc audiophile vinyl jazz albums to seven AUDIOPHILE AUDITION readers. The albums are all from Mack Avenue Records’ new vinyl release program: Albums (shown above) from: Christian McBride (2), Gary Burton, Kenny Garrett, Stanley Jordan, Kevin Eubanks and Yellowjackets. One album at random to each of the seven winners. To be eligible, all you need do is register on our simple form this month; we will not share your email address with anyone. The seven winners will be announced on our Editorial Page next month, and you’ll find more details there now.