Customer Reviews

Dreams So Real

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This is a classic album, and really deserves to be reviewed, to spread the word. It features the compositions of Carla Bley - Burton was one of the musicians who early on both recognized her talents and wanted to do her music justice. It's played by Burton on vibes, Steve Swallow on bass, the veteran Bob Moses on drums, another veteran Mick Goodrich on guitar, and the young emerging talent Pat Metheny also on guitar. It is a classic. High energy, fluid through the complex changes. It is good fun to hear Metheny, sinking his considerable teeth into early solos, and ably playing a supporting role. But the real treat is the ensemble as a whole, a true collaboration of virtuosos, melding their talents to present the works of Carla Bley with the energy and sparkle they deserve. Like bells in harmony, ringing guitars and vibes, on a magic carpet of shimmering rhythm. This is music that can make a Sunday winter morning sparkle over a cup of coffee, or energize an after dinner respite after a tough day at work. A wonder, a treasure - a Gem.

This c.d best exemplifies the lyrically beautiful work of Carla Bley. The title track personifies beauty. The choice of chords that Carla uses on this song are so interwoven harmoniously...very soulful and bluesy, but also with seriously expressive classical overtones too.
Very dreamy indeed in most places but with a few songs that will cause you to wake up as well.
Gary Burton plays wonderfully as usual...Mick Goodrick and Pat Metheny lay some artistic guitarwork. Everything is perfect on this c.d.

Carla Bley was waitressing at jazz clubs in Manhattan to be close to the music and writing her off-beat compositions at the same time. When Gary Burton was looking for new material, he could not afford to pay royalties or license fees to composers. Carla's music was becoming known and Burton used it to create a masterpiece. Vox Humana is an affecting anthem to the working class in a sad but unsentimental progression of triads (I like to use 6ths and diminished chords), then triumphing in a Major key theme. Too bad she's not more appreciated in the U.S.

35 years after its original release, "Dreams So Real" remains one of Gary Burton's richest and most rewarding recordings, and the bargain price makes it more attractive than ever. The Carla Bley compositions here are a perfect cross-section of her music - three angular pieces ("Wrong Key Donkey," "Ictus" and "Doctor"); two haunting melodies ("Dreams So Real" and "Jesus Maria"); two of her fluid pantonal pieces ("Vox Humana" and Intermission Music"); and one of her great blowing tunes ("Syndrome"). And each of them receives a definitive performance. Now that each of these artists is established as a leader in his own right, it's even more satisfying than it was in 1976 to hear them work so cohesively and selflessly in the service of one of the great composers. Pat Metheny gets three sparkling solos, Mick Goodrick two ingenious ones. Steve Swallow doesn't solo per se, but his support on "Ictus" is almost a virtuoso show in itself. And Bob Moses - one of the great individualists of percussion - is masterful from start to finish. But the leader is featured, as he should be, since he is one of the greatest champions of Carla Bley's music and one of her premier intepreters. The trio version of Ictus shows how fiery he can be, even in a free context, and his solo performance of "Jesus Maria" demonstrates his exquisite taste at the same time that it shows the remarkable independence of his hands. Great art grows greater with time, and this recording is great art.

This is magical music, performed with the energy of rock, the grace of chamber music, and (most of all) the genius of jazz.

Bley's compositions range from quirkier-than-Monk to remarkably lyrical. All five performers (including the newly discovered Pat Metheny) are huge talents -- improvising brilliantly and meshing beautifully.

As gift wrap, you get the elegant production you'd expect from ECM.