Customer Reviews

New Quartet

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This was recorded in 1973, and I got the LP a couple of years later. It blew me completely at the time and I still enjoy every minute of it. I tried to find more of the same with Burton, but this was a one-time collaboration by this unit, unfortunately. None of Burtons records, at least at the time, came close to this one. I listened to Ring, Passengers, Times Square and more, but none had the powerful, swinging, joyous playing of this one. The group is really a group here and they keep everything very together, like a living entity. Everybody plays great. Guitarist Mick Goodricks intricate lines are clear as crystal, I have never heard him played better. Abraham Laboriel plays like nobody else and has an enormous drive. He plays some furious bass solos too, and drummer Harry Blazer sounds just right.
The writing is equally exiting with contributions from Burton, Corea, Michael Gibbs, Gordon Beck, Carla Bley and Keith Jarrett.

Gary Burton doing a really great job on this album, it's funky and jazz! This one is a must jazz fusion album from 70's. I listened to Abe Laboriel (bass) before and this is his best performance from what I have heard.

My favorite tune is "Coral" (composed by Keith Jarrett), is a very sweet tune and nice chords progression. Other great tunes: "Open Your Eyes" (composed by Chick Corea) the song is simple but interesting, "Nonsequence" - you will hear cool bass solo from Abe Laboriel.

I also enjoying hear Michael Goodrick's guitar playing. He's one of the best guitarist I ever heard.

I wish Gary would do another recordings with the same musicians from New Quartet.

this is not fusion jazz, thankfully. burton is at his best here, with some memorable tunes delivered in an upbeat style-never as sweet as vibe players could (and still) get. burton swings here like he has rarely done in his various periods since, and this record is far and away the best thing he ever did for ecm. if one could give a jazz record 6 stars here, this one would deserve it.

Gary Burton (vibraphone)
Michael Goodrick (guitar)
Abraham Laboriel (bass)
Harry Blazer (drums)

In this forgotten album with an unassuming name is hidden a precious recipe, the perfect mix of funky waves and dreamy atmosphere.

Listening to this music puts you in a sort of trance, cancels time with an incredible trick: it's so intriguing, so powerful in every single instant, that you can not stop to think about what you just heard, because you are immediately captured by a new vibration of pleasure for what you are hearing now. So the mind gives up any analysis and any expectation, and with the last thought remaining wishes for it to go on forever.

Elegant without being inaccessible, catchy but never predictable. It contains such a variety of musical ideas that it could make an encyclopedia of jazz fusion and at the same time it has an unmistakable character which allows it to flow with a fluid naturalness from one piece to another.

It's almost too good to be true, a perfect record.

I really liked this CD; I bought it just to hear "Nonsequence" but I ended up listening to the whole CD many times because it was so good.