Customer Reviews

Next Generation

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Playing Gary Burton's Next Generation brought back memories of his fabulous records cut in the 1970's for ECM. The level of musicianship is topnotch as his new, young sidekicks are just awesome! Man, it's invigorating to groove on such intelligent, swinging jazz. Burton, a superlative vibist, continues to introduce his fans to wonderful new jazz players as he has done for the last 35 years. What a treat!

I saw this group a week ago at Yoshi's in Oakland. They blew me away. I have been a big fan of Gary Burton for several years and I had heard of the guitarist, Julian Lage, because he's somewhat of a local legend amongst young musicians, but I had no idea what kind of a treat I was in for. Every member of the group is an amazing musician and composer as well. The pianist, at least live, was very reminiscent of Monk and the rythm section was fantastic. This is a great album, if you have a chance to see this group play, see them. I got my copy signed by Gary himself.

This is a sweet, but vibrant tour de force of the Gary Burton quartet sound with a guitar and bass line up. It features energy, enthusiasm and playfulness with strong performances overall. There is just a hint of wistfulness or nostalgia perhaps with a nod to Burton's Pat Metheny quartet days with their coverage of one of his tunes. The song selection is varied with samplings of blues, straight ahead jazz rhythmns, ballads, new songs and a "standard". The band is remarkably tight and the selections will grow on you.

Burton's new CD sounds like a working band. Perhaps it's my imagination, but the arrangements sound more complex than those on CD's with musicians brought together for a session. I suspect that they came out of working on tunes for a while. The young players here write as well as they play, and Burton himself sounds impassioned. I prefer this to the all star session, Like Minds, though it, too, is a fine CD.

This CD is pure marvel !!! About Gary Burton's playing, there's little more to add ... but what a magic gift he has to pick up new artists and take their talents to the next level, both as a tight & well assembled group as well as individuals showing their own abilities !!! ... Particularly, Julian Lage who already plays like veteran in My Romance, and this Ukrainian kid playing the piano, Vadim Neselovskyi, is so mature in everything he played... A solo album of each one will be awaited for everyone who likes jazz.

Gary Burton has always had the talent for bringing out the best in younger musicians. No exception here, highly recommended !

The musical quality of this CD is awesome!! It is such a beautiful performance by Mr. Burton and this group of young musicians...that you are not going to be able to stop listening to it for some time..
Wonderful...Just wonderful...!

Update: After a couple of weeks, I just have to say...that the more I listen to this CD...the more I love it!!!!

If this is where jazz is going, count me in! The young gifted musicians Gary Burton chose for his band are absolutely gifted. Luckily, there is a place for jazz in the 21st century. This album is proof that jazz is not dead, and it is not going to die well into the future.

This is jazz for the new generation! As much as it is great to know where your history came from, and listen to the classics from Miles and Trane, it is great to listen to new fresh, modern, instant classics, and this album IS an instant classic.

Ah, the young Julian is an expert at guitar. His is fairly un known, but he is probaly going to become more recognized throughout the shape of jazz to come.

Gary Burton, is still going strong. He may be old, but he can still swing. He has grown from a little kid prodigy on the vibes, to a veteren master! He has had some classic albums before, but this release is tremendous and I can't wait for his next recording. He has come from playing jazz-rock to such magical straight ahead jazz.

Listen to this album. Listen to Gary Burton's new albums. Listen to all the new jazz albums that come out, so you know where jazz is at and where it's going. And never forget about your roots!

I'm a casual jazz lover, and was taken by a friend to Yoshi's to hear this group play last week. Amazing music and passion and talent from a very young group. Kudo's to Burton for introducing these artists to the world, I predict they will be very well received. They were great to hear, and outstanding to watch. It's clear they very much enjoy playing, and wonderful to see them at "work."