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Gary Burton / Pat Metheny / Steve Swallow / Antonio Sanchez: Quartet Live

By John Kelman
May 25, 2009
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Gary Burton / Pat Metheny / Steve Swallow / Antonio Sanchez: Quartet Live

It's rare that a group can reunite to create what it had decades ago while remaining completely fresh and relevant. When guitarist Pat Metheny regrouped the Gary Burton Quartet—his training ground, beginning in his late-teens, from 1974- 1977—as one of his By Invitation performances at the 2005 Festival International de Jazz de Montreal, it was clear that this was something that couldn't be a one-shot deal. The quartet—featuring original members

Steve Swallow

bass
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Swallow (electric bass) and Burton (vibes) alongside drummer

Antonio Sanchez

drums
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Antonio Sanchez (a newcomer to the group, but an ever-present partner with Metheny since the guitarist's Speaking of Now (Warner Bros., 2002))—was simply having too much fun. Regrouping a couple years later for a lengthy tour, the resulting Quartet Live not only documents the tour, it's the live album Burton never put out—but should have—back in the day.

More than a look back at the three ECM albums that Metheny recorded with Burton— Ring (1974), Dreams So Real (1976) and Passengers (1977)—Quartet Live recaptures the decade from 1967-77 where Burton's groups always included a guitarist, from

Larry Coryell

guitar
1943 - 2017

" data-original-title="" title="">Larry Coryell,

Samuel T Brown

b.1939

" data-original-title="" title="">Samuel T Brown and

Jerry Hahn

b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Jerry Hahn to

Mick Goodrick

guitar
1945 - 2022

" data-original-title="" title="">Mick Goodrick and, finally, Metheny.

While Metheny has grown tremendously since those early days, becoming a modern icon in his own right, Quartet Live proves the timeless nature of Burton's always astute musical choices, ranging from

Keith Jarrett

piano
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Keith Jarrett's delicate ballad, "Coral" and the dark-hued grace of Metheny's "B and G (Midwestern Night's Dream)" and

Carla Bley

piano
1938 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Carla Bley's "Olhos de Gato," to the fiery energy of the guitarist's "Missouri Uncompromised," Bley's equally burning "Syndrome" and Swallow's lithely swinging classic, "Falling Grace." There's even a rare Burton tune included, the quirky blues "Walter L," and a nod to

Duke Ellington

piano
1899 - 1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Duke Ellington with the Latinesque "Fleurette Africaine (Little African Flower)" and longtime duet partner

Chick Corea

piano
1941 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Chick Corea, with the lengthy opening workout of "Sea Journey."

The nearly 80-minute set also demonstrates how close to perfection Burton's groups from that era were. Sanchez may not have been around at the time (he was not yet three when Ring was recorded), but he fits like a glove, weighing heavily on the cymbals just as

Bob Moses

drums
b.1948

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob Moses and

Danny Gottlieb

drums
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Danny Gottlieb did, but still injecting his own distinctive strength into the mix. Swallow's electric bass tone is richer and fuller than it was back in the day, combining with Sanchez to provide a weightier bottom end without diminishing the wonderfully ethereal, mellifluous and lyrical combination of guitar and vibes.

If there's one misstep with Quartet Live it's a small one. The inclusion of Metheny's enduring "Question and Answer"—as ever a feature for the guitarist's horn-like guitar synth at its climax—seems slightly out of place with the more rarified ambience of the rest of the disc. Still, there's nothing wrong with a little modernistic heat to finish off the set, and while it's perhaps not the perfect choice, it does absolutely nothing to mar the exhilaration of hearing Burton, Metheny and Swallow reunite for a set of music that hasn't aged a day in 30+ years.

Visit Gary Burton, Pat Metheny, Steve Swallow and Antonio Sanchez on the web.

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Track Listing

Sea Journey; Olhos de Gato; Falling Grace; Coral; Walter L.; B and G (Midwestern Night's Dream); Missouri Uncompromised; Fleurette Africaine (Little African Flower); Hullo, Bolinas; Syndrome; Question and Answer.

Personnel

Gary Burton

vibraphone

Gary Burton: vibes; Pat Metheny: guitar; Steve Swallow: electric bass; Antonio Sanchez: drums.

Album information

Title: Quartet Live | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: Concord Music Group

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