Two of vibraphonist Gary Burton's albums from 1969-1970 are reissued in full on this single CD.
Burton teams up with pianist
Keith Jarrett for five numbers (including four of Jarrett's originals) in 1970, using a quintet that also features guitarist Sam Brown, bassist
Steve Swallow, and drummer
Bill Goodwin. The other session has more of an avant-country flavor, with
Burton,
Swallow, and
Goodwin joined by guitarist
Jerry Hahn and violinist
Richard Greene; Michael Gibbs and
Swallow contributed most of the obscurities.
Burton was at his most explorative during this period, which is why he can be considered one of the pioneers of fusion (although his music never really fit into a tight category). This is excellent music that mostly still sounds fresh. ~ Scott Yanow