Gary Burton Quartet in Concert [live]

by Scott YanowThe final recording by Gary Burton's classic quartet (how about a reunion someday?) features the vibraphonist/leader, guitarist Larry Coryell, bassist Steve Swallow and drummer Bob Moses mixing together aspects of rock, country and folk music in their advanced improvisations. The material (by Mike Gibbs, Burton, Coryell and Bob Dylan) is quite strong, and there are some hints of the avant-garde (including "One, Two, 1-2-3-4" and Burton's freely improvised solo piece "Dreams"). All of the influential Burton-Coryell recordings (among the earliest fusion records) are currently difficult to find and are deserving reissue as a box set.