Burton, Metheny, Swallow, Sanchez: Quartet Live

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

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 (electric bass) and Burton (vibes) alongside drummer 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.

Price: $15.98