Gary Burton, one of the most accomplished vibraphonists in jazz history, can explain why his instrument isn’t as prominent as the saxophone or guitar.
“It has a couple of things working against it,” he tells me from his Florida home, taking a break before heading to the recording studio followed by a trip to Greeley for a duet concert with pianist Chick Corea on April 29. “It’s big and clumsy and expensive. Even an entry-level instrument is going to cost a few thousand dollars. And you don’t see it on TV a lot.”
But when the mallets are in the right hands, the vibraphone can be genuinely exciting. It has the melodic range of the piano and the percussive rush of a set of drums. When the vibes were at the mercy of Lionel Hampton in the ’40s, he became a proto rock star, sending audiences into a frenzy with his energy.
While the vibes don’t crowd stages like they once did, there are still some masterful practitioners. Bobby Hutcherson comes to mind, as does Stefon Harris. But Burton is an innovator in his own right, and not just because of his pioneering work with four mallets (as opposed to two). His airy improvisations and exacting technique have set him apart for nearly 50 years. A standout run of ’70s recordings for the ECM label showcased a sparkling imagination. And while he has always sought out intriguing collaborators, it’s clear that his long creative relationship with Corea is a favorite.
“We’ve been playing together for 39 years, and we play together every year. We’ve already booked next year (for the 40th anniversary)” he says. “Our rapport is at a super high level, and it stays exciting for us. At a certain point I thought we were going to get bored with this. After we passed the 30-year mark I realized we are going to do this until we can’t stand up any longer.”
Burton has recorded with Corea in many configurations over the years, and their collaborations have netted five Grammy Awards. Those who are in attendance for the UNC/Greeley Jazz Festival performance will likely hear selections from the CD the duo plans on recording this week.
“The new record is standards,” he says. “But not the usual standards. People will know the composers, like Antonio Carlos Jobim, Paul McCartney and Thelonious Monk. But we picked more obscure pieces that were interesting to us.”
At 68, Burton looks back on his career choice to be a vibraphonist to be “a blessing and a curse.”
“The advantage is, I don’t have a lot of competition. At 18 years old, I was getting hired for record dates. On the other hand, bands aren’t often looking for vibraphone players. But I feel like one of the luckiest guys in the business. And I’m still doing it.”
An Evening With Chick Corea and Gary Burton, April 29, 7:30 p.m., Union Colony Civic Center, Greeley. Also featured at the 41st Annual UNC/Greeley Jazz Festival, April 28-30: New York Voices, Northern Colorado Voices, pianist Benny Green and A Tribute to John Coltrane with Jeff Coffin and Donny McCaslin. Call 970-356-5000.
Set list.
Colorado trumpeter Bob Montgomery’s 75th Birthday Concert will be held at Dazzle on Thursday. . . . Summit Jazz Foundation’s “Swinging Jazz Concerts” are Friday and Saturday at the Donald Seawell Grand Ballroom. The lineup includes piano genius Dick Hyman, Allan Vache on clarinet, James Chirillo on guitar and bassist Jay Leonhart. The intriguing trio of Steve Swallow, Ohad Talmor and Adam Nussbaum appears at Dazzle on Saturday.
