NDR BIGBAND — Bravissimo : 50 Years NDR Big Band (1996) Serie : The World Greatest Jazz Orchestras – II | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

"An excellent cross-section of the music of one of the best jazz orchestras in Europe" - (DER SPIEGEL) ACT
Tracklist :
1    The Cat 6:04
Arranged By – Horst Mühlbradt
Written-By – J.Griffin
2    Blue Monk 7:14
Arranged By – Stan Tracey
Written-By – T.Monk
3    Voodoo Chile 5:17
Arranged By – Howard Johnson
Written-By – J.Hendrix
4    Sagma 5:19
Arranged By – Joki Freund
Written-By – H.Sauer
5    Night In Tunesia 9:27
Arranged By – Horst Mühlbradt
Written-By – D.Gillespie
6    Take The A-Train 4:22
Arranged By – Steve Gray
Written-By – B.Strayhorn
7    Supraconductivity 5:30
Arranged By – Joki Freund
Written-By – A.Mangelsdorff
8    Sister Sadie
Arranged By – Lex Jasper
Written-By – Horace Silver
9    Mood Indigo
Arranged By – Hans Hammerschmid
Written-By – D.Ellington
10    Django
Arranged By – Horst Mühlbradt
Written-By – J.Lewis
11    Descent
Arranged By – Ralf Hübner
Written-By – Ch. Lauer
12    Country Roads
Arranged By – Michael Gibbs
Written-By – B.Burton
Credits :
NDR Bigband conducted by Dieter Glawischnig
except #3 - Rob Pronk, #8 - Jiggs Wigham, #12 - Michael Gibbs

ASTOR PIZZOLLA | GARY BURTON - The New Tango (1987) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Recorded at the Montreux Festival of 1986, The New Tango is an album of collaboration between the undisputed leader of the nuevo tango movement, Astor Piazzolla, and American vibe master Gary Burton. All of the pieces on the album were written by Piazzolla over the course of some 40 years of work, along with one special composition, "Vibraphonissimo," written expressly for Burton's usage. Surprisingly enough -- given the virtuosity and coherence that one receives on the album -- there were a mere three rehearsals prior to the recorded performance. As the listener finds out, the vibraphone is perfectly suited to the tango; or at the very least, that Gary Burton is fully capable of the job. As with all of Piazzolla's albums, the chances of disappointment are quite slim, with a special amount of attention given here to details by all musicians involved. Any fan of the nuevo tango or Piazzolla will be pleased as usual. Fans of Gary Burton or jazz vibes may find the album surprisingly good as it shows the versatility of the vibraphonist. As Fernando Gonzalez once said, "this music knows many dialects. And listens. There are no lines drawn and no sides to defend. This is new tango."  Adam Greenberg 

Tracklist

1 Milonga Is Coming 12:07

2 Vibraphonissimo 6:36

3 Little Italy 1930 8:49

4 Nuevo Tango 5:38

5 Laura's Dream 11:56

6 Operation Tango 9:56

Credits

Bandoneon, Written-By – Astor Piazzolla

Bass – Hector Console

Guitar – Horacio Malvicino

Piano – Pablo Ziegler

Vibraphone, Mixed By – Gary Burton

Violin – Fernando Suárez Paz

GARY BURTON | CHICK COREA — Crystal Silence (1973) APE (image+.cue), lossless

For Crystal Silence, the first of several partnerships between Chick Corea and vibraphonist Gary Burton in the 1970s, the two musicians selected an interesting array of material. The compositions on this record are all modern ones, either by Steve Swallow, Mike Gibbs, or Corea himself. It is a mostly downtempo affair, which allows each player to stretch out and play highly melodic solos over the often difficult changes. In keeping with most ECM releases, there is a distinct presence of European elements to the improvisations. There are few overt blues or bebop phrases, Corea and Burton opting instead for modern melodies to fuel their improvisations. Burton has managed to internalize the Spanish and modal implications of Corea's tunes with little difficulty, and solos with joyful ease through such tracks as "Señor Mouse." Corea himself is absolutely burning. His solo contribution on the same track is both fiery and introspective, combining in one statement the poles for which he is best-known. The title track is also the centerpiece of the album, a nine-minute exploration of the Corea ballad that first appeared on his Return to Forever record in 1972. In keeping with the tradition of the great masters of the ballad form, time seems to disappear as Burton and Corea lovingly caress the song's simple melody and dance effortlessly around the chords, building intensity only to let it subside once more. Crystal Silence is a sublime indication of what two master improvisers can do given quality raw material, with the first side of this record being particularly flawless. Improvised music is rarely this coherent and melodic. Essential for fans of Corea, Burton, or jazz in general. Daniel Gioffre
Tracklist :
1. Señor Mouse (Chick Corea) - 6:20
2. Arise, Her Eyes (Steve Swallow) - 5:08
3. I'm Your Pal (Steve Swallow) - 4:02
4. Desert Air (Chick Corea) - 6:26
5. Crystal Silence (Chick Corea) - 9:05
6. Falling Grace (Steve Swallow) - 2:42
7. Feelings And Things (Mike Gibbs) - 4:46
8. Children's Song (Chick Corea) - 2:11
9. What Game Shall We Play Today (Chick Corea) - 3:46
Chick Corea – Piano
Gary Burton – Vibraphone  

GARY BURTON — Times Square (1978) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

After a decade of leading quartets that matched his vibes with a variety of top young guitarists, Gary Burton decided that it was time for a change. While he is joined by a pair of longtime associates (bassist Steve Swallow and drummer Roy Haynes), the fourth member of the group on this set is the young trumpeter Tiger Okoshi. Since Burton has never been a major composer, there are five Swallow originals, two from Keith Jarrett, and Jim Hall's "Careful." Okoshi's presence adds more fire to this session than was typical of most of Burton's previous records. A fine outing. Scott Yanow
Tracklist  :
1 Semblence 4:00
 Keith Jarrett
2 Coral 5:47
 Keith Jarrett
3 Careful   4:42
 Jim Hall
4 Peau Douce 4:55
 Steve Swallow
5 Midnight 4:20
 Steve Swallow
6 Radio 4:41
 Steve Swallow
7 True Or False 2:20
 Roy Haynes, Steve Swallow
8 Como En Vietnam 6:43
 Steve Swallow
Credits
Bass – Steve Swallow
Drums – Roy Haynes
Producer – Manfred Eicher
Trumpet – Tiger Okoshi
Vibraphone [Vibes] – Gary Burton

EBERHARD WEBER - Stages Of A Long Journey (2007) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Stages of a Long Journey was recorded in Stuttgart in March of 2005, as part of a celebration of both the 20th anniversary of the Theaterhaus Jazzstage festival and as a 65th birthday celebration for bassist Eberhard Weber. Weber was asked to pick a number of his own compositions, rearrange them by writing new charts for the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, and select his own band as well. Weber picked on former and current bandmates such as Gary Burton, Jan Garbarek, Rainer Bruninghaus, Marilyn Mazur, Wolfgang Dauner, Reto Weber, and human beatbox Nino G., and carefully chose material from his own catalog and pieces he had performed on in their initial recordings, such as Bruninghaus's "Piano Transition," Jerome Kern's "Yesterdays," Mazur's "Percussion Transition," and Carla Bley's "Syndrome." Those wondering if there is any actual "jazz" on this record need look no further than the gorgeous version of Bley's tune here, where Burton, Garbarek, and the bassist all shine. Another consideration for the listener is in Weber's beautiful, inventive, rhythmic charts for the orchestra (under the direction of Roland Kluttig). "Silent Feet," which opens the set, is one such exercise. What begins as a slow bowed bassline is colored and enlarged by the orchestra entering gradually, tensely, and dramatically, as grey dawn emerges from the night sky. A pulse begins just after Mazur's percussion entry, the band plays these intricate rhythmic phrases, and the orchestra adds genuine color, texture, and depth. They follow rhythmic signature perfectly, allowing the tune to evolve and bring its delightfully understated melodic frame (which is not inseparable from the pulse) to the fore. By the time Garbarek takes his solo and Weber plays double time behind him, the big brassy horns are ready to push and drop out only as Burton enters with a truly lovely and poetic solo.
There are a fine pair of duets played here as well, between Dauner on piano and Weber's bass on the lovely Kern number, and also "Seven Movements," shared by the bassist and Garbarek. They set the stage for what follows, the elongated "Birthday Suite" that encompasses five pieces -- bookended by gorgeous readings of two of Weber's best-known pieces, "The Colours of Cloë" and "Yellow Fields." On "Hang Around," a trio of Nino G., Weber's downright funky acoustic bass, and the self-designed percussion instrument played by Reto Weber (no relation) called the "hang," are in deep intuitive interplay. The work by G. is not a novelty, but something inventive, utterly fresh, and full of the energy -- especially in G.'s solo. The final two pieces of the evening are in many ways the most satisfying. The full band returns on "The Last Stage of a Long Journey," where the orchestra introduces the brooding and melancholy composition. Strings and the deep brass of tuba and euphonium gradually bring up the tempo and introduce the lithe melody, as Weber brings his bass up from the ether. When Bruninghaus restates the theme on the piano and Weber is allowed free play inside the rhythm, Burton begins to color it. When Garbarek's icy soprano saxophone cries out, it is arresting and rings true. The concert ends with a brief bass solo by Weber on "Air." In just over three minutes, the great bassist is not remotely interested in showing his chops but in playing this bittersweet little song as a folk tune. This is a watershed moment in Weber's recorded output, because it reveals his collective gifts as a musician, which, even when understated, are shining examples of the European jazz, folk, classical, and new music he has forged these last 40 years as a leader and as a valued sideman and composer.
(This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa')
Tracklist :
1     Silent Feet 7:37
Bass, Written-By – Eberhard Weber
Conductor – Roland Klutting
Orchestra – SWR Radio Symphony Orchestra Stuttgart
Percussion – Marilyn Mazur
Piano – Rainer Brüninghaus
Soprano Saxophone – Jan Garbarek
Vibraphone – Gary Burton    
2     Syndrome 7:44
Bass – Eberhard Weber
Percussion – Marilyn Mazur
Piano – Rainer Brüninghaus
Tenor Saxophone – Jan Garbarek
Vibraphone – Gary Burton
Written-By – Carla Bley
3     Yesterdays 5:03
Double Bass [Double-Bass] – Eberhard Weber
Piano – Wolfgang Dauner
Written-By – Jerome Kern    
4     Seven Movements 5:54
Bass, Written-By – Eberhard Weber
Soprano Saxophone – Jan Garbarek
5     The Colours of Chloë
Bass – Eberhard Weber
Conductor – Roland Kluttig
Orchestra – SWR Radio Symphony Orchestra Stuttgart
Percussion – Marilyn Mazur
Piano – Rainer Brüninghaus
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Jan Garbarek
Vibraphone – Gary Burton
6     Piano Transition 4:11
Written-By [From "Solo Piano Suite"] – Rainer Brüninghaus    
7     Maurizius 7:04
Eberhard Weber
8     Percussion Transition 3:03
Marilyn Mazur
9     Yellow Fields 7:01
Eberhard Weber
10     Hang Around 4:17
Bass – Eberhard Weber
Hang Drum [Hang], Written-By – Reto Weber
Human Beatbox [Beatbox] – Nino G.    
11     The Last Stage of a Long Journey 11:06
Bass, Written-By – Eberhard Weber
Conductor – Roland Klutting
Orchestra – SWR Radio Symphony Orchestra Stuttgart
Percussion – Marilyn Mazur
Piano – Rainer Brüninghaus
Soprano Saxophone – Jan Garbarek
Vibraphone – Gary Burton    
12     Air 3:10
Eberhard Weber
   

ARTURO SANDOVAL - Dear Diz (Every Day I Think of You) (2012) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval's 2012 tribute to legendary jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, Dear Diz (Every Day I Think of You) is a big-band Latin and Afro-Cuban jazz tour de force. Showcasing Sandoval's long-storied titan bop trumpet chops, Dear Diz frames the Cuban-born virtuoso with layered big-band arrangements on many of Gillespie's best-known compositions. Produced by Gregg Field and Sandoval, the album also features a bevy of name jazz musicians, including Hammond B-3 master Joey DeFrancesco, vibraphonist Gary Burton, tenor saxophonist Bob Mintzer, clarinetist Eddie Daniels, and many more. Included here, among others, are such Gillespie songs as "Salt Peanuts!," "Birks Works," "Con Alma," and, of course, Gillespie's trademark theme, "A Night in Tunisia." Gillespie was Sandoval's biggest musical influence and, after the two met during Gillespie's tour of Cuba in 1977, he became one of Sandoval's most ardent champions, mentors, and friends. In that sense, Dear Diz is clearly a labor of love, a sentiment that permeates this joyously exuberant album. by Matt Collar
Tracklist :
1    Be Bop 8:19
Alto Saxophone – Zane Musa
Arranged By – Gordon Goodwin
Piano – Shelly Berg
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie
2    Salt Peanuts! (Mani Salado) 6:48
Arranged By – Gordon Goodwin
Tenor Saxophone – Bob Mintzer
Vibraphone – Gary Burton
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie, Kenneth Clarke
3    And Then She Stopped 5:18
Arranged By – Chris Walden
Organ [Hammond] – Joey DeFrancesco
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie
4    Birks Works (Ala Mancini) 6:04
Arranged By – Shelly Berg
Organ [Hammond] – Joey DeFrancesco
Tenor Saxophone – Plas Johnson
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie
5    Things To Come 7:11
Arranged By – Gordon Goodwin
Organ [Hammond] – Joey DeFrancesco
Tenor Saxophone – Bob Mintzer, Bob Sheppard
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie, Waler Gilbert Fuller
6    Fiesta Mojo 5:09
Arranged By – Chris Walden
Clarinet – Eddie Daniels
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie
7    Con Alma (With Soul) 6:00
Arranged By – Nan Schwartz
Cello – Trevor Handy
Viola – Roland Kato
Violin – Sara Parkins
Violin, Concertmaster – Ralph Morrison
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie
8    Tin Tin Deo 6:52
Arranged By – Dan Higgins
Piano – Wally Minko
Vocals – Manolo Gimenez
Written-By – Chano Pozo, Walter Fuller
9    Algo Bueno (Woody And Me) 6:15
Arranged By, Alto Saxophone – Dan Higgins
Trombone – Andy Martin
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie
10    A Night In Tunisia (Actually An Entire Weekend!) 7:23
Arranged By – Wally Minko
Tenor Saxophone – Ed Calle
Trombone – Bob McChesney
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Paparelli
    Encore    
11    Every Day I Think Of You 4:27
Arranged By – Chris Walden
Vocals – Arturo Sandoval
Written-By – Arturo Sandoval
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Flute [Alto] – Rusty Higgins
Alto Saxophone, Flute, Piccolo Flute, Flute [Alto] – Dan Higgins
Baritone Saxophone, Bass Clarinet – Greg Huckins
Bass – Carlitos Del Puerto, Chuck Berghofer
Bongos – Andy Garcia
Drums – Gregg Field
Guitar – Brian Nova, Dustin Higgins
Organ [Hammond] – Joey DeFrancesco
Percussion – Joey De Leon, Munyungo Jackson
Piano – Shelly Berg
Tenor Saxophone – Bob Mintzer
Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet – Bob Sheppard, Brian Scanlon, Rob Lockart
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Bruce Otto, Craig Gosnell, Steve Holtman, Wayne Bergeron
Trumpet, Vocals – Arturo Sandoval
Vibraphone – Gary Burton

GARY BURTON QUARTET WITH EBERHARD WEBER - Passengers (1977) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Guitarist Pat Metheny was a member of vibraphonist Gary Burton's group from 1974-1976, but although he had recorded with Burton twice previously, both of those dates also included guitarist Mick Goodrick. This particular set puts more of a focus on Metheny in a quintet that includes drummer Danny Gottlieb and both Steve Swallow and Eberhard Weber on bass. Metheny contributed three of the six selections, which are joined by a song apiece from Swallow, Weber, and Chick Corea ("Sea Journey"). Although none of the individual songs caught on, the attractive sound of the post-bop unit and an opportunity to hear Pat Metheny in his formative period make this an LP worth exploring.  by Scott Yanow 
Track Listing
 1 Sea Journey 9:15
Chick Corea 
 2 Nacada 4:11  
Pat Metheny
 3 The Whopper 5:28
Pat Metheny 
 4 B&G (Midwestern Night Dreams) 8:23
Pat Metheny
 5 Yellow Fields 6:58
Eberhard Weber
6 Claude and Betty 6:16
Steve Swallow
Credits
Bass – Eberhard Weber
Bass Guitar – Steve Swallow
Drums – Dan Gottlieb
Electric Guitar – Pat Metheny
Producer – Manfred Eicher
Vibraphone [Vibraharp] – Gary Burton

EBERHARD WEBER - Fluid Rustle (1979) APE (image+.cue), lossless