News
August 15, 2011
Mallet men I (CD review Ottowa Citizen)
What do the members of the New Gary Burton Quartet have in common? Virtuosity that manifests itself in incredible precision, and which is used in the service of lyrical expression, for starters. Vibraphonist Burton, the young guitarist Julian Lage, bassist Scott Colley and drummer Antonio Sanchez make music that stresses meticulous melodies, songs that are smooth and clean even when they’re bursting with energy.
All four members of the quartet fittingly contribute pieces to Common Ground, as does the young pianist Vadim Neselovskyi. Generally, regardless of the composer, the music comes out crisply rendered and tautly tuneful. The sonic combination of Lage’s pristine guitar and Burton’s shimmering vibraphone certainly contributes to the music’s fastidiousness. But so too does the rigorous shaping of the music, the craftsmanship that channels the musical muscles.
