CD ECM Records Gary Burton, Chick Corea: Crystal Silence, The ECM Recordings 1972-79 (4 CD-Box)

1972-1979

Gary Burton - vibrafon
Chick Corea - pian

This 4-CD box set reprises the history-making recordings “Crystal Silence” (1972), “Duet” (1978) and the live double album “In Concert, Zürich, October 28, 1979”. The duo was a seldom-tested format in jazz when pianist Chick Corea and vibraphonist Gary Burton, at the instigation of Manfred Eicher, came together for “Crystal Silence”, but its luminous music proved a resounding success. Both “Duet” and the Zürich recording won Grammy awards, and Chick and Gary toured to worldwide acclaim, astonishing audiences with their improvisational fluency. They have continued to make music together, for almost 40 years now: “Crystal Silence, The ECM Recordings” shows how the story began. Two live selections, “I’m Your Pal/Hullo Bolinas” and “Love Castle”, appear on CD for the first time in this collection. Booklet includes liner notes by Peter Rüedi and Steve Lake, and photos by Ib Skovgaard Peterse and Ralph Quinke.

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Even some 30 years later, these albums retain their freshness, intensity and still manage to communicate the sheer joy of music making shared between Burton and Corea. Two virtuosos of their respective instruments, there are moments on each album when the level of creativity is such that it demands repeated listening, so compelling is their shared artistry. … This compelling virtuosic music has depth, a powerful duality that lends their collaborations here an enduring quality. … Music making of such a sustained high level of this deserves to be heard and heard again by fresh generations of listeners, for it is truly something special.
Stuart Nicholson, Jazzwise