Gary Burton: Falling Grace

The recent reconvening of Burtons groundbreaking Quartet for an extended tour and a resulting live album was a welcome return for jazz. It serves as a vital reminder of the unique textural sophistication and joyful sound crafted by a preeminent vibraphonist, along with sidemen who usually went on to make jazz history themselves.

One of the songs they performed, Falling Grace, is also a valuable memento of Swallows influential abilities as a composer and performer. Only the second song hes ever written, Grace has both tremendous harmonic depth and finesse, a difficult feat for even seasoned songwriters. No matter whos playing it, it seems very much like the song specifically written for Bill Evans that it is (and eventually covered by Evans on his 1974 disc, Intuition). Burton covered it several times himself and this was doubtless part of the repertoire of his old foursome. Revisiting this classic with Burton and Swallow are Burtons former prodigy Metheny and Methenys main drummer since 2001, Sanchez.

Swallows expansive bass lines flow out so sparkly and seamlessly, he manages to solo and comp at the same time. Burtons vibes solo is his typical make every note meaningful attack and hearing Metheny after him illuminates how much the guitarist has learned from his old teacher as a teenager.

Burtons and his crack crews hard work on Swallow's gem makes it easy for listeners to enjoy.