By Ric Bang
Buy CD: Hot House
Pianist Chick Corea and
vibraphonist Gary Burton are as well known as any artists in the music
world. Born within two years of each other, each initially worked in
straight-ahead and bop-related groups, then developed styles that were
offshoots of the bop era. Corea worked with Miles Davis, Burton with
George Shearing; then both formed a series of groups and toured extensively
with top-level sidemen. Corea and Burton met during this period, and have
worked together for almost 40 years.
Both are multiple Grammy
Award nominees and winners, five of which were received for their
collaborations. Hot House is their newest
release.
Although both are composers
(Corea the most prolific), all but one track were written by others. The album
opens with “Can’t We Be Friends,” a Kay Swift/Paul Swift tune; other highlights
include Lennon & McCartney’s “Eleanor Rigby,” Bill Evans’ “Time Remembered” and Dave
Brubeck’s “Strange Meadow
Lark.” The disc closes
with Corea’s “Mozart Goes
Dancing.” It’s of
interest that all but one of these tunes was written by a pianist.
Neither Burton nor Corea is
a “frenetic” artist; each always is in complete control of his instruments at
every tempo. As a result, everything produced here is thoughtful, gentle and
beautiful. Only two of these tracks are done up-tempo: the title tune and Corea’s original. The
rest are treated as ballads, and presented softly and poetically.
Everything is done as a duet,
except for “Mozart Goes Dancing”; the Harlem String
Quartet guests on that track, which
results in a true classical feel and sound. Corea uses a standard piano
throughout the album.
Corea and Burton
obviously respect and enjoy each other; just listen to the beautiful music they
make!
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