Search - Chick Corea, Gary Burton :: Native Sense: New Duets

Nothing short of great!

ornen | Norway | 08/11/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's about time someone brought out the final star for this excellent album by the duet veterans.This is an example of a duet where the two parts have developed into a higher unity. The sensitivity and interplay of Corea and Burton as a team, the incredible time, the great compositions and arrangements, the highest high level of their musical craft, everything amazes this listener. The music draws on a wide musical heritage without ever falling into one style. Most prominent are the influences of European art music and, of course, jazz. There is also plenty of latin flavor in this recording, plenty of rhythm. Corea and Burton are such masters of polyrhythmic playing, cruising in and out of subdivisions, making the music flow in the manner of a wave, constantly moving, but ever organically. It is an album deserving serious listening, but it's also perfect for those late Sunday mornings. It's great as a real time out; listening the album through leaves you with energy and positivity - it's guaranteed to evoke smiles.The production and sound quality is also exceptional, making this an album truly worthy its five stars."

A good sense of each other

ornen | 02/25/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Chick Corea and vibrist Gary Burton's musical relationship spans three decades, and the fruits of that relationship manifests itself every so often in the form of a duet album and other collaborations. Incidentally, the two just won a Grammy last night (as of this writing) for the record they did with Pat Metheny, Roy Haynes and Dave Holland."Native Sense", recorded and released just a couple of years earlier, is another welcome treat for fans of both musicians. It's not so much how they play as individuals here, but how well they play as one. The combined, sweet sound Corea and Burton concoct is greater than the two parts. A nice mixture of Corea originals, little Bartok Bagatelles and even a little Monk thrown in, the dynamic duo explore, converse, and undertake challanges in a variety of settings. "No Mystery" and "Armando's Rhumba" are fine examples of what a couple of master musicians can do when both grace and fire are called for.Can you find better efforts by either men? Of course. But a reunion of sorts between two old masters just playing together for the pure enjoyment of playing together still makes for a fine recording.Having the fortune of seeing them perform live a year ago, I can attest that these gentleman still have a lot of chemistry between them. To witness a piano/vibraphone duet of this nature is to know how difficult it must be to pull off. This record (and the Origin CD's that closely followed) provides evidence that Chick is still near the top of his game."