Search - Gary Burton & Friends, Gary Burton :: Tennessee Firebird

An eclectic effort, with uncertain results

hillbilly willie | Texas | 06/14/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Hank Garland's vibe player returns to Tennessee in a collaborative effort with some of Nashville's premier session players. Although his concept was laudatory, IMO only half of the rather short (37 min.) album hits his intended mark. His weakest tracks are the eponymous track "Tennessee Firebird", and "Beauty Contest"-both are jam sessions between his jazz group, and the country folks as foils. On the other hand, Hank Williams' "Alone and Forsaken" and Ferlin Husky's "Gone" are the strongest tunes on here. They come out both complex and wistful.In reading the liner notes, Gary comes off as appreciative of the country musicians, yet seems somewhat contemptuous of their abilities. And that seems to show in his underuse of Buddy Emmons in an attempt to make an album that is neither fish nor fowl. The best tracks are brilliant, and with the mediocre ones together make this a decent album."