Burton - Times Square

I saw this lineup at Northern Kentucky State University back in 1978 0r 79. I recall reading somewhere that it was Gary's first album as leader where he didn't have a chordal instrument other this his vibes in the band. I don't recall any other of his albums with trumpet as the solo horn voice.

I sure wish ECM would release Easy As Pie and Picture This with Jim Ogren on alto sax. I have them on LP but I'd appreciate a CD of each.

Coral is a gorgeous tune, and a long time favorite of mine. I also really like the Steve Swallow tune Como En Vietnam on this album.

There are a few other nice recordings of this tune on the site. Ed Saindon has one, Arturo Serra recorded one in 2011, and I uploaded one just a few months ago. It's a lovely, and perhaps overlooked ballad.

I was just reading the interview with Joe Locke in Masters of the Vibes, and he mentions this album, which was surprising to me... I remember seeing this quartet live (although I don't think Roy Haynes did the tour) and I played the crap out of this album in the late 70s. It's funny that while the rest of the world was listening to Disco Duck, there was so much great creative music at that time! And this record really defines a certain concept of playing in a quartet with a horn...all vibists should check it out!

ps. I also love the picture of the group on the back cover, standing in the middle of the street in midtown, with Roy wearing boots that go up to his ass!