October 1999

Gary Burton
Alone at Last
32 Jazz

By Owen Cordle

Recorded in 1971, this album captures the vibist in superb form at the Montreux Jazz Festival (tracks 1-3) and in the studio (tracks 4-7). Burton's innovative four-mallet style was amazing back then (it still is), and these tracks show a piano-like harmonic fullness and fluidity. On the studio cuts, he occasionally overdubs piano, electric piano, and organ. Solid all the way.