Generations
Since he emerged with his own bands in the 1960s, Gary Burton has delighted in the interplay between vibes and guitar. His previous guitar foils includeLarry Coryell,Pat Metheny, andJohn Scofield.Generationsboasts the presence of 16-year-old guitarist Julian Lage, a high school sophomore, not yet a licensed driver, who has miraculously absorbed the stylings ofJim Halland emerged, even at this young age, as a player with his own voice. With longtime collaborator Makoto Ozone on board as pianist, and a rhythm section of drummer Clarence Penn and bassist James Genus, the quintet evokes the feel of Burton's 1970s ECM recordings. This also owes something to Burton's choice of material, including as it doesSteve Swallow's "Ladies in Mercedes,"Carla Bley's "Syndrome," and Metheny's "Take Another Look." Lage also shows himself to be an impressively fluid composer, providing three numbers that range from the playful "First Impression" to the loping classicism of "Early."--David Greenberger