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Vibraphonist Gary Burton has won 5 Grammys and been nominated for many more. His musical partners have included both Stan Getz and Pat Metheney. |
Gary Burton was born in 1943 in Indiana. He taught himself to play the vibraphone and began performing at age eight. He discovered jazz at 13, when he listened to a Benny Goodman record. A visit to the Stan Kenton Band camp at Indiana University, in addition to a continuing interest in jazz, led Burton to pursue a career in music.
At age 17, Burton made his recording debut in Nashville backing guitarists Hank Garland and Chet Atkins. Following a brief stint at the Berklee music school, Burton joined George Shearing's band, followed by a two-year engagement with Stan Getz.
In 1967, Burton left Getz to form his own band, having already recorded three albums under his own name. With his new quartet, Burton began working in a new direction, borrowing from rock and jazz and spawning the jazz fusion style. The quartet expanded in subsequent years to include Pat Metheny, bringing the electric guitar to prominence as a lead jazz instrument.
In addition to working with his group, Burton also performed in the duo format, working with bassist Steve Swallow, guitarist Ralph Towner, and pianist Chick Corea, with whom he has had a longstanding personal and professional relationship.
His five Grammy awards, 13 Grammy nominations, hit records and multiple accolades from the jazz press are a testament to Burton's musical talent and vision. But Burton has also been equally important as a jazz educator having worked at the Berklee College of music for nearly 30 years, first as percussion teacher, then as dean of curriculum, and finally as executive vice president. In 1989, almost 25 years after he left his studies at Berklee to join Getz, Burton was awarded an honorary doctorate from the school.
Burton has also maintained an interest in discovering and encouraging new musicians. In addition to Pat Metheney, Burton gave big breaks to John Scofield, Jerry Hahn, and Mick Goddrick. His latest find is 16-year-old guitarist Julian Lage.
Set List for Gary Burton on Piano Jazz:"O Grande Amour" (A.C. Jobim)
"Blame It On My Youth" (O. Levant, E. Heyman )
"Yesterdays" (Kern, Harbach)
"So Many Things" (McPartland)
"Sophisticated Lady" (Ellington, Mills, Parish)
"My Romance" (Rodgers, Hart)
"My Funny Valentine" (Rodgers, Hart)
"Windows" (Corea)
Gary Burton on the Web
At age 17, Burton made his recording debut in Nashville backing guitarists Hank Garland and Chet Atkins. Following a brief stint at the Berklee music school, Burton joined George Shearing's band, followed by a two-year engagement with Stan Getz.
In 1967, Burton left Getz to form his own band, having already recorded three albums under his own name. With his new quartet, Burton began working in a new direction, borrowing from rock and jazz and spawning the jazz fusion style. The quartet expanded in subsequent years to include Pat Metheny, bringing the electric guitar to prominence as a lead jazz instrument.
In addition to working with his group, Burton also performed in the duo format, working with bassist Steve Swallow, guitarist Ralph Towner, and pianist Chick Corea, with whom he has had a longstanding personal and professional relationship.
His five Grammy awards, 13 Grammy nominations, hit records and multiple accolades from the jazz press are a testament to Burton's musical talent and vision. But Burton has also been equally important as a jazz educator having worked at the Berklee College of music for nearly 30 years, first as percussion teacher, then as dean of curriculum, and finally as executive vice president. In 1989, almost 25 years after he left his studies at Berklee to join Getz, Burton was awarded an honorary doctorate from the school.
Burton has also maintained an interest in discovering and encouraging new musicians. In addition to Pat Metheney, Burton gave big breaks to John Scofield, Jerry Hahn, and Mick Goddrick. His latest find is 16-year-old guitarist Julian Lage.
Set List for Gary Burton on Piano Jazz:
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