Gary Burton - Throb (1969) [2012 Japan 24-bit Remaster]

Throb is dominated by bassist Steve Swallow’s wonderfully complex and idiosyncratic compositions, although the great composer/arranger Michael Gibbs contributes three tunes as well. Talk about an embarrassment of riches! The combination of Steve Swallow’s bass, Gary Burton’s vibes and Richard Greene’s violin gives the band a unique texture. Given the instrumentation, there is a lot of country music thrown into the mix. Jerry Hahn is the guitarist here and contributes the usual wankery common for the period, but Swallow makes good use of him in the arrangements. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I’d probably have to go for Steve Swallow’s hilarious Chickens, which is just what it sounds like..


Tracks:

01 - Henniger Flats
02 - Turn of the Century
03 - Chickens
04 - Arise, Her Eyes
05 - Prime Time
06 - Throb
07 - Doin the Pig
08 - Triple Portrait
09 - Some Echoes

Personnel:

Gary Burton — vibraphone, piano
Richard Greene — violin
Jerry Hahn — guitar
Steve Swallow — bass
Bill Goodwin — drums