1968 · Album
A Genuine Tong Funeral
Recorded 1967 · RCA · Produced by Not specified in Wikipedia source
Drama and Humor in an Unlikely Ensemble
AllMusic reviewer Scott Yanow called it one of Burton's most intriguing recordings, a superb showcase for his vibes.
When A Genuine Tong Funeral arrived in 1968, it landed as something between a bold statement and a curiosity. This was Gary Burton's vision, but the real engine was Carla Bley, who wrote every note and conducted an unusually large ensemble from the keyboards. The roster alone signals ambition: Michael Mantler on trumpet, Jimmy Knepper on trombone, Gato Barbieri and Steve Lacy on saxophones, Howard Johnson on baritone, Larry Coryell on guitar, Steve Swallow on bass, and Bob Moses on drums. That's a lot of voices in one room, and Bley knew how to use them.
The album didn't arrive as a smash hit, but it built genuine respect among listeners and critics who valued adventurousness. AllMusic awarded it four and a half stars, with the reviewer praising its dramatic range and occasional humor—qualities that keep the album from feeling overstuffed or self-serious. The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings also recognized its merit. What made it work wasn't mere novelty; it was the genuine interplay between Burton's floating vibes and an ensemble that sounded like they understood what Bley was after.
This is not Burton's most accessible record, nor his most famous, but it's essential if you want to see him at a specific crossroads: working with Bley's compositions before either of them became the experimental figures they'd later be known as. The music is dramatic, occasionally funny, and restless in a way that rewards repeated listening.
Who's playing
Steve Swallowbass
Carla Bleyorgan, piano
Larry Coryellguitar
Gato Barbieritenor saxophone
Steve Lacysoprano saxophone
Michael Mantlertrumpet
Jimmy Kneppertrombone
Bob Mosesdrums
Where next?
More by Gary Burton
All 42 albums →
The musicians on this record
Their own records, close in time
