1980 · Album
In Concert, Zürich
Recorded October 28, 1979 · ECM · Venue: Limmathaus, Zürich
Two Pianos, One Night, Nothing Else
A solid documentation of what happens when two virtuosos trust each other completely.
When In Concert, Zürich arrived in 1980, it landed quietly. The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings gave it 2.5 stars out of 4—decent but not a signal that something essential had happened. It never became a cult record or a sleeper hit. This was a straightforward live recording of two musicians doing what they'd already done together on Crystal Silence (1973) and Duet (1978): playing piano and vibraphone duets with no one else in the room. The Limmathaus audience in Zürich got what they paid for, and ECM released it as part of the label's ongoing documentation of this partnership. Nothing wrong with that. Nothing particularly wrong with a 2.5 rating either—it means the music is competent and worth hearing if you're interested in the artists, but it won't convert anyone. The real value here is specificity. This is what Corea and Burton sounded like on this particular October night, responding to this particular room and audience. It captures a duo that had found their language years earlier and were simply speaking it fluently. If you already love their work together, this is another chance to hear them do it live. If you're new to either player, start with Crystal Silence instead.
Who's playing
Chick Coreapiano
Gary Burtonvibraphone
Where next?
More by Gary Burton
All 42 albums →
The musicians on this record
Their own records, close in time
