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Category:    Home > Reviews > Concert > Jazz > Gary Burton & Makoto Ozone – Live At Montreux 2002 (DTS)

Gary Burton & Makoto Ozone – Live At Montreux 2002 (DTS)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: B     Extras: C-     Concert: B

 

 

Over and over again on DVD, nobody delivers better Jazz concerts than Gary Burton and he is always showing up with a guest.  Previously, we looked at two formidable teamings with Chick Corea, including one of the sonically finest DVD concerts to date with Chick Corea & Gary Burton – Live At Montreux 1997, but he was just as strong five years later with Makoto Ozone, returning to Montreux in 2002.  Eagle Eye has now followed up the former volume with Gary Burton & Makoto Ozone – Live At Montreux 2002.

 

This time, the idea was to do a tribute to one of the most underrated of all instruments, the xylophone.  Used in everything from classical to Jazz to Pop and Rock, it remains one of the most underutilized of all traditional instruments despite its use and resurfacing in hit records and soundtrack work.  Ozone covers piano and Burton xylophone as they play the following:

 

1)     Afro Blues

2)     Bags’ Groove

3)     Hole In The Wall

4)     Opus Half

5)     Le Tombeau De Couperin

6)     Sonata K20

7)     Excursions For Piano, Opus 20, Number 1

8)     Opus 32, Prelude VIII

9)     Milonga

10)  Concerto In F

11)  Bienvenidos Al Mundo

 

 

Burton just loves music and as both a musician and music literate who is able to express his love and joy more clearly than most, discussing and playing Lionel Hampton, Red Norvo, Milt Jackson, Cal Tjader and many others.  After seeing and hearing so (too?) many Jazz releases, Burton’s have been particularly distinguished by having the feeling of “being there” as and after you take one in.  His judgment is superior in what he says and does, but Ozone should also get much credit for having as much talent early on and as much chemistry as Corea did with Burton in previous outings.  It may run only 71 minutes, but it is a very intense set that never quits in its energy and entertainment value, which is why it is one of the best concert DVDs of the year.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image was shot in digital High Definition and has good color, but in what may be the weak link in the disc, has some detail and Video Black issues.  Otherwise, I enjoyed the way it was shot and it is a pleasure to see.  Like the Corea/Burton Montreux 1997 disc, this one is has audio in PCM 16bit/48kHz 2.0 Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1, with the DTS once again offering the best sonics.  Though it is not as amazing as the 1997 disc due to some slight compression in the mixes, DTS is still the preferred playback option and the combination is solid.  There are no extras, though a booklet inside the DVD case offers a great essay about the artists.

 

 

To read about more exceptional Gary Burton DVD concerts, try these links:

 

Chick Corea/Gary Burton – Interaction

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/1906/Chick+Corea/Gary+Burton+-+Interaction

 

Chick Corea & Gary Burton – Live At Montreux 1997

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/3884/Chick+Corea+&+Gary+Burton+–+Live+At+Montreux+1997+(DTS)

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo


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