Gary Burton New Vibe Man in Town (1961) [reissue 2012]

The first-ever album from vibist Gary Burton - a very young player at the time of recording, but one who's definitely worth the "new vibe man" promised in the title! The style here is maybe a bit more conventionally swinging than some of Burton's records from later years - a trio setting with Gene Cherico on bass and the great Joe Morello on drums - but both rhythm players are already pretty hip with their timings, and really push Burton into spacious, chromatic territory that's completely sublime - a sound that already marks the musician as really bringing something fresh to his instrument.
A year before New Vibe Man in Town was recorded, Gary Burton joined guitarist Hank Garland for Jazz Winds from a New Direction, which is added as the last six tracks on this CD…