Search - Gary Burton :: Genuine Tong Funeral

Carla Bley's First Masterpiece

Christopher Forbes | Brooklyn,, NY | 08/29/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album, along with Escalator Over the Hill (sadly not easily available) represent Carla Bley's most ambitious and assured jazz compositions. While Escalator reaches farther, and the reach very often exceeds the grasp, Tong Funeral is an undisputed masterwork. By turns sardonic, witty and finally moving, this is a terrific album by a very important jazz composer. And it introduced me to Gary Burton as well, so that's a real plus.Musically, Tong is a suite for large ensemble and vibraphone soloist. Many of the ensemble members take solos as well, most notably Gato Barbieri, who was one of Bley's favorite musicians at the time. (This was before he bacame a smooth jazz king and lost his edge!) Musically, Bley shows alot of influences, from Kurt Weill's Berlin period, Spanish Revolutionary songs, 30's society bands and the avant-garde. It's all twisted into a suite that adds up to a deeply emotional experience. And Burton is a wonder throughout. He opens up on Bley's quirky compositions and delivers some of his most interesting soloing on record. The reissue is handled well. I first bought this album in a store in Munich, where I got a superior pressing to the American release. Judgeing from the sound quality, this reissue uses a similar tape. It is lovely and clean. Start here with Carla Bley. Her later work has sometimes drifted into the too-selfconsciously hip for my taste. but this piece is brilliant from beginning to end."