Released 25 February 2008

When they teamed up in 1972 to play in a piano-vibraphone setting, little did Chick Corea and Gary Burton realize that 35 years later their duo would continue to expand its modern chamber music approach to jazz with full introspection and exhilaration. 

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Their serendipitous debut, Crystal Silence (released on ECM Records), not only forged the alchemic partnership, but also brought to renown the deep and insightful collaboration of the two virtuosic improvisers. After their premiere outing, they recorded four more albums and have never skipped a year performing together.

The New Crystal Silence is a double CD, and celebrates the Corea-Burton duo’s 35th aniversary. Both discs were recorded live in 2007; the first features the pair performing with the Sydney Symphony, the second is as a duet captured in a sublime performance at the Molde Jazz Festival in Norway. Writing in The New Crystal Silence liner notes, Burton reflects, "I've always held the theory that all musical collaborations, particularly among jazz musicians, eventually run their course as players evolve and everyone moves on to new ventures. But, I've come to believe that what Chick and I have together is going to break that rule. The performing we have done over the past year has been our best in 35 years." He adds, "We both feel that our music has evolved in the last 10 years more than it did before. We play the tunes very differently, with fresh concepts and new inspiration."

Corea agrees: "The way we were approaching the music during our 35th anniversary concert tour was so different that I thought it warranted documentation." In the CD liner notes, he adds, "Gary's playing continues to amaze and inspire me. The tours we've done over this past year are my favorites of all that we've done. There's more to come, but here is a slice of what we're into these days."

On the opening CD, recorded at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, Corea and Burton are accompanied by the Sydney Symphony, and perform new arrangements to Corea compositions from the duos earlier albums. The orchestra was led by guest conductor Jonathan Stockhammer, an American who lives in Berlin, and the music was orchestrated by UK saxophonist Tim Garland. "Tim has a special genius for orchestrating” says Corea. “He took the ball and ran with it."

Of their 75 concert tour, the duo decided to include the Molde Jazz Festival erfomance on the second CD of The New Crystal Silence. Delivering new spins on old duet  material, Corea says, “There was an extra magic happening that night, from the  beginning to the end. Gary's vibes sound so relaxed, so nice." Burton recalls that
"the audience was very knowledgeable about the music we were playing. They reacted well, which makes a big difference.” The only thing missing from the set that night was one of the duo's favorites, Senor Mouse, so they included a take on the tune recorded at Tenerife, Canary Island.

Writing in The New Crystal Silence CD liner notes, friend and collaborator Pat Metheny lauds the duo's creatively vibrant history and concludes: "When Crystal Silence came out, there was a freshness about it...35 years later, that freshness remains, enhanced by three decades of shared life experiences. There is a sense of infinity and eternity here, as if Chick and Gary could take any worthy piece and play it forever, finding new things each time around. That sense of endlessness offers hope and inspiration. That is the message of this music to me."

 DISC ONE

1. Duende
2. Love Castle
3. Brasilia
4. Crystal Silence
5. La Fiesta

DISC TWO

1. Bud Powell
2. Waltz for Debby
3. Alegria
4. No Mystery
5. Señor Mouse
6. Sweet & Lovely
7. I Love You Porgy
8. La Fiesta