Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on July 2011

Beguiling vibraphone player Gary Burton is back on the road after recovering from heart surgery. One of the great innovators of this unusual jazz instrument, Burton has been at the heart of the jazz fusion movement since the 1960s. He arrives in Japan with a new album Common Ground and a new band in the form of the New Gary Burton Quartet. This slick grouping features drummer Antonio Sanchez, bassist Scott Colley, and young gun guitarist Julian Lage.

Blue Note Tokyo, July 20-23. See concert listings (jazz/world) for details.