Vibraphonist Gary Burton's place in the jazz firmament has long been assured, but he has no intention of sitting on the sidelines as others enter the field. Instead, Burton has a knack for reaching out to younger players, thus leading to the title of his 2004 release, Generations. More specifically, the title refers to guitarist Julian Lage, a new talent on the jazz scene whose low profile can be attributed to the fact that he's a sophomore in high school. Lage's cool sound, inspired by Jim Hall, perfectly complements the lightness of Burton's vibes, giving Generations a relaxed, mellow sound. Burton and Lage are joined by pianist Makoto Ozone, bassist James Genus, and drummer Clarence Penn on well-worn classics like Oscar Peterson's Wheatland and more recent classics like Pat Metheny's Take Another Look. Ozone proves something of a linchpin between the lead players and the rhythm section, offering light, lovely solos on pieces like The Title Will Follow and a flurry of rhythmic chords on Ladies in Mercedes. Burton's predilection toward new ideas can also be discerned by his inclusion of a great deal of new material written by Lage (three pieces) and Ozone (two pieces). Generations is another fine effort by Burton, an excellent introduction to Lage, and above all, a solid recording by a fine group playing in synchronicity. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford Jr., Rovi

1		First Impression
2		Early
3		Gorgeous
4		Wheatland
5		Take Another Look
6		Syndrome
7		Test of Time
8		The Title Will Follow
9		Ladies In Mercedes
10		Heroes Sin Nombre

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