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Reunion is a 1989 album by Gary Burton, reuniting him with guitarist Pat Metheny for their first recordings in almost 13 years. Both have been called prodigies. Burton joined George Shearing’s group in 1963 at the age of 19. He met Metheny at the Wichita Jazz Festival in 1973 when Metheny was 18 years old. After welcoming him as a teaching colleague at the Berklee College of Music, he hired Metheny for the newly expanded Gary Burton Quintet in 1974.

Metheny left Burton’s group in 1977 to form his own quartet with Lyle Mays. The two had virtually no contact with each other until, in early 1988, the organizers of the Montreal Jazz Festival contacted Burton. They told him that Metheny was the festival host and invited Burton to join him onstage. “My apprehension was immediately erased when I saw how easy it was for us to play together, even after 12 years,” said Burton. This led to their collaboration on Reunion (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reunion_(Gary_Burton_album)).

AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow:
Guitarist Pat Metheny was a member of the Gary Burton Quartet/Quintet during 1974-1976. In 1989, after becoming a major star, he had a reunion with the vibraphonist that resulted in this excellent project. Performing laid-back and often introspective pieces by Polo Ortin, Vince Mendoza, Paul Meyers, keyboardist Mitchel Forman, and Metheny, the two principals swing lightly in a quintet with Forman, bassist Will Lee, and drummer Peter Erskine. Although Burton had to adjust himself a little due to his former sideman’s prominence, the combination of vibes and guitar works quite well. The individual songs are not all that memorable but the group sound is quite attractive and Burton sounds inspired by Metheny (https://www.allmusic.com/album/reunion-mw0000207174).

Track listing:
Side A
“Autumn” (Polo Orti) – 4:24
“Reunion” (Mitchel Forman) – 5:15
“Origin” (Mitchel Forman) – 6:31
“Will You Say You Will” (Vince Mendoza) – 4:55
“House on the Hill” (Pat Metheny) – 5:40
Side B
“Panama” (Paul Meyers) – 5:38
“Chairs and Children” (Vince Mendoza) – 5:55
“Wasn’t Always Easy” (Pat Metheny) – 5:06
“The Chief” (Pat Metheny) – 4:16
“Tiempos Felice (Happy Times)” (Polo Orti) – 4:13
“Quick and Running (Polo Orti) – 6:42

Personnel:
Gary Burton – vibraphone, marimba
Pat Metheny – guitar
Mitchel Forman – piano, keyboards
Will Lee – bass guitar
Peter Erskine – drums, percussion

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Released: January 23, 1990
Recorded: May 6–10, 1989
Studio Studio A, Power Station, New York City
Length: 58:35
Label: GRP
Producer: Gary Burton