Hot House

Pianist Chick Corea and vibraphonist Gary Burton have a history dating back to the early 1970s when they released their duo debut Crystal Silence. The pair has recorded several albums since then, and 2012’s Hot House is another fine effort. The communication between these two artists is so strong that the music can feel like it's coming out of a single instrument. Things kick off with a lively version of “Can’t We Be Friends,” a song from the 1920s penned by Kay Swift. Art Tatum recorded the piece, and the legendary pianist’s influence can be heard in the touches of stride that Corea brings to the track. A cover of the Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby” retains some of the gloominess of the original even as it is enlivened by distinctive rhythms. The title track, which was written by Tadd Dameron, finds the duo playing a torrent of notes that somehow flows as naturally as water. Corea and Burton bring great feeling to two pieces by Antonio Carlos Jobim, “Chega de Saudade” and “Once I Loved.” The Harlem String Quartet joins the pair for “Mozart Goes Dancing,” a Latin-flavored Corea original that closes the album.