The New Gary Burton Quartet, featuring guitarist Julian Lage, bassist Scott Colley and drummer Antonio Sanchez, is set to perform at Manhattan’s Blue Note jazz club on October 19-24. The week-long engagement will serve as the North American debut for the group, which made its world premiere at the Red Sea Jazz Festival in August.

For over five decades, Burton, a Grammy-winning vibraphonist and former Berklee College of Music executive vice president, has crossed musical barriers and generations with his innovative ensembles. His quartets have featured a mix of both established and relatively unknown, younger musicians. Artists such as Larry Coryell, Pat Metheny, Tiger Okoshi, John Scofield and Kurt Rosenwinkel began their careers in Burton’s quartet.

Lage, Colley and Sanchez represent the latest incarnation of that group. “These are all musicians I have played with in the past, though never in this combination,” Burton says. “Julian is a constant inspiration, and we have played enough now to have a very deep rapport once we are on stage and we get into the songs. And it just doesn’t get any better than having Scott and Antonio for your rhythm section. We all have carved out some time to put this new group together, and I am very much looking forward to playing with everyone.”

Burton plans to record the New Quartet on Concord and tour in 2011.

For more information, including additional upcoming appearances, go to www.garyburton.com.

Pictured above, from left: Gary Burton, Julian Lage, Antonio Sanchez and Scott Colley

Photo courtesy of DL Media.