{"id":352,"date":"2020-02-23T00:15:54","date_gmt":"2020-02-23T06:15:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/postgenre.org\/staging\/4567\/?p=352"},"modified":"2020-03-14T21:08:09","modified_gmt":"2020-03-15T02:08:09","slug":"review-george-burtons-reciprocity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/postgenre.org\/staging\/4567\/review-george-burtons-reciprocity\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: George Burton’s ‘Reciprocity’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ralph Waldo Emerson once noted that \u201cto be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.\u201d Whether one’s expectations on another person, of an artist\u2019s output as a certain type, or one\u2019s inflated self-perception, far too often images are depicted and enforced which do not align with reality. It is fitting that one of the first contributions to PostGenre, a site dedicated to shattering preconceptions, is the review of Reciprocity<\/em> (self-release, 2020) <\/a>by pianist George Burton<\/a>, <\/em>an artist <\/em>wholly attuned to these problems and steadfast in his resolve to remain true to himself regardless. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On his 2016 album, The Truth of What I am > The Narcissist<\/em>, Burton adopted various stylistic techniques to express a desire to transcend the culture of \u201cme.\u201d His follow up, takes an equally unique musical approach to further a concept that is in some ways both similar and different from its predecessor. While the first focused on limiting the excessive esteem one gives themselves, the latter seemingly emphasizes the level of respect people give to one another. This issue is principally addressed in two ways. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, there is the issue of recognition across imaginary musical divisions. Some traditionalists draw imaginary lines around sound and issue edicts that disparage crossing their self-imposed partition. Jazz, in particular, is notorious for these limitations as commentators have debated incessantly for decades whether something constitutes the musical form. Fortunately, Burton never cedes to these arbitrary distinctions. Musically, Reciprocity<\/em>, like its predecessor, is eclectic. While both were formed out of jazz, they also equally draw significantly from avant-garde music, R&B, and hip hop. One of The Truth<\/em>\u2019s best pieces, \u201cFirst Opinion\u201d added to this base by presenting an experiment in tape music.  

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