Hotel Hello is a duo album by vibraphonist Gary Burton and bassist Steve Swallow. Burton also plays marimba and organ, and Swallow doubles on acoustic & electric piano.

Hotel Hello
Studio album by Gary Burton and Steve Swallow
Released	1975
Recorded	May 13–14, 1974
Studio	Aengus Studio, Fayville, Massachusetts
Genre	Jazz
Length	36:00
Label	ECM ECM 1055
Producer	Manfred Eicher
Gary Burton chronology
Seven Songs For Quartet And Chamber Orchestra (1974) Hotel Hello (1975) Ring (1974)

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings	[2]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide	[3]

The Penguin Guide to Jazz listed the album as part of its suggested "core collection" and described it as "by far the most impressive of Burton's two-handers and an ideal opportunity to examine the vibist in close-ups." They concluded by calling it "one of the high-points of ECM's distinguished catalogue."[2]

Writing for ECM Reviews, Tyran Grillo called the album a "long-forgotten jewel," and commented: "Hotel Hello is a unique entry in the Burton catalogue, for it is the only one that feels as if it were painted in black and white. What it lacks in vibrancy... of color, it makes up for, if not surpasses, in its visceral sentiment... This is a consistently solid effort and arousing in its many changes..."[4]

In a review for AllMusic, Scott Yanow wrote: "the music is introverted, quiet, and occasionally swinging, but mostly floating... Thoughtful background music with no real surprises or excitement."[1]

Track listing

1. "Chelsea Bells (for Hern)" (Steve Swallow) - 4:25
2. "Hotel Overture + Vamp" - 3:39
3. "Hotel Hello" (Steve Swallow) - 5:24
4. "Inside In" (Mike Gibbs) - 2:43
5. "Domino Biscuit" (Steve Swallow) - 1:56
6. "Vashkar" (Carla Bley) - 5:58
7. "Sweet Henry" (Steve Swallow, Jack Gregg) - 4:02
8. "Impromptu" (Gary Burton, Steve Swallow) - 2:29
9. "Sweeping Up" (Steve Swallow) - 5:24

Personnel

• Gary Burton – vibraharp, organ, marimba
• Steve Swallow – bass, acoustic piano, electric piano

References