The New Crystal Silence cover

The New Crystal Silence

Chick Corea · 2008

122 min · 13 tracks · jazz

A lush interplay of intricate melodies and rhythmic exploration, blending traditional jazz with avant-garde sensibilities.

Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Duende Start here — This opening track sets the tone for the album with its hypnotic rhythms and rich harmonies, showcasing Corea's virtuosity alongside Burton's melodic sensitivity.
  • →
    Crystal Silence — A reimagining of Corea’s classic piece, this rendition emphasizes the duo’s chemistry, weaving together lyrical beauty with dynamic improvisational sections.
  • →
    La Fiesta — In this performance, the vibrant energy and Latin influences shine through, capturing the essence of Corea's compositional roots while invigorating the original piece.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental
67 /100
Alpine
Higher than 91% of albums we've rated

The album showcases sophisticated arrangements and strong melodic interplay, marking it as a notable entry in contemporary jazz.

What we noticed

  • The album features intricate interplay between piano and vibraphone, with melodies often traded back and forth rather than played in unison.
Composition 25% of the score
8/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
7/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
7/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
6/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 3/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • serene evening listening experience
  • dynamic journey with peaks
  • intricate melodies for deep focus
  • improvisational brilliance in each track

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer fast-paced, upbeat tunes
  • seek standalone hit singles

Where this album fits

In the catalog
Late Career Highlight — Shows continued artistic vitality and collaboration in Corea's extensive career.
Themes
hypnotic rhythms· vibrant Latin influences· avant-garde collaboration
Career context
Released in 2008, The New Crystal Silence marks a significant collaboration between Chick Corea and the renowned vibraphonist Gary Burton. This album comes after Corea's extensive career in jazz, showcasing his continued innovation and exploration of sound as he bridges the gap between classic compositions and modern improvisation.
Stylistic neighbors
Herbie Hancock· Keith Jarrett· McCoy Tyner

Tracklist

Disc 1

  • 1 Duende Start here 10:54
  • 2 Love Castle 12:41
  • 3 Brasilia 9:38
  • 4 Crystal Silence 14:09
  • 5 La Fiesta 13:35

Disc 2

  • 1 Bud Powell 7:56
  • 2 Waltz for Debby 8:03
  • 3 Alegria 5:49
  • 4 No Mystery 9:12
  • 5 Señor Mouse 9:10
  • 6 Sweet and Lonely 6:57
  • 7 I Love Porgy 4:09
  • 8 La Fiesta 10:42

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata