Falling Grace is a modern jazz standard composed by Steve Swallow for vibraphonist Gary Burton, first recorded for Burton’s 1966 album The Time Machine. The piece showcases Swallow’s distinctive harmonic approach—an asymmetric take on II-V-I with inverted chords—giving it a contemporary, forward‑looking sound. It’s a relatively niche tune that has influenced players and educators, and has since been performed in notable versions by Gary Burton with Steve Swallow and Larry Bunker, as well as a later recording featuring Pat Metheny. The track is widely regarded as an important early Swallow composition and a challenging yet rewarding piece for improvisation and ensemble interaction.
