Biography
Abraham Burton, a saxophonist from New York, creates jazz of an exquisite order whose solos combine force with invention. He refined his innate gifts at Hartford’s Hartt School of Music under the guidance of Michael Carvin and Jackie McLean. After receiving a B.A. in music there, he developed a fresh admiration for the achievements of Louis Armstrong and Lester Young. In 1992 he joined the Wailers, the ensemble directed by longtime performer Arthur Taylor, and the unit produced two albums while completing several European tours. By 1994 Burton had exited the group to assemble his own band, which included pianist Marc Cary, drummer Eric McPherson, and bassist Billy Johnson. That year the quartet issued its first recording, Closest to the Sun, on the ENJA label. The musicians returned repeatedly to Europe, appearing at the North Sea Festival, the Leverkusen Festival, the Moers Festival, and additional events. Burton followed with the 1996 album The Magician. In 1998 he worked with drummer Eric McPherson, bassist Yosuke Inoue, and pianist James Hurt on Cause and Effect; the same three musicians also participated in the recording of the next release, Forbidden Fruit.
Albums
