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mystery
Sunnyside Records presents the new CD by
elevation
LUCIAN BAN piano ABRAHAM BURTON ten sax
JOHN HEBERT bass ERIC MCPHERSON drums
Transylvanian born - NYC based pianist/composer LUCIAN BAN is celebrating the Sunnyside Records
release of Mystery by ELEVATION, his quartet featuring the saxophone great ABRAHAM BURTON,
bassist extraordinaire JOHN HEBERT and modern master drummer ERIC McPHERSON. Designed around
the classic jazz quartet model the album was recorded LIVE by Jimmy Katz in NYC. The set presents an
enticing blend of classic and creative sounds, which have created fascinating tensions unique to the
ensemble.
“ELEVATION is an enlightened state of mind and this music is certain to take you there”
“ELEVATION is an enlightened state of mind andJazz
this music
certain to January
take you2014
there”
InsideisMagazine
A powerhouse quartet, ELEVATION presents four of the most creative jazz musicians today working at
the forefront of contemporary jazz. The NYC based band epitomizes new jazz at its best, music that
reinvents the idiom, a sound flux that grows out of the great jazz tradition but looks into the future.
“Mystery” album has won
BESTof
of2013
2013
BEST
Jeff Stockton New York City Jazz Record
Ken Micaleff, DownBeat, eMusic
Elzy Kolb, Hot House
From Sunnyside Records:
Romanian born pianist/composer LUCIAN BAN has maintained a foothold in both “the jazz tradition”
and the avant-garde. He has managed to make a niche for himself performing with musicians who skirt
the realms of jazz, classical, and new music forging a unique musical identity. Since his arrival in NYC in
1999 the Romanian born pianist has worked & recorded with a tremendous rooster of musicians like
tuba master Bob Stewart (Tuba Project, CIMP Records 2006) saxophonists Alex Harding (Something
Holy, CIMP Records 2002) and Sam Newsome (The Romanian American Jazz Suite, Jazzaway Records
2008) and avant-garde viola player Mat Maneri - with whom he just released a duo recording on ECM
Records. In 2010 together with John Hebert he released one of Jazz Journalists Association “ Best of
2010” albums - ENESCO RE-IMAGINED (also on Sunnyside Records) featuring a modern ensemble with
saxophonist Tony Malaby, tabla player Badal Roy, trumpeter Ralph Alessi, violist Mat Maneri, drummer
Gerald Cleaver among others.
“Blustery”!
Chicago Reader
Ban had met Burton in 2006 through drummer Bruce Cox, who recommended they meet and perform
together. The saxophonist has been well versed, having mastered the jazz idiom, most notably with a
long tenure with drummer Art Taylor. Ban mentioned that he felt that Burton’s sense of melody was
astounding. Though the two come from different worlds, musically, they have worked together well in
this ensemble because of their willingness to take risks to create genuinely openhearted music.
Elevation has established itself as a unique voice in the world of jazz. The group has taken
elements of modern jazz and the avant-garde, employing musicians who have been movers in
both, creating an original direction. Mystery has proven to be a perfect encapsulation of
Elevation’s action and purpose.
To enhance the element of chance, Ban has never told the musicians how to approach the music.
Burton’s unique sound along with the dynamic, rhythmic relationship between Hébert and McPherson
(the two have played in trios of both Andrew Hill and Fred Hersch) has fostered a sound world of the
music proposed and the mastery of the players
“Like Wayne Shorter, McCoy Tyner and other vanguard bandleaders of that era, the Romanian
born pianist-composer Lucian Ban alongside intense saxophonist Abraham Burton alongside
bassist John Hebert and drummer Eric McPherson favor searching post bop that cranes toward
the avant-garde without losing the buoyance of swing” TIME OUT NY
"Abraham Burton is one of the more striking young jazz
musicians on record today. His passion is unmistakable”
” Ban plays with a fluency and sensibility that recalls Vladimir Horowitz
as much as McCoy Tyner ” Terrell Holmes, All About Jazz
"Eric McPherson is at the vanguard of his generation's
creative music drummers. His command of multiple
percussion instruments is matched by the originality,
electricity, versatility and sensitivity he adds to the
continuum of the music…” Winter Jazz Fest, NYC
“Hebert's bass, even when accompanying and
providing harmonic and rhythmic support, feels like a
contrapuntal voice” Budd Kopman, All About Jazz
"Mr. Burton should be of proud his "four" fathers John Coltrane,
Dizzy, Miles and Monk Sphere. His creative yet Lustful Rhythm apply
to all that these gentleman were trying to settle in there times,
spirit color and consciousness. The Heavens ring with joy, when
Abraham Burton sounds his Horn. Yes sir, a star is born and he is
"Closest to the sun". Abraham Burton CD review
BIOS
ABRAHAM BURTON (ten sax) - New York saxophonist Abraham Burton's music has been
called exquisite jazz. New York Times says about Burton “If the young saxophonist Abraham
Burton was ever to be drawn in a cartoon, he’d have flames coming out of his saxophone. His
solos are powerful and creative” He began developing his natural skills by attending Hartford's
Hartt School of Music where he learned well from talented artists like Michael Carvin and Jackie
McLean. Burton graduated from the school with a B.A. in music and a new love for the work of
jazz greats such as Louis Armstrong and Lester Young. In 1992, the young Burton became a
member of the Wailers, a jazz band headed by longtime artist Arthur Taylor. The group released
two albums together. They also did a number of tours through Europe.
He went on to form his own band in '94 entitled "The Abraham Burton Quartet" which recorded "Closest to the
Sun", "The Magician" and “Cause and Effect” the latter being a collaboration with drummer extraordinaire Eric
McPherson, on the Enja Records label.
Abraham attributes much of his success from experiences acquired performing, touring and recording with
masters and being affiliated with numerous and notable musicians such as Roy Haynes, Louis Hayes, Walter Bishop
jr, Horace Tapscott, Kenny Barron, Jimmy Smith, John Hicks, Santi Debriano, Bill Saxton, Gary Bartz, Victor Lewis,
Michael Carvin, Mulgrew Miller, Steve Nelson, Cindy Blackman, Ray Drummond, Terumasa Hino, Billy hart, Peter
Washington, Conrad Herwig, Steve Davis, Grisella Oliphant, Rein De Graff, Nasheet waits, Eric McPherson, Eddie
Henderson, David Murray, Antoine Rooney, James Carter, Yosuke Inoue, James Hurt, Marc Cary, Sam Newsome,
Duane Eubanks, Winton Marcellus, Roy Hargrove, Wallace Rooney, Cyrus Chestnut, Christian McBride.
Since 1998 to present, Burton has been a part of the Mingus family. He has recorded and toured throughout
Europe, Asia, and the United States playing in all three bands (Mingus Big Band, Mingus Dynasty and the Mingus
Orchestra) alongside some of the greatest musicians of our time.
For more info, bio, sound samples, press please visit www.abrahamburton.com
JOHN HEBERT (double bass) One of the most in demand bass players in New York. He
was voted twice in 2006 and 2007 in DownBeat Critics Poll as a “Rising Star Acoustic
Bassist”. He worked also with the late Andrew Hill Trio, Nonet and Quintet appearing on his
latest Blue Note Records album “Time Lines” album voted “Album of the Year” in 2006 by
Downbeat Magazine. He has worked alongside such world famous artists such as Andrew
Hill, Lee Konitz, Paul Bley, John Abercrombie, Greg Osby, Kenny Wheeler, David Liebman,
Fred Hersch, Paul Motian, Maria Schneider, Jason Moran, Toots Thielemans and many
others. For more info, bio, sound samples, press please visit: www.johnhebert.com
LUCIAN BAN (piano) - originally from Romania pianist & composer Lucian Ban now lives in
NYC where is considered to be “one of the most gifted and talented pianist to come to NY in
the past decade”. The Hans Koller Foundation nominated him twice in 2005 & 2006 for “Best
European Jazz Musician”. He has recorded 6 albums as a leader for labels in US and Europe.
“He’s one of the most gifted pianists to move to New York in the past decade “ Bruce Lee
Gallanter, jazz critic.
Mr. Ban leads the super group ELEVATION featuring world renowned tenor sax Abraham
Burton, Nasheet Waits on drums and bassist John Hebert, the ASYMMETRY Quartet feat. Jorge
Sylvester (alto sax), Brad Jones (bass) and Derrek Phillips or Gene Jackson (drums), and The TUBA PROJECT a group
featuring the famous Bob Stewart on (tuba), Alex Harding (bari sax), Bruce Williams (alto sax) and Derrek Phillips
(drums). He co-leads with soprano sax great Sam Newsome “The Romanian-American Jazz Suite” group, a project
that presents Romanian Folk music from a jazz perspective.
In 2003 the Lumination Ensemble featuring drum legend Barry Altschul was voted "One of the best shows of
2003" by the All About Jazz Magazine NYC along with Cecil Taylor and Joe Lovano groups. Mr. Ban has released 7
critically acclaimed albums as a leader for US and European based labels: 2003 "Something' Holy" a duet CD with
Alex Harding followed by "Premonition" in 2004 a Quintet album featuring Alex Harding, Damion Reid, Erik
Torrente and Chris Dahlgren both for CIMP Records. In 2006 he releases on Jazzaway Records “PLAYGROUND” by
his Asymmetry Quartet one of his best albums to date, followed by a sideman appearance on Alex Harding’s
acclaimed “The Calling“ CD (featuring Nasheet Waits, Brad Jones and Andrew Daniels). Also in 2006 he releases
the first album of the unique TUBA PROJECT band featuring Bob Stewart, J.D.Allen, Alex Harding, and Derrek
Phillips. And in 2008 “The Romanian-American Jazz Suite” by Sam Newsome & Lucian Ban Ensemble is released to
great success on Jazzaway Records. His first 2 recordings as a leader, “Changes – Live at Green Hours” and “From
now on” were released on Green Records.
For more info, bio, sound samples, press please visit www.lucianban.com
ERIC MCPHERSON (drums) Considered One of the most important drummers of the
new millennium Eric McPherson Born and raised in New York, Eric was immersed in
music from birth on: Richard Davis, his godfather and an icon among jazz bassists, was
present at his birth. It was Richard who suggested he be named after Eric Dolphy. By the
time Eric was eight, he was teaching himself to play on a drum set borrowed from
Charles Moffett. At twelve, he started seven years of formal drum studies under Michael
Carvin, a master drummer and a brilliant teacher. Upon graduating, his mentor Michael Carvin recommended Eric
to Jackie McLean. That led to a full scholarship for attending the Jackie McLean Institute at the Hartt School of
Music, University of Hartford. While still a student at Hartt, Jackie invited Eric to join the Jackie McLean Quintet
along with Rene McLean, Alan Palmer and Nat Reeves. For the next 15 years, until Jackie's recent death, Eric was
his drummer, following in the distinguished footsteps of drummers Michael Carvin, Billy Higgins, Jack DeJohnette
and Tony Williams. Over those years, Eric recorded two CDs with Jackie and performed with him at major venues
and festivals all over the Far East, Middle East, Latin America, Europe, the Caribbean, and the U.S. In addition to
his touring and recording with Jackie McLean, Eric has also performed with a wide range of major jazz figures,
including Pharaoh Sanders, Gary Bartz, Andrew Hill, Richard Davis, Claudia Acuna, Jason Moran, Greg Osby ,
Avishai Cohen and many others.
For more info, bio, sound samples, press please visit www.ercimcpherson.com