Impressions Of Another You • Blue Harlem, Black Knight
IMPRESSIONS OF ANOTHER YOU is a collection
of American popular songs and jazz improvisations performed by the award-winning
flutist/composer Leslie Burrs and the internationally renowned pianist
Kenny Barron.
Impressions of Another You is available by contacting the artist.
REVIEWS:
The
Philadelphia Inquirer
Leslie Burrs Impressions of Another You
(Dreambox Media ***)
Written by Karl Stark
"Leslie Burrs, composer of the slavery opera Vanqui, is also a
jazz flutist. Joining with ace pianist Kenny Barron here, the South Philly-born
Burrs presents a live recording of mostly standards that melds his broad range
of African, gospel and classical influences. Burrs turns his flute into a source
of tonal percussion on the happenin' "Cherokee Prelude." "Nobody
Knows Da Trouble I Seen" becomes a solo extravaganza as he takes flight
via breathy pyrotechnics. As a player, Burrs often zooms ahead, slaloming up
and down scales with gate-crashing zeal. Yet he's also a feathery presence on
"In a Sentimental Mood," where he evokes smoke curling from a slow
fire. With this release, Philadelphia-based Dreambox has also put out a disc
of Burrs' previous recording, Blue Harlem, Black Knight, formerly available
only on cassette."
The Black World Today
" A Brilliant Leslie Burrs"
Written by Herb Boyd, Managing Editor, TBWT
"During a recent concert performance of the opera “Vanqui: A
Tribute Concert” with lyrics by novelist John A. Williams at the Schomburg
Center in Harlem, the audience was only briefly exposed to flutist Leslie Burrs,
the opera's composer. But even in these cameo moments his prowess on the bamboo
flute was impressive.
Far more riveting are his flights of virtuosity
on his latest CD “Impressions of Another You” (Dreamboxmedia).
There are two tunes in particular where the full complement of Burrs’
control of the flute is manifest—“My One And Only Love” and
“In A Sentimental Mood.” Both are tour de forces with Burrs
invoking vestiges of several famous flutists.
There is the incomparable articulation and
speed of a Hubert Laws; the raw energy of Rahsaan Roland Kirk, and the humming
along sound; the soulful vibrato of Yusef Lateef; and, perhaps more than anything
the creative sonorities of Eric Dolphy. Despite elements of each in his
playing, Burrs’ has managed to distill his own unique style.
As in the above, much of the style is in
evidence on these classic ballads, which allow Burrs to apply his special attack,
an attack with precise intervals, lovely glissandos, and smears of seamless
octave runs. Something he defines as “Urban Classical Music.”
However defined, Burrs' music is no problem
for pianist Kenny Barron whose sprint of arpeggios even exceeds the flutist's
propulsion. There are many Monkish moments in Barron's sorties, and few
pianists can change pulse as effortlessly without losing their harmonic
moorings.
Whether being carried aloft by his sizzling
romp on Coltrane’s “Impressions,” or lolling in the sweet
density of “Whispered Thoughts,” his own composition, Burrs’
has a delightful way of blending his classical training with aspects of avant-garde
jazz and Eastern tonalities. And the deep dark tones of Africa at his
command, particularly during the concert, exuded from his bass bamboo flute.
That beguiling resonance can be heard on
“Cherokee Prelude” on the CD, and each note seems to be keyed to
an earthy color, and you know these sounds would be absolutely incredible weaving
around and against a string quartet.
With or without strings, Burrs, a graduate
of the Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts, is a phenomenal performer
and composer. Check him out and order your copy from www.dreamboxmedia.com.
And if you are not impressed, then perhaps I’m talking to another
you." http://tbwt.org/index2.php?option=content&task=view&id=323&pop=1&page=0
AllAboutJazz
Written
by Paul Olson
"Pennsylvania-based
flautist Leslie Burrs' new CD, Impressions of Another You , is a duet session
with pianist Kenny Barron; it's Burrs' first release since 2002's Blue Harlem,
Black Knight. It certainly does give an impression of another Burrs...Impressions
of Another You couldn't be more different. ..Recorded live in a concert setting
...Let's say right off that this is an album that any flute player should check
out. Burrs is an outrageously good flautist with an unerring, crisp articulation
at any speed and pitch, and this setting gives him lots and lots of room to
stretch out and solo, especially during ten-minute-plus versions of “My
One and Only Love” (the opener, with a gorgeous Barron intro) and “My
Funny Valentine,” where he characteristically states the tune's vocal
melody before launching into a score of dazzling variations, runs and alternate
melodies.
...“Aryssa's Carol” is the most collaborative moment, a pensive
meditation with rich, minor chords where Burrs trades in some of his fireworks
for feeling (he even plays a little blue, uncharacteristically bending and flatting
notes). And then there's the polar opposite found in John Coltrane's modal composition
“Impressions,” where Burrs really loses himself in astonishing approximations
of Trane's sonic clusters; here the flautist's pyrotechnics have a perfect vehicle
and the displays of virtuosity seem heartfelt.
Certainly there is no flautist working today with greater technique than Leslie
Burrs. Impressions of Another You demonstrates that he's got nothing left to
learn about his instrument...”
BLUE HARLEM, BLACK KNIGHT is a collection
of Romantic and Adult Contemporary instrumental jazz works written by the award-winning
composer and flutist, Leslie Burrs. This recording features the all-star talents
of smooth jazz sensation Gerald Veasley; "Emeril Live" music director
Doc Gibbs; international drummer Tommy Campbell, whose guest appearances include
the Jay Leno Tonight Show Band and tours with such jazz greats as Sonny Rollins
and Dizzy Gillespie; and rounding out this exceptional ensemble, keyboardist
Bobby Jones, who is presently touring with the Doc Severinsen Big Band.
Blue Harlem, Black Knight is available by contacting the artist.
REVIEWS:
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Written by Karl Stark
"Flutist-composer Leslie Savoy Burrs brings unusual skills to this session.
The Upper Dublin resident straddles the jazz and classical worlds, appearing
with the Philadelphia Orchestra and Duke Ellington band, and writing the opera
Vanqui, a tale of two slaves to be produced this year by Opera North
at the Merriam Theater. Burrs' aim here is to create a suave, contemporary sound
with unusual twists. Partly, it's a breathy, electronic affair with new-age
overtones. The set also incorporates funky smooth-jazz backbeats with strong
players such as bassist-producer Gerald Veasley, percussionist Leonard "Doc"
Gibbs, and keyboardist Mark Knox. "She Stands in Quiet Darkness" is
sweet and tuneful, and "Farz I Know" mixes vivid rhythm with funky
bass and dissonant chords. The electronic instruments and their overall effect
make this a hard listen in one sitting, though Burrs' tweaking of smooth jazz
shows some creative moves."
Leslie
Burrs on the
The Tavis Smiley Show
Burrs and Williams spoke with NPR's Tavis Smiley about their opera VANQUI and its signature blend of jazz, classical and African music cues -- a sound Burrs calls "urban classical," and about Burrs' jazz CD, Blue Harlem, Black Knight, where he collaborates with other musicians to explore that unique sound further.
Hear full-length cuts from a live September 2003 performance of the opera: Ride Vanqui Ride; Moremi's Lullaby; Land. and selections from the Leslie Burrs jazz CD Blue Harlem, Black Knight at this NPR link: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1596584
Leslie Burrs' CD covers, and this website, were designed by Kathy Ridl.