Recordings

Portrait of a Nude Woman as Cleopatra

The CD recording Portrait of a Nude Woman as Cleopatra is a groundbreaking contemporary jazz opera depicting “A Dialogue of Sensuality” based on the poetry of world renowned poet, sculptor and author Barbara Chase-Riboud coupled with the Urban Classical styling of award winning composer Leslie Savoy Burrs and featuring the talents of internationally recognized jazz, world music, classical and opera performing artists including:

Lisa Edwards-Burrs – Soprano
Issachah Savage – Tenor
Gerald Veasley – Electric Bass
George Burton – Piano
Mogauwane Mahloele – African Percussion
Leslie Burrs – Flute, Alto Flute, Piccolo, Bamboo Flute
The Voices of Gwynedd

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Portrait of a Nude Woman as Cleopatra

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Impressions of Another You

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 if you are not impressed, then perhaps I’m talking to another you."

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...”

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Blue Harlem, Black Knight

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

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Relâche, 8 Point Turn

When you have no where left to turn too, Relâche has your answer: 8 POINT TURN The new CD from Philadelphia’s most proclaimed new music ensemble brings you an adventure that is life changing. The CD includes the commissioned work VOYEURISTIC ABSURDITIES by composer Leslie Savoy Burrs.

http://www.relache.org/merchandise/merchandise.html

http://www.meyer-media.com/