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Burton Greene

About Me

Narada Burton Greene: Composer, Author, Pianist

Originally from Chicago, he began his long career of many recordings and performances in New York�s legendary jazz scene of the 1960�s. He and Bassist Alan Silva contributed to the beginnings of free jazz in New York with the formation of their Free Form Improvisation Ensemble in 1963. He also co-founded the East West Trio with Indian sitarist Jamaluddin Bhartiya and percussionist Daoud Amin in 1973, one of the first World Music groups (and long before they called it that.) Since that time he has travelled all over Europe and the USA with performances and recordings of his compositions and arrangements in many different types of music styles and ensembles. As Burton says it: �Music is or should be universal, without limits.. Borders eventually become boring.. they should be transcended. I like all kinds of music as long as it�s not dull or repetitious or superficial.. as long as it�s creative and from the heart.� His !4 piece New Age Jazz Chorale (1975-78) did concerts and recordings in Europe, years before most other groups were termed as �New Age�. In the last 19 years he�s been busy with his klezmer, Sephardic, Balkan jazz ensemble Klezmokum, and various jazz solo, trio or quartet combinations. He also has a solo orchestral electronics program, teaches jazz, world music workshops, and lectures. His autobiographical book written over 20 years: �Memoirs of A Musical Pesty-Mystic� appeared in print in 2001 (Cadence Jazz Books). His groups in recent years based in New York include a duet with bassist Mark Dresser, a quartet with trumpeter Roy Campbell, Lou Grassi, and Adam Lane, concerts and recordings on the CIMP label in trio with Ed and George Schuller on bass and drums, and a quintet with the Schuller brothers, Russ Nolan on saxes and flute, Paul Smoker on trumpet. His solo piano CD �Retrospective 1961--2005 came out in January, 2007 on the CIMP label. Burton�s music is featured on about 50 recordings: records and CD�s. Soon to be released: A quintet CD of his new group Klez-Edge for the Tzadik CD label. A trio recording with Ed and George Schuller of recent compositions is being planned for release later in 2008. Soon to be recorded: A duo with clarinetist Perry Robinson, also for the Tzadik label.