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American tenor saxophonist Abraham Burton and Transylvanian expat pianist Lucian Ban present BLACKSALT, a unique jazz amalgamation of improvisations and original compositions, Transylvanian and Belizean folk, the whole informed by the twin tradition of jazz and European chamber music. “Blacksalt – Live at The Baroque Hall” is released by Sunnyside Records in 2021, in the midst of the global pandemic, documenting an intense live performance at the end of a 2018 European tour.
Click on album cover left to go to album Bandcamp page
Their collaboration began in New York in the powerhouse ELEVATION quartet (featuring drummer Eric McPherson & bassist John Hebert) and their immediate rapport was only intensified by their mutual appreciation for each other’s talents. Ban enjoyed the saxophonist’s sound and melodic sense and Burton was impressed by Ban’s beautiful, purposeful writing and musical breadth. The two began playing duo concerts not too long afterward, cementing the cause when they were invited by Todd Barkan to perform at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola’s Late Night sessions and met with an incredible response. The two have continued these well-received events throughout New York City and on European tours
“Burton is on fire, drawing inspiration from Pharoah Sanders . . (his) declamatory tenor pushes the sound to the edge of tonality, but at the same time he lets his mellower side take over in his beautiful ballad “Dad”. The highlight is Ban’s “Not That Kind of Blues”. This version reaches the very heart of the blues”
“Dramatic Afro-Caribbean flux that comes peppered with blues movements and a faithful Coltrane terminology”
“Free form sonatas”