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 and this music is certain to take you there

Jazz Inside Magazine January 2014

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

BEST of 2013

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.

BEST of 2013

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 Burtons 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.

To enhance the element of chance, Ban has never told the musicians how to approach the music.

Burtons unique sound along with the dynamic, rhythmic relationship between Hbert 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

"Abraham Burton is one of the more striking young jazz

musicians on record today. His passion is unmistakable

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

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

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

Elevations action and purpose.

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, hed 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

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

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.

Hes 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 Hardings

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