NAACP Image Award–nominated composer, pianist and electronic artist George Burton premieres Dark Science at Bar Bayeux in Prospect Lefferts Gardens on April 1.
The new ensemble project advances the compositional language introduced on his critically acclaimed album White Noise, intensifying his integration of acoustic improvisation and modular synthesis within a live, ensemble-driven environment. The performances, at 8:00pm and 9:30pm, will be a live recording.
Emerging from the structural framework of White Noise, Dark Science shifts the focus toward immediacy and collective transformation. Piano, prepared Wurlitzer, and modular synths operate within a shared sonic architecture, where circuitry and acoustic resonance interact as coequal forces.
Rather than treating electronics as texture or effect, Burton incorporates modular systems as compositional instruments. Groove, timbral density, and real-time signal manipulation function as structural materials, allowing musical form to evolve through collective listening and live modulation.
Pianist, composer, and electronic artist George Burton has developed a distinctive body of work that moves fluidly between concert music, improvised music, and electronic sound. Rooted in the Philadelphia musical tradition while oriented toward contemporary approaches to composition and improvisation, Burton’s work reflects a sustained commitment to expanding the expressive possibilities of modern ensemble music.
Across recordings and live performance, Burton constructs musical environments in which groove, timbre, and ensemble interaction function as primary compositional elements, integrating improvisation, composition, and electronic sound design into a coherent artistic practice that continues to evolve across projects.
His music has been recognized by NPR Music and The New York Times, and his album Reciprocity received a nomination for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Album — Instrumental. With White Noise, Burton deepened his exploration of modular synthesis and ensemble interplay, extending a compositional language that bridges acoustic improvisation and electronic design. Together, these projects mark a sustained artistic trajectory, situating Burton among a generation of composers redefining the scope of contemporary improvised music.
George Burton – Dark Science
Premiere + Live Recording
Tuesday, April 1
8:00pm and 9:30pm
George Burton – piano, wurlitzer & electronics
Dylan Band – saxophone
Emmanuel Michael – guitar
Tyrone Allen – bass
Nazir Ebo – drums
Bar Bayeux
1066 Nostrand Ave.
