I have been very fortunate to continue as a composer in residence (2005-to present) at the Rosenbach Museum and Library in Philadelphia

My third commissioned work premiered on September 9 and 12, 2009
Western Extension of the United States:
"The Edge" (A March)
"Voyages"
"Snake River"
"Astoria Rag"
"Meandrian Waltz"
Dave Burrell: piano, composition and arrangement with/ Michael Formanek, bass. A broadcast from WHYY-TV can be found here.

My fourth commissioned work, American Civil War: 1861-1865, a series of concerts to Commemorate the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War (1861-1865) in 5 parts:

January 19 and January 22, 2011, Part I:
Portraits of Civil War Heroes:
"John Brown: Life"
"John Brown: Death"
"Championship Colors"
"Robert E. Lee"
"Ulysses S. Grant"
Dave Burrell, piano, composition, arrangement with Odessa Balan, violin.
For more information on this work please click here and here.

January 18 and 21, 2012 Part II:
Civilian During War Time:
"Three-Way Tie"
"Code Name: Cheap Shot";
"One Nation" (American Civil War Theme)
"Have You Seen My Son?";
"Mama. I'm Still Hungry"
"Auction Block Runaways"
Dave Burrell, piano, composer and arrangement with Odessa Balan, violin. For more information click here.

January 16 and January 19, 2013 Part III:
Turning Point:
"One Nation"
"Battle of Gettysburg"
"Church Picnic Celebration"
"Paradox of Freedom" "Disease Hits Contraband Camp"
"Fancy Trade Nightmare"
"Battle of Vicksburg"
The Creation of "Turning Point" by Dave Burrell
Dave Burrell, piano, composer and arrangement with Steve Swell, trombone.
DVD from this performance by Toni Shapiro.
For more information visit www.rosenbach.org/learn/programs.

The Dave Burrell "Conception" was released on somrealmusic (2013). This CD-recording features some selections from this commission: Paradox of Freedom, Code Name: Cheap Shot, Fancy Trade Nightmare and Battle of Vicksburg.

Dave Burrell/Steve Swell "Turning Point" was released on NoBusiness Records (2014)
This is a live recording form the January 19, 2013 performance.
Here is a list of recent reviews:
All About Jazz
Jazz Times
Gapplegate Music Review
All About Jazz

April 10 and 12, 2014 Part IV:
Listening to Lincoln:
"Requiem for the Fallen at Fort Pillow", "Listening to Lincoln" and "One Nation"
Dave Burrell, piano, composer and arranger, Monika Larsson, poet and Veronica Chapman Smith, soprano voice
Audio recording by Eugene Lew
More Info: Broadstreet Review

April 9 and April 11, 2015 Part V:
Ode to a Prairie Lawyer
"Ode to a Prairie Lawyer", Long Time Coming" and "Homage to the Martyr"
Dave Burrell, piano, composer and arranger, Monika Larsson, poet and Veronica Chapman Smith, soprano voice.
Audio recording by Loren Stata
Video by Serena Reed
More Info: All About Jazz

Monika Larsson is completing my extensive discography and sessionology. Some of the recordings from the late 60s are constantly being re-issued, both in Europe and Japan. I am very appreciative and thankful to her for this invaluable effort. Over 130 recordings are included in this compilation, and each and every musician, composition, composer, arranger is accounted for. Monika is using the discography as the back-bone for her book, A Jazz Life that reads like a "who's who" of the avant garde from its early stages on the Lower East Side of New York City to the worldwide resurgence enjoyed by avant garde musicians and their audiences today.

Thank you for your continuous feedback. It is greatly appreciated.

Dave Burrell

Updated April 23, 2015


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