Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
"... a wildly gifted musician, Bill Burke plays the Warr guitar, an 8-string instrument that allows him to play multiple parts at the same time. That requires discipline, not to mention dexterity, but he pulls it off gracefully on 'Where'd Our Ball Go?', now in its second printing."
- Dave Richards, Erie Times-News
- Erie Times-News
Bill Burke plays Warr guitar like most people play the piano. He taps the strings.
The notes almost ripple from the instrument. The music is harp-like, yet the unmistakable guitar sound is still present. "You can play traditional piano pieces, but you can do the bends and slides associated with a guitar," he said.
Known as an eight-string touch guitar, the instrument weighs about 10 pounds. "I find it suited to everything I play, jazz, classical," he said. "This gives me the full range of the piano, but allows me to compose on a stringed instrument."
Burke composed all the pieces on his new CD, "Where'd Our Ball Go," a fusion of jazz, blues and Indian classical. He will be performing at Zig's Bar and Grill in Alexandria, Va., on Thursday, Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. and at Hopkins Plaza in Baltimore on Thursday, Sept. 25, from noon to 2 p.m.
Burke's own background on piano, violin and bass led him to seek a new style of guitar playing. He also spent six years studying the sitar. "Everything in my life has been geared toward music," he said..... - Karen Gardner
Discography
1. "The Sights" (2004). 15 minute live video. See how Bill does it. See clips on Bill's site (www.billburke.net). Also featured on Warr guitars site (www.warrguitars.com).
2. "Where'd Our Ball Go?"
Bill Burke
Built upon Bill Burke's intriguing two-handed 8-string touch guitar compositions, "Where'd Our Ball Go?" is a contemporary classical/world fusion mix featuring Warr guitar, with thrilling violin solos that flow amidst the sounds of cello, upright bass, viola, udu drum, tabla drums and flute. This is a truly outstanding project that will reveal new discoveries with each listen. Released in 5/2003.
3. "States of Being"
Burke, Eighmy and Mazzella. Featured on NYC NPR.
"States of Being" is a conceptual instrumental work that features the unique two-handed techniques of bassist Bill Burke and renowned guitar virtuoso Anthony Mazzella. Drummer Everett Eighmy rounds off the trio with his unparalleled abilities on V-Drums. Released in 9/2000.
4. Bill has performed on numerous CDs for other Artists.
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Bill is a unique and accessible soloist. His music grooves the body and delights the mind. Each of his compositions lives and breathes in its own way. Each has its own color and shape. Each produces a distinct pleasurable effect upon the listener.
His vehicle of expression is the 8-string touch guitar - an instrument which allows the soloist to play multiple part compositions. Essentially, Bill's left hand plays bass and his right hand guitar. Add a looper to the fun and Bill can seamlessly sample his grooves on the fly to add extra layers of dimension and solos.
Bill's musical development began at age five when he was introduced to the piano.
At age seven he switched to violin after being mesmerized by a soloist performing Hungarian folk tunes. By thirteen he picked up the bass and was performing with professional R&B groups within a year. He continued to develop on bass, playing in Jazz bands while experimenting with two hand tapping ala Michael Manring/Michael Hedges. He worked out of PA, FL, DC and NYC as a session and touring player and while in NYC began to study sitar. Finally, at the urging of his wife Jennifer, he purchased an 8-string Warr guitar - the instrument which allows Bill to fulfill the demands of his musical explorations.
Bill has toured extensively across the US, has composed and produced two CDs with a third on the way and has recorded for numerous artists. He is constantly working to promote his music to an ever-growing audience of devotees.
Links
