Background
John Burke was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, where he studied Spanish and music at Oglethorpe University.
John Burke was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, where he studied Spanish and music at Oglethorpe University.
John is best known for his solo piano albums, Synesthesia (2011), Reverie (2013), and Chirality (2014). In addition to solo piano music, John has composed soundtracks for film and theatre. While in school, John discovered pianist George Winston and keyboardist Ray Manzarek and was inspired to become a solo pianist.
In 2011, John released his first solo piano album, Synesthesia, which used the neurological phenomenon of the same name to guide compositions based on colors.
The album was reviewed positively on English and Spanish music review websites and received international radio play. In 2013, John released his second album, Reverie, which was nominated for Jazz Album of the Year at the solo piano music review site SoloPiano.com.
Reverie too received international play and review. After winning for Jazz Album of the Year, Chirality became a finalist for Album of the Year at SoloPiano.com.
In an homage to Johann Sebastian Bach, Chirality used the chemical property of asymmetry as inspiration for melodies and mirrored countermelodies.
In 2013, John composed the original score for the film Juvenile Transgressions. In 2015, he composed an original solo piano score for Serenbe Playhouse"s production of Tennessee Williams"s A Streetcar Named Desire, starring The Vampire Diaries" Matthew Davis. John"s score received high praise from some reviewers, with one stating it "nail the mood of every scene, every memory.".