Christopher Burge
Saxophone
Christopher Burge began his musical career at the Ohio State University, where he studied saxophone and music theory with Gene Walker and Hank Marr, graduating with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance in 1997. During that time, Christopher toured Thailand with free-jazz group Honk, Wail and Moan, toured Europe with the OSU Jazz Ensemble, played on a USO tour of maximum-security prisons, and played concerts with Barry White, Louie Bellson, Stanley Turrentine, The National Black Music Caucus Big Band, and the Stars of the Lawrence Welk Show. Since moving to Cleveland in 1998, Christopher has played with internationally know artists Gino Vannelli, David Sandborn, Cyndi Lauper, Mavis Staples, Ronnie Spector, Clark Terry, David "Fathead" Newman, "Little" Jimmy Scott, Bobby Caldwell, Benny Golson, Eddie Holman, Nancy Wilson, Diane Marino, Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, Jazz Heritage Orchestra, Ernie Krivda and the Fat Tuesday Big Band, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame house band, and area musicians such as Evelyn Wright, Helen Welch, Joe Hunter, Joe Bell, Sammy DeLeon, Dave Sterner, Ray Porrello, and Bill Ransom. Christopher is also active in the recording studio, playing saxophone, flute and clarinet for American Greetings e-cards, and he wrote and performed the theme song of the WVIZ-PBS TV show, Applause. Currently, Christopher teaches saxophone at Skyline Music in Westlake, Ohio, and performs with his own trio and the blues-swing band Blue Lunch, which has just released its 8th CD, "Above the Fold," on RipCat Records.