Allison Burik is a saxophonist, clarinetist, improviser, and composer based in Tio’tia:ke/ Montreal, Quebec. Her solo works explore the sonic possibilities of the woodwinds, resulting in soundscapes that are both earthy and alien. Her current collaborations include Montreal collective “Acorn Hat,” experimental duo “Umbrella Pine,” and the “Mali Obomsawin Sextet”.
Burik’s current work at NES involves sketching an album of original compositions that incorporate woodwinds, electronics, voice, guitar, and field recordings of the sounds of Skagaströnd’s landscape. The songs are inspired by women and non-binary characters in mythology and folktales, and centres on questions surrounding gender, societal roles, and the impacts of the lenses we use in stories we continue to retell.
Though originally from Kansas City, Burik moved to Boston to receive her Bachelors Degree in Performance (2016) at Berklee College of Music, and her Master’s degree in Contemporary Improvisation at the New England Conservatory (2020). She has performed in festivals, residencies, and concerts in places as far reaching as Iceland, South Korea, France, Canada, and the US. Over the years Burik has worked with notable musicians including George Garzone, Joe Morris, Tyshawn Sorey, Ingrid Laubrock, Ran Blake, Carla Kilhstedt, Anthony Coleman, Frank Tiberi, Bobby Watson, Jaleel Shaw, Shannon LeClaire, and Tia Fuller. You can see more of Allison’s work at http://www.allisonburik.com/ https://allisonburik.bandcamp.com/ and https://umbrellapine.bandcamp.com/releases https://www.instagram.com/allisonburikmusic/?hl=en