Burke Ingraffia | I am a southern singer/songwriter who writes jazz, funk, and Americana music. I grew up in New Orleans and have lived most of my life there. I sometimes get my mail now in Point Clear, Alabama but live and work in New Orleans as website developer and technical communications professional. My music is my love—it is not exactly work. I play and write using the jazz structures commonly found in New Orleans and try to emphasize that feel with the leisurely wisdom of the Deep South. I also have a folk/Americana side with less 7th chords and more story lines. I like to think that people of all ages and all backgrounds can find something they like about my songs.
My voice gets compared to a few people—Michael Franks and Paul Simon come up a lot. Songwriters I really like are Mose Allison, David Wilcox, John Gorka, Jeff Tweedy, Steve Earle, and Danny Barker.
My lyrics, individual lines and whole song concepts, come from a library filled with Thomas Merton, Flannery O’Connor, C.S. Lewis, Hans Urs von Balthasar, Faulkner, Augustine of Hippo, and a lot of those thick $30 computer books. Although I don’t do liturgical or “praise and worship” music, I have been featured on EWTN’s “Life on the Rock” and “Backstage” to play some songs I wrote about St. Francis of Assisi and the themes of a Catholic worldview such as forgiveness, mystery, and the contingency of our lives.
Have you launched the music player at the top of this page yet?
My past few recordings have been in collaboration with producer/musician Cale Pellick. We met about twenty years ago while studying music at U.N.O. Cale produced my 2005 release, Independence, Louisiana and also wrote and arranged the string parts. My most recent recording, Jazz Animals, which was released in August, 2011, has more of a live band sound, the focus being on the camaraderie and fun I have jamming with my good friends, playing the songs that I spent much time crafting and getting just right.
Booking
Most of my relaxing live performances are in fine dining restaurants, folk festivals, and jazz clubs. I often perform as solo artist, as half of a duo with Dr. Danny Acosta on another acoustic guitar, or with a full band. In either of these formats I am available for private parties, dinners and corporate events. Please contact for more details.
Everything is Wet, every bit as funky as the Meters (really!)
OffBEAT Magazine, 2002
So much music these days tries to be either cool or ironic or transgressive or morose that we think a lot of us listen to music expecting some sort of formidable-ness. Ingraffia’s music, by contrast, disarms our expectations, gives us something kinder, more sincere and playful
September, 2011
Discography
- 2011 – Jazz Animals
- 2005 – Independence, Louisiana
- 2001 – Good. (EP)
- 1998 – Throwing Shadows at the Sun
- 1995 – Burke Ingraffia
Honors
- 2010-2011 Performances at Bayfest, Mobile, AL
- 2007 WWOZ Vibes Live Radio Broadcast
- 2005 DiscMakers Southeast IMWS CD Compilation
- 2005 Mountain Stage New Song Festival Honorable Mention
- 2002 Telluride Troubadour Honorable Mention
- 2001 Nominated “Best Emerging Folk or Country Artist” – OffBeat Magazine
- 1995 Telluride Troubadour Semifinalist
Photos
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