Abby Burke

“Dr.” Abby was born and raised in Cambridge, MA. Formal training began with a series of “Living Room Jazz Listening Sessions” with her Uncle, saxophonists Al Steverson . It was his desire to teach her ears to “truly hear what was going on.” It was years later when she realized how invaluable those lessons would become. After high school she was accepted to several of the nation’s finest conservatories including Julliard, Manhattan and Boston Conservatory. She ended up at Boston Conservator...

“Dr.” Abby was born and raised in Cambridge, MA. Formal training began with a series of “Living Room Jazz Listening Sessions” with her Uncle, saxophonists Al Steverson . It was his desire to teach her ears to “truly hear what was going on.” It was years later when she realized how invaluable those lessons would become. After high school she was accepted to several of the nation’s finest conservatories including Julliard, Manhattan and Boston Conservatory. She ended up at Boston Conservatory as a Musical Theater Major, where she studied voice with world-renowned Baritone, Robert Honeysucker. During her time in Boston, Abby began singing and performing with a variety of groups in the greater New England area. As with the music world, ultimately she began to work as a performer several nights a week. After a successful stint with a Disco Show band called Darker Side, Abby traveled to Nashville TN. In the pre-General Jackson Showboat days Abby was featured at Nashville’s Opryland USA in the “1982 Showboat Show and 1983 Sing TN.” After leaving Nashville, Dr. Abby traveled to Connecticut where she was the lead vocalist with the 11 piece big band “Bill Hinds’ Top Brass”. It was here that she employed all of the skills learned from her youth. It was in Connecticut that she met and fell in love with her life and soul mate, saxophonist Glenn Burke. In 1990 they married and in 1998 they relocated to Nashville TN. It was at this time Dr. Abby found the Nashville Jazz Scene by way of the Nashville Jazz Workshop. In the months that followed, Dr. Abby quickly became a respected member of the jazz/music community and a NJW faculty member. Throughout her life, Dr. Abby has been afforded the opportunity to perform with/and learn from some of the music world’s greats. From the Metropolitan Opera’s Diva Leontyne Price; to the funktified rhythms of  the late Donald Byrd and the Black Birds to the angst filled grace of a love song with Phoebe Snow back to the sultry smoothness of 70’s great Englebert Humperdink, and the more recent, spirit driven Praise & Worship of Psalmist Pastor Danny Chambers, in her own performances, Abby Burke embraces them all. Dr. Abby has played traditional Jazz and Blues at venues in the greater Nashville/Southeast area along with several areas throughout the North East. She is also an expert in the art of Cabaret Theater and a respected “Spiritual Song” clinician. She has been afforded the opportunity to perform and record with the Nashville Symphony, guest artist with the Columbus OH, Charlotte NC, Tucson AZ and Paducah KY symphonies. In 2011, Dr. Abby along with her husband Pastor Glenn formed the blues group “Abby Burke and The Soul Catchers.”