Tyler Burchfield

Boston-based saxophonist Tyler Burchfield is gaining critical acclaim on the East Coast as a multi- instrumentalist, composer, arranger, and teacher. Well versed in traditional and modern jazz, funk, R&B, chamber music, Brazilian music, Afrobeat, and more, Tyler offers the unique ability to sound at home in a host of styles, all while maintaining a personal sound rooted in bold rhythms and melodic sensibility.

Originally from Gainesville, Florida, Tyler was exposed to many musical influences growing up, beginning Suzuki piano lessons at age 4 and listening to classic oldies on the car radio. Throughout middle and high school, he dabbled in many instruments, including guitar, bass, drums, flute, and clarinet, with tenor and baritone saxophones emerging as his primary instruments.

After earning music degrees from the University of Miami and the New England Conservatory, Tyler now works as a freelancer, recording artist, and performer in New England and throughout the United States. Tyler co-leads the Burchfield-Vituri Project with Brazilian guitarist Pedro Vituri, an ongoing series of collaborations exploring the space between modern jazz and traditional Brazilian music. As a quartet, the band completed a Brazilian mini-tour in 2015 and released their debut album, Metonímia, on March 30, 2018. Additionally, Tyler is a founding member of the Bobby Spellman-led modern brass project, Dingonek Street Band, where he can be heard on baritone sax and percussion in the band's debut album, Primal Economics, released in January 2018 on Accurate Records. He serves as the baritone saxophonist, musical director, and arranger for The Ward Eights, one of New England’s top-rated event bands, and plays woodwinds and guest arranges for Dan Gabel and the Abletones. Additionally, he can be heard with Dan Gabel’s High Society Orchestra, appearing on both of their albums, Business in F and Happy Feet, as well as with the Gabel-led Vaughn Monroe Show. From 2014 to 2017, he was a regular, touring member of experimental Afro-funk powerhouse Big Mean Sound Machine, and appeared on their 2017 album Runnin’ for the Ghost on baritone sax and flute.

In addition to freelancing and recording, Tyler has an active roster of woodwind and piano students of all ages in greater Boston. He is also on faculty with the Shrewsbury Instrumental Lesson Program and the Prodigy Program at Westwood Public Schools, teaching saxophone and clarinet. Tyler’s hobbies include adventurous home cooking, fantasy basketball, listening to podcasts, learning Portuguese, and spending time with friends, especially in his beloved Boston neighborhood, Jamaica Plain, where he lives with his friendly cat, Franklin.

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