Usher Saxophonist Mike Burton Plans Two Intimate Alpharetta Shows
Mike Burton, saxophonist for Usher, will hold two intimate birthday performances at The Velvet Note in Alpharetta. These shows offer a rare chance to hear his jazz, R&B, and gospel-infused music up close.
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Saxophonist Mike Burton has performed alongside some of the biggest names in popular music. On Aug. 22, he will trade those large stages for one of Alpharetta’s most intimate rooms.
Burton, a touring musician with Usher whose sound moves between jazz, R&B and gospel, will perform two birthday shows at The Velvet Note on Saturday evening. Performances are scheduled for 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.
The engagement gives North Atlanta listeners a close-range look at a musician more often heard as part of a major touring production. Burton’s résumé includes work with artists such as Patti LaBelle, Jill Scott, Mary J. Blige, Anita Baker, Kirk Franklin and The Jacksons, along with appearances connected to nationally televised music awards.
“This birthday is about celebrating life, music, friendship, and the people who have been part of my journey,” Burton said in announcing the shows. “We’re going to make this a birthday celebration to remember.”
From Jackson to the national stage
A native of Jackson, Mississippi, Burton grew up in a musical household before earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in jazz studies from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. He studied with influential jazz educator David Baker and performed with the university’s Soul Revue.
Burton has since built a career that reaches well beyond a traditional jazz setting. His saxophone has accompanied pop, soul, gospel and R&B performers, while his solo work places the instrument at the center of a more reflective contemporary sound.
His 2024 release, “Downtime,” explores that quieter side of his music, pairing restrained arrangements with melodies built around mood and storytelling.
Burton is also an educator and mentor. He previously served as an artist-in-residence in the U.S. Virgin Islands and remains based in the Atlanta area when he is not touring.
A close-up performance at The Velvet Note
The Velvet Note is designed around the kind of listening experience that can be difficult to find at an arena or festival. Its small room places the audience only a short distance from the performers, allowing the subtleties of an instrumentalist’s playing to carry without the separation of a large concert hall.
That setting should be particularly well suited to Burton, whose performances draw as much from phrasing and tone as they do from technical showmanship.
Both Aug. 22 shows will take place at The Velvet Note, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, Suite 5, in Alpharetta. Tickets are $42, and advance reservations are recommended because seating is limited.
Tickets and show information are available through The Velvet Note’s official event page. Reservations may also be made by calling 855-583-5838. The venue lists the two performances at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. The Velvet Note
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