Chris Burnett
Leavenworth, Kansas, United States | INDIE | AFM
Music
Press
"One of the most promising emergent jazz musicians in town isn’t some kid straight out of school or still in school. But at age 51, alto saxophonist Chris Burnett is just beginning to get noticed as his own man." - Jazz Critic, Kansas City Star
"At The Drum Room, Chris' facility was sure as he breezed through his sets. The play list was strong, emphasizing classic compositions from jazz greats: "Dolphin Dance", "Black Narcissus", "Recorda-Me", "Moments Notice", and an original blues. Chris' tone is always controlled, and he has a way of embellishing the melody as he moves into his solo which is especially appealing." - Editor, Jazz Ambassador Magazine
"For more than 30 years, Chris Burnett has worked to develop his own language, his own sound. A musician's sound can't be borrowed or stolen, but rather expanded and created anew." - KC Community News
"The music you play sounds so beautiful- you should be on every stage worldwide. KEEP ON."
- Tim Price, New York - Selmer Artist/Clinician
"... exotically beautiful music that contemporary jazz lovers will devour!"
- Vivendi Universal
"Chris Burnett gives the modern soprano sax some jazz authority..." - All About Jazz
"... His saxophones wail with emotion and his fingers give each presentation a thorough going-over, however, that allows Burnett to express accurately and fully the musical dreams that he’s harbored for years."
- Cadence Magazine
Wow! You did a terrific job and the directors were appreciative of your comments and work with their students. I'm certain you'll receive some calls for clinics and masterclasses.
- Director, MCC Penn Valley 18th and Vine Jazz Festival
I have had Chris Burnett out to work with my jazz band several times, and it is always refreshing to get his perspective and expertise. He has a love for jazz and music that is evident in the way he presents and plays. My students learn a ton every time he visits us, and to be honest, so do I!
- Director of Bands, Lansing High School
Thanks for coming by and working with the band. They really liked what you had to say. I’m sorry that it was such a weird day with the musical and what not. Would you mind giving me a very quick synopsis of the main things you talked about? I’ll make sure to reinforce those. Next time we’ll schedule it better for you.
- Director of Bands, Leavenworth High School
Discography
CD Title: Time Flies (Original Master)
Year: 2000, 2008
Record Label: Artists Recording Collective (ARC - 2512)
Style: Modern Creative Jazz/Traditional Jazz Combo
FROM THE LABEL:
The mark of a good record is that one can listen to it years after it was originally released and still be embraced by the powerful spirit within the work. A bellwether is any entity in a given arena that serves to create or influence trends or to presage future happenings. In sociology, the term is applied in the active sense to a person or group of people who tend to create, influence or set trends. Time Flies is a standout among even the most noteworthy of modern jazz CDs and Chris Burnett's career to this point has been a series of such bellwether activity.
The ensemble concept (using Latin percussion along with drum set) and approach to his debut release (a constantly free-flowing dialogue interaction between the musicians), Time Flies, naturally captures the personal uniqueness of Chris Burnett's artistry as a composer, arranger and performer deserving wider recognition. The pure passion for music and the simple innocence of wanting to share discovered sounds with listeners, is likely what makes Time Flies sparkle - not any premeditated calculations or marketing angles. The music and inspired performances ignite this release with a "special something" that makes this music stand out and gain new fans on a daily basis.
~ Artists Recording Collective, 2008
CREDITS AND LINER NOTES:
CD Title: Time Flies (Original Master)
Year: 2000, 2008
Record Label: Artists Recording Collective (ARC - 2512)
Style: Modern Creative Jazz/Traditional Jazz Combo
Featured Artist: Chris Burnett (BMI) - alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, composer, arranger, producer.
Musicians: Jeff Stewart - piano; Ben Lewis - piano, MIDI Jazz Network; Elliot Kuykendall - acoustic and electric basses; Ken Baldwin - drum set; and, Bob Habib - Latin percussion
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Time Flies is the critically praised and commercially successful debut recording by this Kansas City saxophonist and award-winning composer. Upon the initial public release of the music on Time Flies, Damian Hagger, then a jazz genre manager with the media giant, Vivendi Universal, called Burnett's work on his debut as leader: "Technically complex, yet exotically beautiful music that contemporary jazz lovers will devour."
Hagger's 2001 review proved prophetic in the fact that at the close of the former online music distribution company MP3.com in 2003, the music on Time Flies had been downloaded over 509,000 times in just two years; and, also purchased by numerous jazz fans from over 38 countries worldwide. This fact alone established Chris Burnett as the most downloaded of all independent acoustic jazz artists in the entire 7-year history of MP3.com. Prior to being bought by CNET, the original MP3.com now only remains significant in this context due to the fact that it was also the very first major music digital distribution company on earth.
"Time Flies", was recorded with the last edition of Burnett's group named, "4-Jazz", which included: Jeff Stewart on piano, Elliot Kuykendall on acoustic and electric basses; Ken Baldwin on drums; and, Bob Habib on Latin percussion. Another unique aspect of "Time Flies" is that it features Mr. Burnett with Chicago-based jazz pianist, Benjamin Lewis (Founder, MIDI Jazz Network), on one of the earliest Internet musical production collaborations ever documented, published and released on a commercially distributed professional CD.
Chris Burnett officially endorses Lomax Classic mouthpieces and has been based out of his native Kansas City since 2001.
PROFESSIONAL REVIEWS AND PRESS QUOTES:
Kansas City Jazz Ambassador Magazine says:
"Burnett is a fine alto player..."
Vivendi Universal says: "... exotically beautiful music that contemporary jazz lovers will devour!"
Cadence Magazine says: "... His saxophones wail with emotion and his fingers give each presentation a thorough going-over, however, that allows Burnett to express accurately and fully the musical dreams that he’s harbored for years."
All About Jazz says: "Chris Burnett gives the modern soprano sax some jazz authority..."
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CD Title: Theme Music
Year: 2008
Record Label: Artists Recording Collective (ARC - 2413)
Style: Instrumental/Films/Soundtracks/Commercials
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Recordings, Broadcasts, Films:
Hof Symphony Orchestra: Main Concert (Hauptkoncert) (1979); 399th Army Band: Essayons (1995); Time Flies (1999); about 200 hours of recorded live concert performances from various shows and tours with the First US Army Band, Fort Meade, Maryland (1980-82); about 6 hours of audio and video recorded school recital performance at Armed Forces School of Music, Norfolk, Virginia (1982); over 2500 hours of recorded live concert performances from various shows and tours with the 399th Army Band, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri (1983-90); o
Photos
Bio
AUTHORIZED PRESS BIOGRAPHY
CHRIS BURNETT
Chris Burnett is an alto saxophonist, composer, recording artist and educator who began his active career at the age of 18 years old when he was selected by audition and accepted for musical service as a performing artist with the US Army Bands Career Program, where he performed and toured with several noteworthy professional US military band organizations for audiences at numerous locations in the continental United States and overseas. Subsequently, Mr. Burnett has continued as a life-long learner while performing music professionally for over three decades.
Born in Olathe, Kansas, he was ultimately raised in Paola after his family had traveled extensively in early childhood and lived at such places as: France, Michigan and Colorado. His studies in instrumental music began seriously under clarinetist, James R. Fuchs. Mr. Fuchs was the local school band director who exposed him to professional saxophone players like Charles Molina and Gary Foster during those formative years. He has studied with numerous significant teachers and at the Armed Forces School of Music, Webster University, Columbia College, Berklee College of Music, and American University.
Mr. Burnett is a former director of the Jazz Ensemble Program at Missouri University of Science and Technology (formerly University of Missouri-Rolla); a former director of the NATO Jazz Ensemble; and, a former featured performing member of the Faculty Jazz Ensemble of the Armed Forces School of Music that was under the direction of Maurice Williams, Jr. (former leader of the Army Blues Jazz Ensemble).
As a composer, Mr. Burnett is the 1995 5-Star Award of Merit Winner of the National Federation of Music Clubs for his original composition and arrangement for big band titled, Daedalus. Daedalus was initially recorded by the award-winning Engineer Center Jazz Ensemble and published on the highly acclaimed compact disc recording by the 399th US Army Band, titled "Essayons" - which was also the first-ever CD recording released in that particular military band's history. Today, Chris Burnett has established a credible reputation as one of the finest alto saxophonists of his generation and is considered among Kansas City's most respected jazz artists. He has two commercial CD recordings available on the Artists Recording Collective label.
Mr. Burnett’s Professional Memberships include: American Federation of Musicians (Kansas City Local 34-627), The Recording Academy (GRAMMY®), and the US Army Career and Alumni Program (ACAP). He serves as a member of the Kansas City Youth Jazz Advisory Council, and was most recently elected as a Board Member (At-Large) of Kansas City's historic Mutual Musicians Foundation. Mr. Burnett has been a writer-affiliate of Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) since 1984.
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AUTHORIZED FULL NARRATIVE BIOGRAPHY
Christopher LeRoy Burnett was born on November 2nd, 1955 in Olathe, Kansas - a city suburb of Kansas City, Kansas. Primarily known as Chris Burnett and starting his active career in 1974 at the age of 18 years old, he has continued as a life-long learner while performing music professionally for over three decades. After his family traveled extensively in early childhood and lived at such places as: France, Michigan and Colorado, he was subsequently raised and grew up in the small KC metro city of Paola, Kansas where his studies in music began seriously under clarinetist, James R. Fuchs. Mr. Fuchs was the local school band director who exposed him to professional saxophone players like Charles Molina and Gary Foster during those formative years. His brother, Richie Pratt, who is also a musician (Lionel Hampton, Junior Mance, Aretha Franklin, New York Jazz Quartet, Broadway, Films, Studios ...), and the eldest sibling in his family continues to serve as a significant professional role model and mentor. Today, Mr. Burnett continues to perform at various locations world-wide, while being permanently based at home in the Kansas City metropolitan area.
* "Being in the military, I got closer to my country. Sure, it has its issues, but there is no other place, there's no better system, there's no other place where I could have become me, in the world. And in this music, I know I have to bring my point of view, just like the people before me that I admire, like Louis, Miles, Coltrane, Charlie Parker. They had the courage to be themselves." ~ Chris Burnett
Prior to establishing his current professional performing and recording artist activities, Mr. Burnett completed a 22-year active-duty career performing professionally and touring with various noteworthy US military bands organizations. And thus, he has already participated in thousands of live performances. As an example, in addition to jazz concerts, the NATO Band performed weekly Honors Ceremonies for numerous high ranking political dignitaries such as various heads of state, official government diplomats and top mili
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