Performing

Currently Leader of the following ensembles:

Chris Burnett Quartet (CbQ)

Chris Burnett, alto saxophone
Roger Wilder, piano
TJ Martley, piano
Jeff Harshbarger, bass
Seth Lee, bass
Clarence Smith, drums
Brandon Draper, drums

Chris Burnett Quintet (CbQ)

Chris Burnett, alto saxophone
Roger Wilder, piano
TJ Martley, piano
Jeff Harshbarger, bass
Seth Lee, bass
Clarence Smith, drums
Brandon Draper, drums
Will Matthews, guitar (special guest member)

Chris Burnett Quorum (CbQ)*

Chris Burnett, woodwinds
Amy Hearting, marimba
Zach Beeson, bass
Tyree Johnson, drums
Julian Goff, drums

Marimba and Saxophone Duo*

Chris Burnett, alto saxophone
Amy Hearting, marimba
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*A NEW GROUP FOR 2010: This particular ensemble is still in the production and development phase. Repertoire is under development. Music is being written and arranged.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Active Military Service Bands

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 military leaders including General Colin Powell, as well as participating in special functions like performing the preliminary music for the arrival of Pope John Paul II at the port of Pozzuoli, Italy (a city of the province of Naples, in the Italian region of Campania) in November 1990.

REHEARSING WITH THE HOF SYMPHONY - GERMANY 1979

His honorable services resulted in the receipt of numerous award decorations, for both musical and military excellence, and include: the Department of Defense Meritorious Service Medal, two individual awards of the Army Meritorious Service Medal, and many others. Notable highlights of his military music career include: a Staff and Faculty assignment at the Armed Forces School of Music; Leading Chief Petty Officer of the NATO Band at Naples, Italy where he served as NATO Ceremonial Band Conductor, Jazz Ensemble Director, and featured soloist during performance tours which also included several television broadcasts; accepted for assignment to the West Point Military Academy Band’s Jazz Knights as a jazz alto saxophonist; accepted for assignment to the Armed Forces School of Music as a Jazz Ensemble Rehearsal Conductor; being featured at the age of 23 years old, as jazz alto saxophone soloist with the Hof Symphony Orchestra (Germany) during two recorded Hauptkoncert (Main Concert) performances of the Rolf Liebermann 12-tone serial work, Concerto for Jazz Band and Symphony Orchestra (comp. 1954); along with jazz performances with his quartet outside of the military jobs. He was also selected to participate in a special “Staffing for Army Bands” video teleconference that resulted in the development and implementation of management systems that continue to positively and significantly impact the modern operational functionality of Army bands.

Kansas City Jazz Scene

CHRIS BURNETT | DRUM ROOM FEATURED ARTIST 2010

Chris Burnett Quartet was formed upon his return home to live in the Kansas City area in 2001. Thus, he began another new phase of his career as a performer. The Chris Burnett Quartet debuted with a performance on the main stage of the Roots Festival at Paola, Kansas in 2002. In 2003, he was contacted to open at the Adam’s Mark in Kansas City for Maynard Ferguson by the late jazz trumpet legend’s management. As a result of that successful performance, an official of the Elms Resort and Spa who was in the audience, contracted CbQ to appear as the featured group at their 4th Annual Jazz and Wine Festival in Excelsior Springs, Missouri in 2004.

VIDEO: Chris Burnett, alto saxophone; Roger Wilder, piano; Jeff Harshbarger, bass; and Brandon Draper, drumset.

Some of the other recent performances included performing and successfully hosting the “Blue Monday Jam” at Kansas City’s famous Blue Room jazz club in 2004 – thus validating the viability of his artistry within the historic “18th and Vine Jazz District” scene too. Mr. Burnett also participated in a special broadcast performance and recording for “The Jazz Scene – Holiday Show” radio program for Kansas Public Radio. Although 2005 was primarily a year of sideman performances and administrative music business work for Mr. Burnett, these opportunities were sincerely appreciated. He engaged each opportunity with equal enthusiasm, artistry and professionalism; while performing at events such as the very first Rhythm & Ribs 18th and Vine Jazz Festival, the 10th annual Parkville Jazz and Arts Festival, among other events that year. Ultimately, his contributions have been tangible in many areas of the music industry since being welcomed back home to the Kansas City area as an artist by the arts community, music journalists and professional artist colleagues alike.

KANSAS CITY STAR - FEATURE ARTICLE 2007

In 2006 he also began engaging opportunities that include performing and touring – traveling to perform at both, Albuquerque, New Mexico and Austin, Texas that summer. Chris Burnett Quartet began getting regular performance opportunities at the newly renovated historic Hilton President Kansas City in The Drum Room on May 26, 2006. He was one of the very first artists featured by the newly renovated and historic Hilton President where he performed on the first Saturday of each month in the famous Drum Room within the Kansas City Power and Light District for over two years (2006-2008). This regular performing opportunity introduced him to the jazz community and was very important because it simply gave Burnett’s music the chance to be heard by global visitors staying at the Hilton President Kansas City, Kansas City Jazz Community audiences, along with members of Kansas City Area Press/Media.

ITINERARY AND PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY

Current Activities

Today, Chris Burnett has established a credible reputation among professionals and within his peer group as one of the finest jazz saxophonists of his generation. He is also objectively considered among Kansas City’s most respected jazz artists.  Now having established and proven his ability over the course of the last decade to develop an audience at venues in Kansas City when given the opportunity, his concerts and recordings are centered around presenting mostly original music.

Black House Improvisors' Collective | Residency Session #3 Concert

Another goal, at this point in his career, remains to continue to realize select performances at select world-wide venues during his annual periods of travel outside of the Kansas City area and region.

JAZZ AMBASSADOR MAGAZINE - COVER STORY

Mr. Burnett’s current performing ensemble and composition projects are focused toward presenting his music at venues where the settings are suited to the emphasis being placed upon the performances. He is also available to perform at select private events. And, as a member in good-standing of the American Federation of Musicians (Kansas City Local 34-627), he is available for union scale work. See the schedule below for his itinerary:

ITINERARY AND PERFORMANCE CALENDAR

Professional References

Mr. Burnett’s professional musical activities as: composer, performer, arranger and clinician; since returning home to the Kansas City area in 2001 are diverse. Past Clients and Venues Performed include: Missouri Bar Association Annual Convention (Tan-Tar-A, Lake of the Ozarks), American Jazz Museum’s Blue Room (Kansas City), Missouri River Valley Choral Festival (Leavenworth, KS), KCKCC Jazz Workshop Adjudicator and Clinician (Kansas City), KCYJ Summer Jazz Camp Faculty (Kansas City), Northwest Missouri State University Jazz Festival, Paola Roots Festival, Leavenworth High School Jazz Band, Lansing High School Jazz Band, McDonalds Corporation, Gem Theater (Kansas City), Alaadeen Enterprises, Inc., Fandeen Publishing Company, Inc., The Drum Room (Kansas City), Belles of the American Royal, Pleasant Ridge High School Band, City Light Orchestra, Kansas Public Radio, Elms Resort Jazz Festival, Maynard Ferguson, The Elephant Room (Austin, TX), Scalo Northern Italian Grill (Albuquerque, NM), Alfredo’s Coffee House (Albuquerque, NM), Mutual Musicians Foundation (Kansas City), Coleman Hawkins Jazz Festival (Topeka, KS), Riverfront Community Center (Leavenworth, KS), The Toon Shop Lessons Studio (Leavenworth, KS), The Tune Shop Lessons Studio (Leavenworth, KS),The Sweet Life at Rosehill (Shawnee, KS), Claridge Court (Prairie Village, KS), The Uptown Theater (Kansas City), Concorde Fortress of Hope Baptist Church (Kansas City), Osawatomie Cultural Center (Osawatomie, KS), Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center (Leavenworth, KS), and St. James A.M.E. Church (Paola, KS), Kansas City Youth Jazz, Inc., among others.

FIRST CITY FESTIVAL - JAZZ AT HAYMARKET SQUARE 2009

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Also see: Press Quotes and References
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