Christopher Burnett

CHRISTOPHER BURNETT was born in Olathe, Kansas and subsequently raised in his maternal hometown of Paola after his family settled back home in the state once his father’s active duty military career had concluded. Mr. Burnett’s long-standing high caliber, well-rounded, and distinguished career is a great example that shows that there are many paths to professional success in the arts field. (Current Portfolio – BurnettPublishing.com) (Official Portal – BurnettMusic.biz)

CONCERT ARTIST: Mr. Burnett is a world-class saxophonist, award-wining composer, and in-demand educator who currently leads his own instrumental jazz quartet and quintet of world class-level professional artists based in Kansas City. Mr. Burnett’s aptitude and potential as a musical artist and arts business leader are very well documented and his professional musical career began with military jazz bands, after qualifying and “going pro” immediately upon graduating high school in 1974. Subsequently, he established the initial two-decades of his artist career playing hundreds of performances each year at myriad venues while traveling and touring the world. He has four albums as leader his latest release, The Standards, Vol. 1, All About Jazz (FOUR STARS ****) said, “The level of musicianship is exceptional here, and Burnett definitely gives each song a refreshing vitality.” Christopher Burnett Quartet and Christopher Burnett Quintet can perform concerts at venues ranging from school auditorium settings to community concert halls. His friend and esteemed colleague, Bobby Watson, stated that the recording is “A very fine album, indeed.” “An imaginative arrangement breathes new life into ‘Corcovado.’ Stan Kessler’s shimmering trumpet solo elevates ‘Dolphin Dance.’  ‘Freedom Flight,’ a sprightly original Burnett composition, features a sterling guitar solo from Charles Gatschet. Burnett soars throughout.” – PlasticSax.com

• Quartet: $3,500 + Travel, includes Concert and optional Master Class
• Quintet: $4,000 + Travel, includes Concert and optional Master Class
• Community Activity: $2,500 includes 1-hour lecture presentation + Q&A interaction
• Educational Activity: $1,500 includes availability of Mr. Burnett’s handout materials, clinics in PDF along with the applicable lesson plan for educator uses only

Note: Besides Kansas Arts Commission funding, additional grant funding may be available through Mid-America Arts Alliance or Conn-Selmer, Inc. for qualifying programs and events. Inquire at time of booking contact.

COMMUNITY ARTS ADVOCACY: Mr. Burnett has been a consistent catalyst himself within his community, ranging from starting concert series to meaningful educational programs that continue to tangibly impact the lives of fellow citizens. He is available to give keynote talks centered on entrepreneurialism, arts synergy, and how to realize true community engagement with the arts. He is the passionate founder of Burnett Music Foundation, a jazz nonprofit (BurnettMusicFoundation.org). He also actively serves as a board member of the regional jazz community catalyst organization, Kansas City Jazz ALIVE, where he’s been instrumental in the conduct and planning of the annual spotlight celebration of jazz icon, Charlie Parker. Mr. Burnett is the artistic director of the annual “Bird Boot Camp” (BirdBootCamp.org) program that is an official program of the celebration and one of the key elements of its regional events.

EDUCATOR AND CLINICIAN: Mr. Burnett, an official Conn-Selmer, Inc. Artist and Clinician representative, is an in-demand jazz educator and teaching artist (BurnettSchool.net) who has also received grants to present music clinics recently for both the Kansas Music Educators Association and the Missouri Music Educators Association respectively. He is the founder of Kansas City Area Youth Jazz (YouthJazz.us), a premiere young artists program which began in 2019 and has recorded professional albums that are commercially released on the internationally distributed ARC recording label each subsequent season. Mr. Burnett is an articulate and engaging speaker who has a unique way of presenting applied music lesson programs using progressive methods to codify complex subject matter.