In celebration of
Jazz Appreciation Month, the Christopher Burnett Quartet presents a refined midday chamber jazz concert at JW Crancers Event Space. This program features works by significant modern jazz composers from our KC region along with genre defining music by jazz greats curated for the Leavenworth community.
Event Details
- Date: April 22nd
- Time: 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
- Location: JW Crancers, 530 Delaware St, Leavenworth, KS
- Admission: Free (Admission-free community event)
- Lunch: Guests are encouraged to bring their own lunch to enjoy during the performance.
Our Musical Program
The STANDARDS (VARIOUS COMPOSERS)
All of You
(Cole Porter)
Originally introduced in the 1955 Broadway musical Silk Stockings, this tune became a jazz staple after being recorded by Miles Davis. It is celebrated for its sophisticated 32-bar form and a melody that “crests” progressively higher, building emotional tension. The harmonic sophistication of this work is truly timeless.
Anthropology
(Charlie Parker)
A foundational bebop anthem composed by Charlie Parker. It is a “contrafact”—a new melody written over the chord changes of George Gershwin’s “I Got Rhythm”—and is famous as a bebop anthem for its virtuosic speed and complex rhythmic syncopation. But it is also suitable for modern stylistic interpretations as well.
Blue in Green
(Miles Davis)
Featured on the legendary 1959 album Kind of Blue, this haunting ballad is a masterpiece of modal jazz. While officially credited to Davis, pianist Bill Evans is widely believed to have had a significant influence on final versions of this work, characterized by its unique 10-bar circular form and impressionistic atmosphere.
Bright Size Life
(Pat Metheny)
The title track of Metheny’s 1976 debut album, this piece helped define the “ECM sound”—a blend of jazz, folk, and rock influences. It is known for its lyrical, open-ended harmony and was originally recorded with the revolutionary bassist Jaco Pastorius. This quartet instrumentation provides an intriguing sound to the piece.
Central Park West
(John Coltrane)
Named after the New York City street where Coltrane lived, this 10-bar ballad is a literal study in “Coltrane Changes”—a specific system of cyclical harmonic movement that he discovered and brought forward into the mainstream. Despite its complex underlying structure, the melody remains deeply serene and meditative.
Love Remains
(Bobby Watson and Pamela Baskin-Watson)
Composed by KC jazz royalty Bobby Watson and his wife, Pamela, this composition is a beautiful example of the “refined chamber jazz” style. It highlights the lyrical, soulful side of modern hard-bop and melodic mastery.
The ORIGINALS (CHRISTOPHER BURNETT)
Always: A standout track from Burnett’s album ORIGINALS, this piece often opens with a rubato piano solo. Its melody and harmony are designed to evoke themes of “progress and stability,” representing the idea of never giving up.
Infinity: Described as a lively jazz samba, this composition is a favorite among the quartet for its upbeat energy. The melodic “leaps” at the beginning of the tune are a signature element that keeps the listener’s interest.
Later: A six-minute “romp” that follows a slow, deliberate build, allowing each member of the ensemble—including the bass and drums—significant space to showcase their individual voices.
Maybe: This piece offers the quartet a unique opportunity to bridge structure and freedom. It utilizes alternating time signatures and energetic chords over a three-phrase harmonic structure, providing a modern twist on the traditional jazz-blues form.
Yesteryears: A thoughtful composition that reflects on the continuum of musical and family history. Like much of the ORIGINALS suite, it is harmonically and melodically connected to the larger work, emphasizing the evolution of the jazz tradition.
The Ensemble
Christopher Burnett
Alto Saxophone | Composition
Christopher Burnett is an award-winning BMI composer affiliate, educator, and Conn-Selmer Artist and Clinician with a musical sound defined by critics as “legato eloquence” and “refined taste.” A native Kansan, he returned to the Kansas City music scene in 2001 following a distinguished 22-year career as a professional musician in U.S. military bands, where he performed and toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe.
As a bandleader, Mr. Burnett directs the “Originals” Quartet, a concert ensemble dedicated to performing his sophisticated original compositions and bespoke arrangements. His discography reflects a deep mastery of the jazz tradition; his release, The Standards, Vol. 1, earned four-star reviews for its innovative takes on works by Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea, while his latest project, ORIGINALS (ARC-3442), is a profound long-form work dedicated to the continuum of family.
Beyond the stage, Mr. Burnett is a highly regarded clinician who has presented for the Missouri and Kansas Music Educators Associations. He is the co-founder of the Artists Recording Collective (ARC) and continues to shape the regional jazz landscape through his work as a performer, composer, and advocate for jazz as a form of “refined chamber music.”
Portfolio: BurnettMusic.biz
Roger Wilder
Piano | Keyboards
Originally from Rochester, N.Y., Roger Wilder is a premier pianist in the Kansas City jazz scene and a highly regarded educator. After earning a Bachelor of Music from the University of Miami, Wilder relocated to Kansas City in 2000, quickly becoming a mainstay as both a bandleader and a sought-after sideman. His “stately” and sophisticated harmonic touch has been a foundational element of every Christopher Burnett album since the early 2000s.
Wilder’s extensive discography includes his solo release, Stretch (ARC-2444), and collaborations with acclaimed artists such as the Kansas City Symphony, Angela Hagenbach, and The Sons of Brasil. A dedicated mentor to the next generation of musicians, he has served as an adjunct jazz professor at the UMKC Conservatory for over a decade. Beyond the bandstand, Wilder shares his deep musical knowledge over the airwaves and online streaming as “The Jazz Geek” on 90.1 FM KKFI, where he hosts a weekly jazz radio program.
Gerald Spaits
Acoustic Bass
A native of Kansas City, Gerald Spaits is widely recognized as one of the region’s foremost bassists. Throughout his prolific career, he has performed alongside jazz legends such as Jay McShann and Claude “Fiddler” Williams, as well as national recording artists including Herb Ellis, Marilyn Maye, and the Woody Herman Orchestra. His international presence includes acclaimed performances at the Montreux Jazz Festival, the San Jose Jazz Festival, and the World’s Fair in Seville, Spain.
In addition to his work as a performer and session musician for television and radio soundtracks, Mr. Spaits is a dedicated educator. He served for many years as an assistant professor of jazz string bass at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) Conservatory of Music and Dance, where he helped shape the next generation of jazz musicians. Known for his “amiable swing” and deep connection to the Kansas City jazz tradition, he remains an essential voice in this modern jazz quartet and his own ensemble projects.
MICHAEL EDWARDS
Guest Artist | Drums
Dr. Michael Edwards is an accomplished percussionist whose career is rooted in a lifelong passion for rhythm and performance. His musical journey began in the church, where he first developed his foundational skills on the drums.
Following his formal training under the mentorship of Brent Torneau, Dr. Edwards transitioned into the professional sphere, performing with prestigious organizations such as the Melbourne Municipal Band and the Fayetteville Symphony. His versatility as a musician has allowed him to navigate diverse genres, from orchestral masterworks to contemporary ensemble pieces.
Currently based in the local region, Dr. Edwards remains a vital fixture in the arts community. He performs regularly with several community bands and is a featured member of the Atchison Jazz Express, bringing precision and artistry to every stage he takes.
Community Partners & History
This concert is made possible through a co-sponsorship between JW Crancers and the American Federation of Musicians (Kansas City Local 34-627), supported by the Musicians Performance Trust Fund (MPTF).
About Kansas City Local 34-627
A Legacy of Music: Kansas City Local 34-627 has a storied history as one of the most significant chapters in the AFM. It represents the 1970 merger of Local 34 and the historic Local 627, which was the “Colored Musicians Union” during the height of the Kansas City Jazz era. This union was the home of legends like Charlie Parker and Count Basie, and it continues to preserve the integrity and professional excellence of live music in the region today.
About JW Crancers Event Space
Located at 530 Delaware Street in a beautifully restored 1900s bank building, JW Crancers is a premier destination in historic downtown Leavenworth. The venue is celebrated for its rustic aesthetic, featuring original hardwood floors, rafter ceilings, and exposed brick walls illuminated by ambient Edison-style string lighting. With over 11,000 square feet of total space and a main banquet room that can accommodate up to 400 guests, it provides a “cool,” high-ceilinged environment with excellent acoustics—perfect for a chamber jazz performance.
Artist Discography & COMPOSITIONS
Visit the links indicated by the bold text to explore the quartet’s recordings and original compositions.
TWO-CONCERT SERIES
MARCH CONCERT #1
APRIL CONCERT #2
PRESS RELEASES
