In celebration of
Women’s History Month, the Christopher Burnett Quartet presents a refined midday chamber jazz concert at JW Crancers Event Space. This program highlights the art of the ballad, blending Burnett’s lyrical originals with timeless standards curated for the Leavenworth community.
Event Details
- Date: March 25th
- 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
Aja’s Theme
(Torrie Zito)
Composed by the renowned orchestrator Torrie Zito, this lyrical masterpiece was immortalized by clarinetist Eddie Daniels on his 1985 Grammy-nominated album, Breakthrough. Performed with the London Philharmonia Orchestra, the piece is a pinnacle of symphonic jazz. The Christopher Burnett Quartet presents it here in an intimate chamber setting, honoring its legacy of technical brilliance and emotional depth.
Emily
(Johnny Mandel)
A tender jazz waltz originally composed for the 1964 film The Americanization of Emily. This piece became a staple of the jazz repertoire through the influential interpretations of pianist Bill Evans. Its graceful melody and shifting harmonies provide a perfect vehicle for the Christopher Burnett Quartet’s refined chamber aesthetic.
God Bless The Child
(Billie Holiday/Arthur Herzog Jr.)
A cornerstone of the Women’s History Month theme, this 1941 masterpiece honors the indomitable legacy of Billie Holiday. Born from Holiday’s own life experiences, the song is a poignant commentary on self-reliance and strength. The Quartet performs this as a soulful tribute to the pioneering women who shaped the jazz landscape.
Boplicity
(Miles Davis/Gil Evans)
A pivotal “cool jazz” standard from the landmark 1949 Birth of the Coolsessions. “Boplicity” showcases the intricate, chamber-like arranging style of Gil Evans, blending the spontaneity of jazz with the formal sophistication of classical music. Its inclusion highlights the Quartet’s dedication to the refined “cool” aesthetic.
A Child Is Born
(Thad Jones)
A gentle, lullaby-like standard that has become a staple of the modern jazz quartet repertoire. Composed by the great Thad Jones, this piece is celebrated for its hymn-like simplicity and elegant harmonic structure. It provides a moment of quiet reflection, showcasing the ensemble’s mastery of dynamic sensitivity and melodic storytelling.
Black Narcissus
(Joe Henderson)
A haunting modal masterpiece known for its atmospheric and “spectral” textures. Composed by the legendary tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson, this piece moves away from traditional song forms into a more evocative, circular harmonic landscape. It highlights the Christopher Burnett Quartet’s ability to create deep, immersive sonic environments.
Always
(Christopher Burnett)
A standout selection from the “FAMILY” suite, “Always” represents the virtue of persistence. With its sophisticated modern groove and soaring melodic lines, this original composition showcases the Quartet’s contemporary voice. It is a musical reminder to “never give up,” delivered with the ensemble’s signature refined taste.
Yesteryears
(Christopher Burnett)
A poignant, seven-minute reflection on childhood, memory, and the “paternal home,” featured on the album Originals. This introspective ballad invites the listener to step back in time. It is a powerful example of Burnett’s compositional depth, delivered with profound emotional resonance by the quartet.
Dolphin Dance
(Herbie Hancock)
One of the most famous modern jazz standards, celebrated for its flowing, lyrical melodic lines and sophisticated harmonic “undercurrents.” Originally released on the 1965 album Maiden Voyage, this piece captures a sense of graceful movement. It highlights the Christopher Burnett Quartet’s exceptional ability to blend technical precision with “legato eloquence.”
Maiden Voyage
(Herbie Hancock)
An evocative modal jazz masterpiece that creates a sense of vast, open sonic space. Originally depicting the maiden voyage of a great vessel, this 1965 classic is renowned for its suspended harmonies and serene, oceanic atmosphere. It serves as a showcase for the Quartet’s ability to weave intricate, atmospheric textures.
Ballad For An Optimist
(Christopher Burnett)
A signature 4/4 ballad and a highlight of Burnett’s recent discography. Characterized by its sophisticated harmonic architecture and soaring melodic lines, the piece lives up to its name by projecting a sense of resilient hope. It perfectly encapsulates the Quartet’s mission to perform modern jazz with refined, “chamber-like” elegance.
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.
HOUSTON SMITH
Guest Artist | Drums
Houston Smith is a multi-instrumentalist, bandleader, and artist educator from Kansas City who operates as a creative entrepreneur. He holds a B.A. in Professional Music from the prestigious Berklee College of Music, where he studied woodwind performance and music business.
As a performer, Smith is the bandleader for his two ensembles, Groove Axis and the Organic Groove 4TET, which perform across the country. He also performs as the saxophonist with The Bloodstone Experience, honoring his late mentor Darryl Terrell’s legacy with the original Bloodstone Band.
Committed to education, he serves as an advisory board member and lead clinician for Kansas City Area Youth Jazz (KCAYJ), a continuation of the program founded by his first mentor, Leon A. Brady. He has also founded Supreme Sound Studio, a boutique education brand for instrumentalists, and the Music Impact Agency, a consultancy aimed at helping organizations use music for inspiration and connection.
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
