OUR DISCOGRAPHY (+FILMOGRAPHY)

THE ORIGINALS QUARTET

Alto Saxophone: Christopher Burnett; Piano: Roger Wilder; Acoustic Bass: Gerald Spaits; Drum Set: Morgan Rogers

GUEST ARTISTS

Terri Anderson Burnett (flute, tracks 1+3); Freda Proctor (flute, tracks 1+3); Greg Carroll (vibraphone, tracks 1+3); Willie Meyers Thornton (tenor saxophone, tracks 6+7); Will Matthews (guitar, track 6, guitar with effects track 7)

PRODUCTION

Engineer: by William Crain; Recorded at BRC Audio Productions, Kansas City, Kansas; Label: Artists Recording Collective (ARC); Photography and Videography: by Gordon Brown; Cover Photograph: by Dwayne Hallock; Art Direction: by Christopher Burnett + Terri Anderson Burnett

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

All music composed and arranged by Christopher Burnett (BMI) This album was produced by Christopher Burnett + Terri Anderson Burnett. Published sheet music is available.

PHOTO: (l-R) William Crain, Gerald Spaits, Roger Wilder, Christopher Burnett, Greg Carroll, Freda Proctor, Terri Anderson Burnett, Gordon Brown, Morgan Rogers at BRC AUDIO PRODUCTIONS in Kansas City.

THE STANDARDS, VOL. 2 QUARTET

Alto Saxophone: Christopher Burnett; Piano: Mike Pagan; Acoustic Bass: James Ward; Drum Set: Michael Shanks

THE DRUM ROOM RESIDENCY

The Drum Room remains the only historically significant Kansas City jazz venue that is actually still located in its original place within the famous (Hilton) President Hotel but as of this writing, it no longer schedules live jazz music.

THE 4 FEATURED PERFORMERS DURING THIS RENAISSANCE PERIOD OF LIVE MUSIC AT THE DRUM ROOM IN KANSAS CITY WERE: EVERETTE DEVAN. CHRIS BURNETT. GRAND MARQUIS. MEGAN BIRDSALL.

MY DRUM ROOM ENSEMBLES

The Christopher Burnett “Drum Room” Quartet and Quintet were among the venues designated featured performers. We played on the First Saturdays of the month beginning shortly after the newly renovated hotel and jazz venue opened at 14th and Baltimore in downtown Kansas City.

I played these dates with a core group of various artists like Will Matthews, James Ward, Roger Wilder, William Crain, Dr. Mike Pagan, Michael Shanks, Jeff Harshbarger, Craig Akin, and Brandon Draper, among several other top professional players on the scene.

Our two-year residency was during the years of 2006 – 2007. We played “standards” that I liked but were not the typical tunes everyone played at the jam sessions in town. This was my first steady gig as a leader on the Kansas City jazz scene.

These seven tracks were recorded live direct to digital by long time friend Willie Thornton on one of those Saturday evenings in 2007. Thornton brought his professional remote studio out several times and set it up in the venue. He then sent me the audio masters and those are what make up “The Standards, Vol. 2.”

PRODUCTION

Engineer: by Willie Meyers Thornton; Recorded remotely at The Drum Room in the Hilton President Hotel, Kansas City, Missouri; Label: Artists Recording Collective (ARC); Photography and Videography: by James Ward and Terri Anderson Burnett; Cover Photograph: by Dwayne Hallock; Art Direction: by Christopher Burnett + Terri Anderson Burnett

HISTORIC VENUE

It was the year 1941, the cost of a postage stamp was three cents, the President of the United States was Franklin D Roosevelt, and Pearl Harbor was attacked on the pre- dawn hours of December 7th. The hotel President which opened in 1927 opened the Drum Room.
Imagine looking across the room and seeing such entertainers as Frank Sinatra, Count Basie and Benny Goodman. You may have even seen people such as Charles Lindberg, Ben Siegel or Meyer Lansky.
The Drum Room included a bar in the shape of a drum, and a full service restaurant which featured some of the countries hottest touring musicians. It was the age of Cuban cool, a strong influence of Cuban society was sweeping its way across the country, it was Kansas City’s place to see and be seen. According to a guest who visited the Drum Room in 1948 “it was just an exciting place to visit, it was the coolest place in town and everyone knew it”.
The Drum Room restaurant and bar has re-opened and is part of the 45 million dollar renovation of the Hilton President Hotel. The menu again features a Cuban influence, and the atmosphere is just as cool as it was in 1941. Who knows you just might feel the spirits of the Rat Pack or Duke Ellington when you swing by.

(SOURCE: Archived DrumRoomKC.com)

DINO MASSA KANSAS CITY QUINTET

Alto Saxophone: Christopher Burnett; Piano: Dino Massa; Guitar: Charles Gatschet; Acoustic Bass: Andrew W. Stinson; Drum Set: Clarence Smith

GUEST ARTISTS

Terri Anderson Burnett (flute, tracks 1,3-7); Freda Proctor (flute, tracks 1,3-7); Marcus Hampton (trumpet, track 3, flugelhorn, track 4); Stanton Kessler (trumpet, tracks 3,5-7 flugelhorn, track 4)

PRODUCTION

Engineer: by Craig Rettmer; Recorded at CR Sound, Kansas City, Missouri; Label: Artists Recording Collective (ARC); Photography and Videography: by Stephen McDonald; Cover Photograph: by Dwayne Hallock; Art Direction: by Stephen McDonald, Christopher Burnett + Terri Anderson Burnett

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

All music is composed and arranged by Dino Massa (tracks: 1,2, 5, 6, 7) Christopher Burnett (BMI)(track 4) Marcus Hampton (ASCAP) track 3). This album was produced by Christopher Burnett + Terri Anderson Burnett and Dino Massa + Mariarosaria Massa. Sheet music is available from composers.

PHOTO: (L-R) Freda Proctor, Dino Massa, Terri Anderson Burnett at CR SOUND in Kansas City. SCENE: DINO DISCUSSES AN INTERPRETATION WITH THE FLUTES IN THE RECORDING STUDIO.