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John Burnett

The John Burnett Orchestra specializes in '40s-style big band swing - keeping alive the sounds of Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Count Basie and others. Each musician is highly professional and most have played with many of the top American big bands such as the Miller, Herman and Buddy Rich Bands. In addition to swing music the orchestra performs current big band jazz charts and many vocal ballads such as those of Frank Sinatra, Joe Williams, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn.

The orchestra is directed by John Burnett; morning host of 90.9fm WDCB - Public Radio From College of DuPage - Chicago's leading jazz radio station. John hails from England and attended the Royal Academy of Music. The orchestra consists of five saxes, four trumpets, four trombones, piano, bass, drums and at least one vocalist. It is rapidly establishing the reputation of being one of the best bands in Chicago; grabbing the attention of both old and young alike.

To date, the John Burnett orchestra has released two CDs. The first, "Swingin' in the Windy City", was released in November 2000 on the now defunct Lakesore Jazz from Chicago, and featured legendary clarinetist Buddy DeFranco. The second CD, "West of State Street/East of Harlem" with special guest trumpeter Randy Sandke, was recorded live at Fitzgerald's in Berwyn, and was recently released in October 2008 on Chicago's Delmark Records. More details on both of the CDs can be found on the CD Page

Vocalist Frieda Lee has toured with the late great Joe Williams and Kevin Mahogany, to name but a few.

Typical venues where the orchestra has appeared include jazz festivals, The Jazz Showcase in Chicago, The Green Dolphin Jazz Club in Chicago, Fitzgerald's Night Club in Berwyn, the famous Willowbrook Ballroom in the western suburbs, the Black Orchid Supper Club in Chicago's Pipers Alley, and major hotels such as Chicago's world-renown Drake Hotel.

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173
Album Review

John Burnett Orchestra: Down For Double

Read "Down For Double" reviewed by Nic Jones


The John Burnett Orchestra is a formidable swing band because, while there's undoubted reverence in their evocations of the era, that reverence is tempered by sparks of originality. Indeed, the tight-but-loose thing which summarizes its collective sound is now pretty hard to come by, which makes this release a cause for celebration. When the band's joined by clarinetist Buddy DeFranco on the warhorse that is “Sing Sing Sing" it's impossible to keep from smiling in view of ...

126
Album Review

John Burnett Orchestra with Special Guest Buddy DeFranco: Down For Double

Read "Down For Double" reviewed by Jerry D'Souza


On his third CD as leader, conductor John Burnett pays tribute to the music of Glenn Miller, Buddy Rich, Duke Ellington and Count Basie, among others. The music here was recorded at three different times, from 2000 to 2010, but there is an underlying factor that unites it all. The John Burnett Orchestra swings mightily, abetted by some fine work from the soloists. The makeup of the orchestra underwent changes over the years; Burnett--who calls himself the architect ...

352
Album Review

John Burnett Swing Orchestra: West of State Street/East of Harlem

Read "West of State Street/East of Harlem" reviewed by Ken Dryden


England native John Burnett has been a part of the Chicago jazz scene for some time. He presently hosts a weekday jazz radio program on WDCB and is also the conductor of his own Swing Orchestra (formed in 1999) which focuses on big band music of the '40s. Recorded live early last year at Fitzgerald's in Berwyn, Illinois, guest trumpeter Randy Sandke is featured on seven selections and proves to be the most compelling soloist, though the ...

286
Album Review

John Burnett Swing Orchestra: West Of State Street / East Of Harlem

Read "West Of State Street / East Of Harlem" reviewed by Nic Jones


Accolades from the likes of Buddy De Franco and Louie Bellson might lend this band additional legitimacy as keeper of the flame, but its sheer love for the music, as manifested in countless ways here, is more than sufficient in itself. In times like these it takes love as much as anything else to put music like this out at all, but it's abundantly clear that the therapeutic effect of it should be incorporated in some kind of health plan. ...

383
Album Review

John Burnett Swing Orchestra: West of State Street/East of Harlem

Read "West of State Street/East of Harlem" reviewed by Jerry D'Souza


The John Burnett Orchestra specializes in forties style big band swing. That is a comfortable zone to be in with the calibre of musicians that Burnett has in his band. They conceptualize the music of the period perfectly, playing with both warmth and verve. What makes it all the more appealing is the deep emotion and wholehearted commitment they bring to the music.

Burnett has chosen from a diverse blend of composers for this recording, and gives the music that ...

199
Album Review

John Burnett and His Orchestra: Swingin' in the Windy City

Read "Swingin' in the Windy City" reviewed by Jack Bowers


John Burnett, a transplanted Englishman who is best known to Chicagoans as the morning host at WDCB–FM, a Jazz–oriented outlet of the College of DuPage, has had a life–long love affair with big bands, especially those that flourished during America’s golden age of big–band music, also known as the Swing Era. He’d always dreamed of leading a band of his own, and in January ’99 made that dream a reality by forming the John Burnett Orchestra whose main purpose is ...

161
Album Review

John Burnett & His Orch. Featuring Buddy DeFranco: Swingin' in the Windy City

Read "Swingin' in the Windy City" reviewed by Dave Nathan


P>John Burnett has a day job as a jazz broadcaster for FM station WDCB in Chicago. In 1999 he put together a very fine orchestra made up of top notch Chicago musicians. Many of them have had considerable big band experience with Glenn Miller's, Barrett Deems and others. Several members also play in another Windy City-based aggregation, Lenny King's Chicago Metropolitan Jazz Orch.

For this maiden album, Burnett has scored a coup by getting one of the true icons of ...

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115

Recording

Swing Revival Chicago-Style: John Burnett Orchestra

Swing Revival Chicago-Style: John Burnett Orchestra

Source: Gapplegate Music Review by Grego Edwards

John Burnett's Orchestra (big band) has been holding forth in and around Chicago for a number of years. Their new, third album Down For Double (Delmark 596) comes out of two live and one studio session from 2000 through 2010. It's subtitled “Saluting the Best Bandleaders of Swing" and that's what it does. That doesn't mean that every important bandleader is represented, but Miller, Duke, Count, Goodman, Rich, Krupa and Slide Hampton (?) are each honored by one or more ...

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Down For Double

Delmark Records
2011

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West Of State Street...

Delmark Records
2009

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West of State...

Delmark Records
2009

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West of the State...

Delmark Records
2009

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West of State...

Delmark Records
2008

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Swingin' in the Windy...

Chicago Lakeside Jazz
2001

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