ARTISTS SPOTLIGHTS

JUNE 2019

CHRISTOPHER BURNETT

Christopher L. Burnett is a critically acclaimed alto saxophonist, educator, arts business leader, and award-winning composer who began his professional career with military jazz bands going pro directly upon graduating high school at 18 years old. Over the course of his career, Mr. Burnett has performed professionally around the world, recorded noteworthy albums as a leader, taught at the college-level and co-founded a significant independent recording label. He has performed alongside and worked with many wonderful artists. He has shared the stage and studio with great musicians such as Bobby Watson, Will Matthews, Bob Bowman, Marcus Hampton, Ahmad Alaadeen. Mr. Burnett is also a Selmer saxophone artist and clinician.

BEN LEIFER

Ben was born in Topeka, KS to a musical family. He began his study of music early in life and began playing the electric bass at age 14. He studied rigorously throughout high school and eventually picked up the upright bass at age 17. Ben studied the bass and composition at the UMKC conservatory of music under the tutelage of Bobby Watson. He has worked locally and across the world as part of the group Diverse which was formed at UMKC with peers Hermon Mehari and Ryan Lee. Ben has studied intensively with bassist Curtis Lundy and has studied and performed with master drummer Michael Carvin. After spending a year in New York, Ben moved back to Kansas City and refocused his efforts at studying and composing music and devoting himself to the thriving local scene. He is also pursuing a career in medicine and hopes to be able to have a dual career with these two diverse interests.

AMBER UNDERWOOD

Jazz flutist, educator, band director, model and vocalist Amber Underwood is a native of Kansas City and has been entertaining and performing music since the tender age of 8. Beginning her musical journey on the piano and soon after began playing classical flute. Amber has been a presence in the Kansas City jazz scene making a place and a voice for her instrument. In the beginning of 2014 the Amber Underwood Project was formed with original members Drew Davis, DeAndre Manning, and Tyree Johnson with the mission to showcase an instrument that is normally used as an auxiliary instrument in jazz but now as a solo instrument. AUP is a modern and fresh take on smooth jazz and R&B sounds. AUP uses the rich tones and colors of the flute to interpret the various styles and genres of jazz