Welcome to the Jon Burr Band Website

After an exemplary high school and college career distinguished by All-Star awards, JON BURR burst onto the jazz scene as the first call bassist for icons Horace Silver, Stan Getz, Tony Bennett, Buddy Rich, Chet Baker and Anita O’Day. For a dozen years he toured with the great Stephane Grappelli, became a founding member of the Hot Swing Trio, and toured with such in-demand vocalists as Barbara Cook, Eartha Kitt and Rita Moreno.

Burr enjoyed the distinction of having his compositions performed by many of the extraordinary artists with whom he worked, such as Stan Getz, and recorded by Chet Baker, Sir Roland Hanna and others. But, it was Jon’s tenure with Tony Bennett that gave him a deep respect for the enduring power of a song.

Now, with the JON BURR BAND and his new, all original CD JUST CAN’T WAIT, he emerges as a powerhouse composer/lyricist and bandleader of great depth, poetic ingenuity and diverse musical contexts – all extremely accessible to music lovers of every genre. His tunes are rife with the palpable collective energies of the giants with whom he’s played and feel like instant standards. Burr brings them all to life with stunning arrangements, a star-studded band, and a remarkable group of vocal talent who are today’s best kept secrets and the stars of tomorrow: 2006 Jazz Mobile Vocal Award Winner, Ty Stephens; Birdland, Carnegie Hall, and NY Pops headliner Hilary Kole; original Manhattan Transfer member Laurel Massé; and promising newcomers Yaala Ballin of the Irving Berlin family tree and Tyler Burr, daughter of the composer.

Burr has also recorded with Wynton Marsalis, Count Basie, Tony Bennett, Yo Yo Ma, Barbara Cook, Stephane Grappelli, Sir Roland Hanna, Bucky Pizzarelli, Lainie Kazan, Dorothy Donegan, Chet Baker, Phil Woods, Buddy Rich, Louie Bellson, and the Hot Swing Trio.

Here’s what the critics are saying:

.... a terrific recording and a first class band under the leadership of Jon Burr. His solos bring out a voice very much his own, however, a voice we hear even more of in the engagingly melodic compositions that he has contributed to this session. - JazzTimes

Gorgeous is the word for Burr’s originals! - Bassics Magazine

Rainbow Over Harlem is a terrific Burr original! - New York Post

Nobody Said it Was Easy and Burr’s other melodies are all hummable and the tempos toe-tappers! - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Jon Burr is a technical master, erecting solid foundations and clever embellishments as well. He was always where he needed to be, his bass lines filled with big, fat bottom notes and his solos bringing high-technique and contemporary improvisational style. - Los Angeles Times

With Burr on bass, the music radiated effortless joy and ease. - NY Times

Burr, in typically alert form, adds to the momentum and texture with his exceptionally nimble accompaniment. - Washington Post