Bassist Jon Burr has toured and recorded with many great jazz masters, including Stan Getz, Chet Baker, Horace Silver, Hank Jones, Art Farmer, Stephane Grappelli (from 1986-1997), Sir Roland Hanna, Dorothy Donegan, and Buddy Rich. From 1980 - 1985 he toured with Tony Bennett; he has also worked with Lainie Kazan, Rita Moreno, Barbara Cook, Eartha Kitt, among others. Jon was a founding member of violinist Mark O'Connor's "Hot Swing" trio, with guitarist Frank Vignola.

In 2007 Jon produced a project of his original songs, including studio sessions tracking 18 titles and a concert DVD of the Jon Burr Band Live At Birdland, slated for a 2008 release. Among those involved are vocalists Hilary Kole, Laurel Massé, Ty Stephens, Hilary Gardner, and Jon's daughter Tyler Burr; also featured are saxophonists Houstion Person, Bob Mintzer, and Joel Frahm, trumpeter Dominic Farinacci, pianists Ted Rosenthal, Jon Davis and Loston Harris, and guitarists John Hart, Yotam Silberstein, and Howard Alden. Another 11 titles are in production as of January 2008

Acclaimed by critics for his technical mastery and his subtle, elegant artistry, Burr formed his instrumental quartet in 1991. The Jon Burr Quartet performed widely in New York clubs such as Birdland and the Blue Note, specializing in Burr's own compositions. The quartet recorded their first album in April 1993, which was issued February 1996 by Cymekob Records under the title "In My Own Words." This recording has been well received by critics; Jazziz Magazine wrote: "This is a terrific recording."

This was followed by the release of a second recording called "3 for All," featuring Sir Roland Hanna and Bucky Pizzarelli, and led by Jon, also issued by Cymekob, on June 25, 1996.

Jon also has Broadway performance credits that include the bass chair for the revival "Me and My Girl," the short-lived sequel "The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public," and performances including "Grand Hotel," "Gypsy," "Blood Brothers," "Sideshow," "Song & Dance," and "Jerome Robbins Broadway." Jon has also served as house bassist for the 92nd St Y's "Lyrics and Lyricists" series, and performed for the Drama Desk and the MAC Awards shows.

Jon has more recently performed with Houston Person, with the Lynne Arriale Trio, and appeared at Eartha Kitt's 80th Birthday Celebration at Carnegie Hall for the JVC Jazz Festival, at the Cafe Carlyle with Rita Moreno, as well as at the first two Django Reinhart festivals at New York's Birdland, appearing on the Atlantic Records release of that event, guested with Les Paul at Iridium, and appeared as a featured guest with the New York Pops Orchestra, performed onstage with Barbara Cook in her solo show "Mostly Sondheim" at Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theater, the Terrace Theater at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Feinstiens' at the Regency, the Cafe Carlyle, and other venues around the US. Performances with Hot Swing have included California's Strawberry Festival, appearances at Lincoln Center Jazz in NYC, and a record release tour for "In Full Swing," (Sony Odyssey) with guests Wynton Marsalis and Jane Monheit.

Burr was born in Huntington, Long Island and studied at Berklee College of Music and the University of Illinois. He lives in New York.

hi-resolution photos for print