Burnett Family Bluegrass

From the mountains of Northern Arizona, where the southwestern wind was born, comes the sound of Burnett Family Bluegrass. This is family music at it's best with hard driving instrumentals and fine-tuned harmonies. The intricate breaks show a deep understanding about intimate musical detail that skyrocket them from good to outstanding in the field of Bluegrass. After winning the coveted 2004 Telluride Bluegrass Festival band competition, the family was hand-selected by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) for a command performance in Nashville, TN. They were showcased at the 2005 IBMA convention held at the end of October. Burnett Family Bluegrass has proven themselves to be one of the up-and-coming bands on the Bluegrass fast track.

Brian (Dad) guitar and mandolin
Plays guitar with a tasteful lead and solid rhythm that gives the band it's strength. His warm, rich voice delivers lead and harmony vocals that define the sound of Burnett Family Bluegrass

Connie (Mom) stand up bass
Connie's steady beat enables the band to move comfortably through their emotive songs and ballads. Her rhythm is the platform the band stands on.

Rachel (21) Fiddle, mandolin
Rachel was 2 when she started singing and 3 when she picked up the fiddle. she soon showed a promising talent and feel for the instrument that made the distinct Burnett sound come alive.

Jessie (18) Mandolin, fiddle, guitar, banjo.
Jessie joined her sisters on stage at age 3 and began her musical education on the fiddle soon after that. Next she picked up the mandolin by age 10. She is a formidable instrumentalist moving easily to guitar to banjo to fiddle and shining white hot on the mandolin.

Ryan (17) Banjo, fiddle, guitar, and mandolin.
Ryan found himself on stage at age 3, when, like his sisters, he started on the fiddle. Ryan dedicated hours of practicing intricate banjo licks when he was 10. At 14 Ryan was the youngest contestant to win the prestigious Telluride Bluegrass Festival band competition. Ryan adds a essential element to the Burnett sound. His solid lead and tasteful backup changed the whole group into a real, down home bluegrass band.

"Genuine talent and skill are the characteristics that set them apart from other musical acts"
Patti Jo King - Flag LIVE! 2004

"They have a unique personality, partly from being a family, but also because they play and sing and relate so well to the audience."
Steve Szymanski, Vice President of Planet Bluegrass - Flag LIVE! 2004

"Theirs is the type of bluegrass that wins over new converts. Also, anyone even tangentially familiar with bluegrass, feels comfortable right away."
Ryan Heinsius - Flag LIVE! 2005

"Since bluegrass can be a wholesome genre, it's no surprise the Burnett family of Flagstaff, Arizona started a bluegrass band. What might be a shock is that the five-piece band is actually talented."
Jeff Zillgitt - USA Today, June17, 2005

"Of all the cliches of modern day family structure, this one beats them all. Three beautiful, talented kids. Two adoring, hardworking parents...Talk about Family Values-- and they're still talking to each other!"
Emily Voorhees - Telluride Bluegrass Festival 2005 Program

"Genuine talent and skill are the characteristics that set them apart from other family musical acts. Unlike kids who have been groomed to perform set routines on cue, the members of Burnett Bluegrass are solid musicians with the ability and confidence to solo, improvise and add tasteful musical color to whatever they play. ...since their big win at Telluride, their reputation is rapidly expanding."
Patti Jo King - Flag LIVE! 2004

"Rachel Burnett's vocals provide a maturity beyond her years. There is an undeniable authenticity to her singing. Live, Rachel's fiddle cuts through any song like a knife, and by no means lies in the shadow of her extraordinary singing. Her playing floats gloriously and angelically atop an already chugging, rock solid rhythm section."
Ryan Heinsius - Flag LIVE CD review 2005

"Jessie is the band's secret weapon with mandolin playing that is conservative and tasteful bringing in the exact notes that should be played in any given solo and song. Jessie's style continuously reaches higher levels of refinement and maturity."
Ryan Heinsius - Flag LIVE CD review 2005

I have enjoyed watching Ryan's banjo playing evolve. He is very intent on mastering the instrument and making brisk progress.
Bela Fleck

"Ryan's banjo playing has a looseness that is complemented by his playful grin while picking. His playing has advanced radically in the few years since he picked up the instrument. He also has been the recipient of three private lessons with Fleck himself, the dream of any banjo player."
Ryan Heinsius - "Bend The Wind" CD Review 2005

"Winners of the 2004 Telluride bluegrass band championship, the Burnett Family Bluegrass band has released an exceptional album of high-energy bluegrass that sounds fresh and exciting without coming across as forced or immature as many family band projects can. Two elements contribute to this. First is that the band waited until the three children reached their mid- to late teens before recording. Second, they wisely brought in bluegrass veteran Dennis Caplinger to produce the record and add a couple of finishing touches to their distinct sound.

Collectively, the Burnett girls have a noticeable Dixie Chicks vocal style, very reminiscent of Natalie Maines. Whichever one sings lead (there's no indication on the CD jacket) does take that singing style (with its frequent swoops from lower to higher notes) too far, but there's no question she's got a great bluegrass voice that will only improve with maturity.

Young Ryan Burnett shows off his considerable banjo chops on Béla Fleck's classic "Slipstream," where his siblings manage to keep pace on fiddle, guitar, and mandolin on the very demanding tune. Two other instrumentals by mandolin maestro Chris Thile ("Clear The Tracks" and "Shadow Ridge") also show that the Burnett kids are well apace the tidal wave of instrumental talent sweeping through the ranks of young bluegrassers today.

While possibly not a masterpiece, "Bend The Wind" showcases the band's many talents very well. Keep an eye out for this hot young band, from the high desert of northern Arizona, as they mature."
Bluegrass Unlimited - January 2006