STEWART McKENZIE & DAVID BURNS

The McKenzie Burns Project

Interview 13 March 2003

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David & Stewart - Can you individually tell me where you from, what your background is, what you did prior to coming together, and how you came
together.  You met in DC I believe, what were you doing there, your both from Chicago or thereabouts aren't you.

DB: I grew up in a suburb just outside of Chicago. Music was a big part of my childhood. My father was always playing jazz (Coltrane, Parker, Miles, Dizzy). At the same time, my older brothers were playing everything from Funk to Pop to Heavy Metal. Early in grade school, my older brother, who’s a bassist, started teaching me how to play drums. I continued playing drums and in high school began to get interested in electronic music composition. At that point I started playing around with keyboards and using my Commodore 64 to compose Hip Hop and R&B songs.

SM: I was born in Illinois, but lived in Delaware for most of my life. I was playing bass in bands by the time I reached high school which kept me occupied and out of trouble most of the time. I played a little bit of everything while I was in college – jazz, rock, original pop, funk, salsa, even some reggae, but never really took it up professionally when I graduated.

DB: I met Stewart in the summer of 1999 in Washington, D.C. through a mutual friend, Bill Law, who was stationed in Delaware with the Air Force. Bill and I grew up together so he was very familiar with my musical aspirations to write and produce. Bill also knew that Stewart had the desire to do some recording so he set up a meeting figuring we might be able to help each other out.

SM: Later that fall, David sent me a CD with several songs he had written for The David Burns Project. While visiting family in Illinois over the holidays, I hung out with David and Bill with the intention of helping out the project by laying down some bass and guitar tracks. It was supposed to be a simple favor – not a life-changing experience! LOL

What do you consider yourselves to be principally, producers? And what are you trying to build.

DB: We billed ourselves as a production team. The intention of The McKenzie Burns Project was to showcase what we are capable of doing as songwriters/producers. Somewhere in the process, things started sounding too good and we realized we were onto something more than just a calling card on disc. We had a CD that was commercially accessible and viable enough to be in record stores alongside every other major release.

SM: Yeah, in most cases, that puts us next to Brian McKnight - a great place to be for people who may not have heard of you yet.

DB: With the technology being so advanced these days, it has become much easier for musicians to take control of their careers by recording and producing their own records without the backing of a major label. Because we want to experience working with as many people as we can, it would be ideal for us to produce artists at different levels. We want to work with established artists, but we’re also interested in building a record label to serve as a stepping stone for talented artists who are just getting started.

David - You can play what - drums, keys and you're into the technology side of things.  You happiest playing or playing with the buttons?  Who were/ are
your influences both as an artist but as a producer as well.

DB: I play drums and I play around with the keyboard. Recently I started taking up Latin percussion, but I’m having problems with the congas. I cut my finger last year opening a can of corned beef hash so the conga slaps are still pretty painful. I love both playing and producing. I get these songs in my head and I can’t sleep until I know what they really sound like. Working with Stewart is wonderful because what I play on keyboards rarely sounds as good as what’s in my head. He somehow figures out what’s going on in my head – or in many instances what should be going on in my head. I love working with singers for the same reason. I remember joking with Chester and saying, “No, no, no, sing it like me – just much better!” There’s no better feeling than collaborating with several talented people to come up with something great.

As for my producer influences, I’ve always liked Quincy Jones, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Babyface, and artist-wise, Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire, Michael Jackson, Brian McKnight…. I could go on and on.

You worked in the Computer industry, how long for - are you full time in music now?

DB: Yeah I’m a nerd. I’d love to be full time in the music, but in order for that to happen, we’ll need to sell more CDs, my wife is going to have to get a second job, or I’m going to have to start eating a lot more beans…which isn’t very conducive to working in a small studio.

Tell me from your side how things come together, how you work together, what your individual strengths are.

DB: Great question. Although Stewart and I have spent a great deal of time working together on the McKenzie Burns Project, I think we’re still learning different ways to collaborate with each other. The MB Project involved songs that I had already partially written so our collaboration style was built around that condition. Stewart’s a great musician, songwriter and producer so he was able to take each song to a much higher level. He’d add a bridge here, a chord progression there, harmonies, rhythms…you name it…he’s full of musical ideas. I think the beauty of our relationship is that we’re both open to each other’s ideas and we both respect each other’s talents.

SM: I’d come up with a bridge and in no time he’d have the words and melody written on the spot. It was amazing to watch. A lot of the collaboration is trial and error, as well as give and take. We bounce things off each other and give feedback. Although I play bass and guitar, a lot of times I need David to give me guidance on what he feels is appropriate to play for the song. So in essence, we “produce ourselves” as well as the artists. In other instances, like Brazilian Love Affair, he has the basic song concept and then allows me to go off and arrange if I feel I’ve got something substantial.

DB: Yeah…sometimes I can just give him a musical nugget, slide a pizza under the door every once and awhile, and in a couple days we’ll have a great song. The room might be funky, but sometimes that’s the price you have to pay. LOL.

Is this the first album?

DB: Yes it is.

Do you do any shows?

SM: We have only done a few and that is a goal for this year – more live performances.

Stewart  - Bass is your main instrument isn't it, but you can play many other things. Who have you worked with as a bassist and who do you admire. 

SM: I play a little bit of guitar and keyboards, but bass is the instrument that I would play if I had to take money from someone without feeling guilty! My biggest honors on bass had to be playing behind Billy Paul and David Ruffin when I lived in Philadelphia. There’s so many great bassists out there that I admire. There’s not enough room in your article to list them all. Influences that immediately come to mind are Marcus Miller, Rocco Prestia (Tower of Power), Chuck Rainey, and any bassist who got to play on Jackson Five and Incognito recordings!

What was the Soul Affair all about- those guys still around.  Course you're still working with Joel and some of the others

SM: The Soul Affair was the pinnacle of my musical existence before partnering with David. It was just a funky cover band, but a pretty hard hitting one. The group was formed back in 1997 by me, Joel and jazz guitarist Shawn Qaissaunee. Somehow, I became the de facto leader within a year. Eric Powell (sax) and Shawn Smith (trumpet) who appear on our CD were also in the group in its latter years. It was a like a haven for the wedding cats because we played EWF, James Brown, Ohio Players and a lot of old school that they couldn’t perform on their wedding gigs. Everybody got a chance to blow – it wasn’t just about playing the song as written. When we first started it was more like a fusion gig hidden in a dance band format!

The group doesn’t perform much anymore – although we did reunite last year for a special performance. They guys were kind enough to help us put together a live version of The McKenzie Burns Project. They were instrumental in helping us make our Chicago debut, opening up for Maysa no less. It was a huge success and a real privilege. We’re big fans.

And influences generally

Bluey from Incognito has been an inspiration over the past decade, Pat Metheny and Joe Sample over the past two decades, everything from Philly International and Motown affected my entire existence, as did just about everything that came out of the 70’s – pop, rock, jazz, soul, disco – I think our CD reflects some of that. And we’re lucky that we both have an appreciation for Latin music as well.

You still have a day job?  What do you do?

SM: Funny you should ask! The day gig is a thing of the past. I recently sold my house, quit my job and moved to Chicago! McKenzie Burns is my full-time job now. Before that, I was a land use planner in Delaware. I ran the State’s farmland preservation program. We purchased development rights from landowners; compensating them to keep their farms in agriculture as opposed to converting them into developments. It was a great job, but I was becoming too involved with this project to do a great job. And they’re probably figuring that out as we speak! LOL

How did you select the vocalists to become part of your 'team'.  How do they individually contribute.
DB: There really was no selection process – they all just came together. Zyanya was the first vocalist that we worked with on this project and her influence and participation on the CD was substantial. I met her at a Chicago music seminar back in 2000. We exchanged numbers and then finally had a meeting when Stewart was in town. Within a month or two, she called me up and needed to record a song for a Latin festival that she was participating in. That’s when “Be A Part Of You” was written and recorded. We had no intention of putting the song on the CD because it was supposed to be an R&B CD. But, fortunately we did and it helped give the CD a wider appeal.

Zyanya introduced us to Chester Gregory. After we met Chester, heard his CD, and saw the Jackie Wilson Story, we knew we had to get him on the McKenzie Burns Project. Chester is featured on the first single “Charisse” and has a strong presence throughout.

SM: Chester won the Iron Man award on the recording. We would record him on Sunday nights after he had just gotten done performing 60 Jackie Wilson songs over the weekend. Most people wouldn’t have the voice to tell you get lost, let alone record a CD!

DB: Derrick was a long-time friend of mine. We recorded a couple demos years ago and we’ve had several long conversations about our musical aspirations. I really wanted Derrick to be on my first recording.

SM: Joel was our cleanup guy. And he still barks about getting the “leftover” songs and wanting to sing the “Chester material.” Of course, Joel gave us all that humor in the studio after “Hold You Tonight”… the personality he added to the record was priceless – not to mention he came to the studio with the pork rind hookup!

What's the Project all about, what's gonna be happening, where's it heading.
DB: The project is about so many things. We wrote, arranged, and produced each track – not to mention playing just about every part – so one on level it’s very personal. It’s also our first recording so it’s very special. The artists involved on the project became part of our musical family so we hear a lot more than music when we listen to this CD – we hear the friendships that we all developed. There will definitely be more McKenzie Burns Projects in the future. We’re also very interested in helping both established and new artists with their own efforts.

What are you working on now.
SM: We’re in the process of putting together a group to perform live. We’re also lining up new talent to appear on the next McKenzie Burns Project.

Anybody else you planning on working with
DB: Right now the door is wide open, and we’d like to think that anything is possible. We’re pretty humble musically, so anyone who takes the time or has an interest in sharing their gift with us is viewed equally as a blessing and an opportunity to make some great music. Rest-assured, our wish list is quite long!

How's the album gone down at home and elsewhere - give me your appraisal of it
SM: The album has been well-received at home and abroad. We were really surprised to find the amount of interest and support for our music in Japan and here in the UK. We’re pretty excited about the relationships we’ve recently forged as a result of the album getting so much attention. Of course, the real work is only beginning.

Either tell me about some of your vocalists, or maybe get them to do it
themselves!

Chester Gregory - he's on stage as Jackie, what's that like, and his CD.  He seems to be doing OK!

DB: The Jackie Wilson Story was in London last July. All I can say is if you missed it, dust off your passport and come over to the States. The show is phenomenal. And Chester is simply amazing – all the dance moves, all the songs, all the notes. It’s really unbelievable. He’s going to be at the Apollo in NYC in April and the 2003 segment of the tour is supposed to also star Melba Moore as Jackie Wilson’s mother.

SM: Chester’s about to release another CD and I’m sure it will be great. His style is actually in line with the music scene in the UK and we know that it’s only a matter of time before the world discovers his talent. On his own recordings, the guy sounds like Take 6 all by himself. He’s a master of the tight harmonies. If we were less sympathetic to his Jackie Wilson responsibilities, we would have pulled more out of him for our recording!

Zyanya - adding a bit of Latin, she's got a dance troupe?
SM: Yes, she’s action-packed and hard to keep still. She’s our choreographer-in-residence. Zyanya just recently formed her own band and is in the process of releasing her debut CD. It will be a mix of salsa and merengue, as well as smooth R&B – another challenge for the record stores – we taught her well! Her first two performances already have people buzzing in Chicagoland, so we’re really looking forward to the new release.

Derrick Holland from a musical family, what kind of stuff did his father Stan do.   Is he based in New York. What's he doing now.
DB: Stan Holland signed with Buddha records in the 70's and worked with Gladys Knight, James Brown, and Stevie Wonder, and was regarded as one of the most successful lounge acts on the east coast. Derrick is in New York has been performing in clubs and networking with industry professionals.

Joel Johnson-friendly - did some work in Japan, then Soul Affair.  What's he doing now

SM: Joel is still performing in the Mid-Atlantic region of the East Coast with various ensembles. Unfortunately, everyone is so busy I am not sure when we will get together again. But there was some material that Joel and I never got a chance to record because we were so bogged down with the cover band thing. The sooner I find out where the best barbecue joints are, the quicker I can lure him back to Chicago! Hopefully we can get a few songs down in the future, because, like Chester, the CD is only a snapshot of his vocal ability.

Anything else you'd like to add

DB: I think we’ve said enough already! But we’d like to thank you for taking the time to chat with us and for spreading the positive vibe around the UK. Come visit us at www.mckenzieburns.com