Album Notes

"If the music world is seeking something worthwhile, original, refreshingly sincere and damn good to boot, then Stewart McKenzie and David Burns have the answer." Roxanne Blanford, StylusMagazine.com

"It's refreshing to find some brothers that are talented enough to interject personality into their music while simultaneously displaying the expertise and skills that are required to make a creative and competitive product."   Gian Fiero, MusesMuse.com

"A definite grower that after a few plays really gets to you - deserves wider recognition."  SoulBrother.com

"The album shows that the team is off to a great start!"   DustyGroove.com


THE MCKENZIE BURNS PROJECT is a smooth R&B effort that plays like a tasty musical gumbo. While the foundation is strictly R&B and pop, there are some funky jazz, hip-hop, dance, and Latin influences throughout. The main focus here is relationships- and there are some bitter and sweet stories within the music that make the songs very familiar to any listener who has or has not been in a healthy relationship.

The McKenzie Burns Project is a novel of upbeat, urban grooves, sensuous Brazilian rhythms, and memorable melodies. With such a collection of styles, the album remains cohesive and serves as a dynamic soundtrack for that next road trip.

Producers Stewart McKenzie and David Burns met through a mutual friend three years ago in Washington, D.C. At the time Burns was in the process of releasing his own recording titled "The David Burns Project." He invited McKenzie to Chicago to lay down some bass and guitar tracks for the recording. What started out as a small studio favor turned into a full-fledged collaborative effort. As the two finished composing songs for what quickly became the McKenzie Burns Project, they gathered some talented singers and musicians along the way and created a monumental debut recording. What makes this effort so unique is that there are four distinct vocalists featured throughout, each bringing their own spices to the table.

Gary, Indiana native Chester Gregory is already well known in the Chicago area for his award winning performance as legendary crooner Jackie Wilson. Gregory is a triple threat as a writer, dancer and singer. He has made quite a name for himself on his own release titled, "My Name Is C.G." and a follow-up CD called "Morning Star." Chester recently moved to New York City and will be starring on Broadway in Hairspray.

Zyanya (pronounced Zy-nyuh), is another Gary, Indiana singer, dancer and songwriter. She can be seen throughout Chicago performing with the some of the city's hottest salsa-merengue outfits, including her own ensemble. She has been compared to everyone from Jennifer Lopez and Gloria Estefan to Sade, yet, possesses a sound and style that can only be summed up in one word... "Zyanya!"

New York singer Derrick Holland grew up in a home filled with music. His father, Stan Holland, signed with Buddah records in the 70's and worked with such artists as Gladys Knight, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, and was regarded as one of the most successful lounge acts on the east coast. One would think this singer would have started singing as soon as he was able to hold a microphone. Yet, it turns out he really didn't get started until he went to college. Holland represents today's smooth R&B sound, opting for a soft yet demanding approach to singing.

Hailing from Youngstown, Ohio, Joel Johnson-Friendly grew up on a steady diet of great soul music and spent the past few years singing for the East Coast ambassadors of funk, The Soul Affair. Friendly brings the Old School flavor to the McKenzie Burns Project and burns up the studio and the stage with a voice that touches the lows of Larry Graham and the highs of Philip Bailey.