For those not in the know, Chicago based Anne Burnell (vocals) and Mark Burnell (piano/vocals) are known for their unique arrangement of Great American Songbook, jazz standards, vintage pop and originals.

They tour the US and Internationally, including New York, Paris, and Panama as Illinois ArtsTour and City of Chicago Band Roster artists. Anne was awarded the 2024 Service Award from Chicago Cabaret Professionals, and she is an Individual Artists Program Grant award recipient from Chicago DCASE.

Mark taught for 10 years at Carnegie Mellon University, and received two music degrees there. The Burnells are to receive the Gold Coast Award in October 2024 and they have just released their brand new album This Could Be the Start of Something Big.

1. This Could Be the Start of Something Big
2. I Could Have Danced All Night
3. Joy Spring
4. Song Sung Blue
5. Give Me One More Song
6. The Lusty Month of May
7. Fiets Don’t Fail Me Now
8. Sir Duke
9. Sweet Dream of Love
10. Isn’t This A Lovely Day
11. Two
12. A Sunday Kind of Love
13. Let’s Eat Home

This wholly gratifying new recording, opens on the spirited title track This Could Be the Start of Something Big and then brings us the joyous hipsway of I Could Have Danced All Night, the finger-snapper Joy Spring, a decadent Song Sung Blue, and then come both the luxuriant Give Me One More Song and the free-spirited The Lusty Month of May.

Along next is the sheer melodic elegance of Fiets Don’t Fail Me Now and a quite memorable rendition of Sir Duke, and they are in turn backed seamlessly by the all-encompassing Sweet Dream of Love, the silky smooth Isn’t This A Lovely Day, the recording rounding out on the effortless of Two, the polished A Sunday Kind of Love, coming to a close on the bubbly Let’s Eat Home.

Musicians:
Anne Burnell, vocals
Mark Burnell, Piano, keyboards, vocals
Joshua Ramos, bass
Jim Widlowski, drums, percussion
Pat Mallinger, sax
Fareed Haque, guitar

Anne & Mark Burnell @ YouTube

www.burnellmusic.com