ool, confident and intelligent, comedian HANNIBAL BURESS has earned both the honor of performing at the Montreal "Just For Laughs" Festival and the well-earned respect of his peers, who regard him as one of the brightest young talents to emerge from the city of Chicago. A natural storyteller who can captivate a room with his words alone, Hannibal generates huge laughs with the laidback, quirky observations that have become his trademark style.

Hannibal's stories have led to appearances on "The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson" and Comedy Central's "Live at Gotham." Several major publications have taken note of Hannibal's ascent as Time Out Magazine named him the 2007 "Funniest Person in Chicago" and New York Magazine listed him as one of their top ten "Comics to Watch."

In addition to performing at clubs and colleges around the country, Hannibal is one of the featured subjects in director Victor Varnado's documentary about unconventional black comedians, "The Awkward Kings of Comedy." His as-yet-untitled debut CD, recently recorded at The Lakeshore Theater in Chicago, will be released by Grammy Award-winning Stand Up! Records. Visit: www.hannibalburess.com for more info.