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Brian McCarthy

Saxophonist, composer, and arranger Brian McCarthy draws inspiration from the history of jazz while maintaining a modern awareness. His latest nonet album AFTER|LIFE, was awarded 4 stars by The Times (London) critic, Chris Pearson. Pearson says, “Imagine John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme driven by science rather than spirituality…While Coltrane praised God, McCarthy muses musically on death and rebirth in a cyclical cosmos and how we are all linked, down to a molecular level.” His debut nonet project, The Better Angels of Our Nature, earned 4 ½ stars from Downbeat Magazine. Brian Zimmerman called the work “a jazz album that makes a cavernous impression for its arresting beauty and conceptual brilliance.” McCarthy is endorsed by Selmer-Paris saxophones and D’Addario Woodwinds. He has released two albums featuring his small group and has recently introduced The Brian McCarthy Jazz Orchestra, which showcases new arrangements for guest artists. McCarthy is a two-time grant awardee from The Vermont Community Foundation (2016 & 2018) and The Vermont Arts Council (2015 & 2020).

Offstage, Brian has laid down roots in presenting and education as Affiliate Artist of Saxophone at the University of Vermont and adjunct Director of Bands at Saint Michael's College. In addition to his college involvement, Brian is active with students at the middle and high school level as a clinician, adjudicator and guest conductor with the Nassau County All County Festival, Green Mountain District Music Festival, Pennsylvania All-State Music Festival, and Vermont All-State Music Festival. In 2011, Brian also established Jazz at St. Michael’s College, a concert and educational series featuring artists such as Mulgrew Miller, Joe Locke, Brian Blade and The Fellowship Band, and The Dave Liebman Big Band.

Gear

Brian McCarthy is a Conn-Selmer and Selmer Paris Artist—Soprano Saxophone— Horn - Selmer Super Action 80 Series II - Gold Lacquer, Mouthpiece - Bari 68 - Hard Rubber, Selmer S80 C* - Hard Rubber—Alto Saxophone —Horn - Selmer 1957 Mark VI - Gold Lacquer, Mouthpiece - Vandoren V5-A35 - Hard Rubber, Vintage Selmer Soloist Short Shank D – Hard Rubber Selmer S80 C* - Hard Rubber—Tenor Saxophone—Horn - Selmer 1946 Balanced Action - Silver Plated, Mouthpiece - Doc Tenney Slant Signature Otto Link 7 - Hard Rubber, Selmer S80 C* - Hard Rubber—Baritone Sax—Horn - Selmer Super Action 80 Series II - Mouthpiece - Vandoren V16-B9 - Hard Rubber, Selmer S80 C* - Hard Rubber


Tags

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Radio & Podcasts

Brian McCarthy blends jazz, astronomy, and the AfterLife

Read "Brian McCarthy blends jazz, astronomy, and the AfterLife" reviewed by Lawrence Peryer


Today, the Spotlight shines On Vermont-based saxophonist, composer and arranger Brian McCarthy. Brian joins us on the occasion of his most recent project, After|Life (TRR Collective) released just a few days after we recorded this talk. After|Life is the second album of McCarthy's in the nonet format as well as the second to be brought to fruition through support from the Vermont Community Foundation and the Vermont Arts Council. Chris Pearson in The Times of London ...

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Album Review

Brian McCarthy Nonet: After|Life

Read "After|Life" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


Saxophonist Brian McCarthy, not one to shy away from a big theme, draws inspiration from the creation of the universe to craft After|Life Science says we are all stardust, compiled ultimately in all its complexities via gravity. Given that, he opens this expansive octet offering with “Nebula," referring to cosmic gasses consisting of hydrogen and deep space dust that--given gravity's propensities--coalesce into stars and solar systems consisting of planets with water, landforms and eventually us. Or something ...

Album Review

Brian McCarthy: The Better Angels of Our Nature

Read "The Better Angels of Our Nature" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi


Sassofonista e arrangiatore, insegnante all'Università del Vermont, Brian McCarthy è anche un appassionato di storia e ha pensato di realizzare un concept album ispirato alla guerra civile americana, presentando due suoi brani e sette temi dell'epoca arrangiati per medio organico. In questo nonet troviamo veterani come il trombettista Bill Mobley (già con Harold Mabern, Geoff Keezer più vari album da leader) e il sax tenore Daniel Ian Smith --professore al Berklee College of Music --accanto a giovani ...

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Live Review

The Brian McCarthy Quartet At FlynnSpace

Read "The Brian McCarthy Quartet At FlynnSpace" reviewed by Doug Collette


The Brian McCarthy Quartet FlynnSpace Burlington, Vermont December 2, 2017 A performance in recognition of the release of its album Codex (Self Produced, 2017), The Brian McCarthy Quartet effectively transposed the sparse, spacious quality of the recording to this intimate venue adjacent to the Queen City's Performing Arts Center. In keeping with the stoic, scholarly demeanor of the leader, the celebratory air of this milestone event was subdued, but not so much there wasn't ...

3
Album Review

Brian McCarthy: Codex

Read "Codex" reviewed by Doug Collette


Whether saxophonist Brian McCarthy's third full-length studio album, Codex, was specifically intended as such, this comparatively simple, bracing quartet project is a refreshing change of pace from its more involved predecessor, The Better Angels of Our Nature (Truth Revolution, 2017). On the surface at least seemingly far less ambitious, the album begins in a relaxed mode with “Commonplace," but its urgency grows almost imperceptibly (and most appropriately) with a solo from the leader of the band: following a ...

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Album Review

Brian McCarthy Nonet: The Better Angels of Our Nature

Read "The Better Angels of Our Nature" reviewed by Karl Ackermann


Brian McCarthy's The Better Angels of Our Nature shares some common ground with Ted Nash whose Big Band collection Presidential Suite (Eight Variations on Freedom) (Motema Music, 2016) explored musical interpretations of great historical speeches including those of John F. Kennedy, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan and Lyndon B. Johnson. McCarthy's focus is inspirited by American Civil War and the political and socio-economic issues that are not as far behind us as we would like to think.A well ...

4
Album Review

Brian McCarthy: This Just In

Read "This Just In" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian


Jazz is not the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Vermont but the state, despite its size, has had a long involvement with improvised music. Trumpeters Alan Shorter and Bill Dixon taught at Bennington College and guitarist Attila Zoller founded the Vermont Jazz Center in Brattleboro. In addition to having a small yet vibrant local scene, its largest city Burlington hosts an annual, impeccably organized, ten day festival that over the years has featured such giants as ...

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Contest

Enter the "Brian McCarthy - This Just In" Giveaway at All About Jazz!

Enter the "Brian McCarthy - This Just In" Giveaway at All About Jazz!

Source: All About Jazz

All About Jazz members are invited to enter the “Brian McCarthy - This Just In“ giveaway contest starting today. We'll select FIVE winners at the conclusion of the contest on February 24th. Click here to enter the contest (Becoming a fan of Brian McCarthy at AAJ automatically enters you in the contest.) Good luck! About Brian McCarthy An accomplished performer and formidable composer and arranger, this saxophonist is emerging as a prominent example of the modern day instrumentalist. Seven Days ...

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Performance / Tour

Saxophonist Brian McCarthy to Play Concert in Greensboro, VT

Saxophonist Brian McCarthy to Play Concert in Greensboro, VT

Source: Michael Ricci

Burlington-based saxophonist Brian McCarthy brings the New York jazz sound straight to Vermont, though regular performances at Burlington's Discover Jazz Festival and venues across the state. He'll play a special Greensboro concert at 7pm, Monday, August 1st, on the green of the Mountain View Country Club in Greensboro. Picnicking is allowed and encouraged. Born and raised in Hardwick, McCarthy honed his skills just outside of New York City studying with jazz legends Mulgrew Miller and Clark Terry. After spending six ...

“This just in...literally! [McCarthy] touches those roads Joshua Redman travels on with a fresh footing. This band excels at building anticipation, Justin Kauflin on piano is one to watch, exciting.” - All About Jazz "McCarthy exhibits an evocative tenderness…a captivating and exciting record… -Hrayr Attarian, AAJ “Saxophonist Brian McCarthy takes a progressive approach to straight-ahead jazz, demonstrating a strong command of the jazz saxophone lineage.” -John Barron, World Jazz Blog

Primary Instrument

Saxophone

Location

Burlington

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

Over 15 years teaching experience privately and within institutions. BM in Jazz Performance and MM in Composition and Arranging. Brian is the Director of the Saint Michael's College Jazz Orchestra, FlynnArts ensemble coach, and teaches regularly at UVM, Johnson State College, Hazen Union, and Harwood Union. Private lessons are available upon request for classical or jazz instrumental instruction, composition, arranging and theory lessons. Lesson rates are $50 per hour, $30 per 1/2 hour. Special group rates available for high school students, please have you band director contact for further information. Now accepting credit card payments for lessons through PayPal (PayPal account not required). Please contact me at [email protected] for further information.

Clinic/Workshop Information

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

After|Life

Truth Revolution Recording Collective
2023

buy

The Better Angels of...

Truth Revolution Records
2017

buy

Codex

Self Produced
2017

buy

This Just In

Self Produced
2013

buy

Nebula

From: After|Life
By Brian McCarthy

Battle Hymn of the Old Republic

From: The Better Angels of Our Nature
By Brian McCarthy

This Just In

From: This Just In
By Brian McCarthy

Videos

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