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Pete McCann

An Eau Claire, Wisconsin native, jazz guitarist Pete McCann has been an integral part of the New York City jazz scene for over 25 years. He has just released Pay For It On The Other Side, his sixth recording as a leader. A sought-after sideman from duos to big bands, with a unique and wide-ranging set of musical skills, McCann has played guitar on over 100 CDs. Pete has performed in every type of venue from jazz clubs to jazz festivals, schools to concert halls and even Carnegie Hall. He has traveled to 18 countries and has played in almost every state in the USA. McCann has performed and/or recorded with Kenny Wheeler, Dave Liebman, Lee Konitz, Patti Austin, Brian Blade, Bobby Previte, Grace Kelly, the Mahavishnu Project and the Maria Schneider Orchestra. He currently works in groups lead by Melissa Stylianou, Jocelyn Medina, Joe Fiedler, Spin Cycle, Ben Kono, Dan Willis, Pete Mills, Chris Tarry, the Breithaupt Brothers and orchestras led by Migiwa Miyajima and Christopher Zuar. As a commercial recording artist, he has worked on projects for CNN, BBC, Sesame Street and IBM. Pay For It On The Other Side features John O’Gallagher, Henry Hey Matt Clohesy and Mark Ferber. His earlier CDs have featured Mike Holober, John Hebert, Peter Epstein, Mike Sarin, Tim Lefebvre and Matt Wilson. His solo recordings have received rave reviews: Pay For It On The Other Side (2018): “Guitarist Pete McCann has been heralded as a convincing voice of the contemporary jazz guitar world, showing skills to combine hard rock, blues and post-bop in a legitimate manner…” — Jazz Trail Range (2015): “McCann has such command of his instrument that he can go deep in any setting...” — DownBeat Extra Mile (2009): “[T]he Eau Claire, Wisconsin native continues to make strong personal statements with his sophisticated harmonic sensibility, blistering chops and improvisational daring.” — Guitar Player Most Folks (2006): “This and virtually every tune offered during the performance revealed McCann to be a song writer of considerable gifts.” — Portland Herald Press You Remind Me of Someone (2000): “Along with fine playing and breadth, McCann has an underlying artistry....” — Jazz Times Parable (1998): “McCann is a multitasking dynamo as he switch hits between blazing guitar pyrotechnics and clear-toned, fleet fingered jazz soloing.” — www.allaboutjazz.com McCann received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of North Texas and has taught at New York University, The New School, City College and the Maine Jazz Camp.

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30
Album Review

John Lang: Earotica

Read "Earotica" reviewed by Jack Bowers


There's something special about a nonet: small enough to have its own personality, yet large enough to sound at times akin to a full-size big band. Bassist John Lang leads a first-class nonet on Earotica, his fourth album as leader. Having given Lang's last disc a rather lukewarm appraisal almost two years ago, it is a pleasure to note that his new album is superior in every respect. Gone are the desultory funk and rock beats, replaced ...

1
Album Review

Anthony Branker & Imagine: What Place Can Be for Us? - A Suite in Ten Movements

Read "What Place Can Be for Us? - A Suite in Ten Movements" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi


L'avventuroso post-bop del compositore Anthony Branker, ben espresso dall'album Beauty Within del quintetto Imagine, trova nuovi e più articolati sviluppi in questo What Place Can Be for Us?. Il gruppo conferma il chitarrista Pete McCann e la coppia Fabian Almazan e Linda May Han Oh ampliandosi fino a un medio organico con alcuni dei massimi giovani strumentisti di New York: il trombettista Philip Dizack, i sassofonisti Walter Smith III e Remy Le Boeuf, il batterista Donald Edwards e la vocalist ...

27
Album Review

Pete McCann: Without Question

Read "Without Question" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Guitarist and composer Pete McCann pulls out all the stops on Without Question, his seventh album as leader, unveiling his singular talents on everything from burners ("Without Question," “Trifecta") to ballads ("I Can Remember," “January," “Lost City"), blues ("Blues for O.M."), burlesque ("Conspiracy Theory"), biting commentary ("Erase the Hate") and borrowed themes ("Lovely Thing"). McCann, a native of Wisconsin who has been a fixture on the New York scene for more than thirty years, is also smart--smart enough, that is, ...

1
Liner Notes

Bill Stevens: Lema Sabachthani

Read "Bill Stevens: Lema Sabachthani" reviewed by Bill Stevens


In 2003 I recorded the album Dedication, my fifth independently released CD, which in the liner notes I detailed a brief musical history. Dedication bridged a 14-year gap between recordings, as well as a documented move from jny: Seattle, WA. to jny: New York City. In 2004 I formed the Bill Stevens Quintet and in 2005 we recorded the CD Full Circle. Full Circle detailed a specific moment in time and musical direction. In the liner notes I stated, “I ...

5
Liner Notes

Anthony Branker: What Place Can Be for Us? - A Suite in Ten Movements

Read "Anthony Branker: What Place Can Be for Us? - A Suite in Ten Movements" reviewed by Michael Ambrosino


Ma Rainey channeled music as her ritual of “singing to understand life." Congressman John Lewis leveraged music towards the “good trouble" he created fighting for civil rights in an uncivil land. Anthony Branker understands music as the calculus of his life's work—the art of weaving words and sound into transcendent tapestries that explore the rich, complex, and nuanced aspects of intolerance, beauty, prejudice, spirituality, gender, equality and social justice. The composite of this artistry exists within the remarkable ...

3
Album Review

Spin Cycle: Spin Cycle III

Read "Spin Cycle III" reviewed by Mark Corroto


The quartet we know as Spin Cycle delivers III, the band's follow up to Assorted Colors (Sound Footing Records, 2018). Here, the compositional partners Scott Neumann and Tom Christensen exercise their omnivorous tastes on a broad --ranging spectrum of sound. Like their previous two albums, the pair employ guitarist Pete McCann and bassist Phil Palombi, two über sidemen to accomplish their insatiable need to explore multiple genres and eras. There is something here for everyone. The opening track ...

4
Album Review

Spin Cycle (Tom Christensen & Scott Neumann): Spin Cycle III

Read "Spin Cycle III" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


Spin Cycle III, by the group Spin Cycle, co-led by drummer Scott Neumann and saxophonist Tom Christensen, opens in a high octane mode, via Neuman's sizzling drums, Pete McCann's stinging guitar and Phil Palombi's muscular, juiced-up bass laying down a precision foundation, with the crisp articulation of Christensen's tenor sax out front. The tune is “Churn," written by the saxophonist, and it has a fine focus of a hot fusion romp. “Drain The Swamp," another composition from Christensen, ...

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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Pete McCann

Jazz Musician of the Day: Pete McCann

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Pete McCann's birthday today!

An Eau Claire, Wisconsin native, jazz guitarist Pete McCann has been an integral part of the New York City jazz scene for over 25 years. He has just released Pay For It On The Other Side, his sixth recording as a leader. A sought-after sideman from duos to big bands, with a unique and wide-ranging set of musical skills, McCann has played guitar on over 100 CDs. Pete has performed in ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Pete McCann

Jazz Musician of the Day: Pete McCann

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Pete McCann's birthday today!

An Eau Claire, Wisconsin native, jazz guitarist Pete McCann has been an integral part of the New York City jazz scene for over 25 years. He has just released Pay For It On The Other Side, his sixth recording as a leader. A sought-after sideman from duos to big bands, with a unique and wide-ranging set of musical skills, McCann has played guitar on over 100 CDs. Pete has performed in ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Pete McCann

Jazz Musician of the Day: Pete McCann

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Pete McCann's birthday today!

Pete McCann is undoubtedly one of the most respected and industrious electric guitarists on the New York and international scene- a popular sideman in innumerable jazz and jazz/rock line-ups over the past 25 years, as well as a recording artist in his own right with five solo albums released to date. McCann\'s prowess has led him to perform with many of the jazz greats, including Kenny Wheeler, Dave Liebman, Lee Konitz, ...

3

Recording

Guitarist Pete McCann Flexes Jazz-Rock Muscles On "Pay For It On The Other Side," Set For July 20 Release By McCannic Music

Guitarist Pete McCann Flexes Jazz-Rock Muscles On "Pay For It On The Other Side," Set For July 20 Release By McCannic Music

Source: Terri Hinte Publicity

Pete McCann’s trademark infusion of post-bop jazz with roots-rock grit and energy reaches a new peak with the guitarist-composer’s July 20 release of Pay for It on the Other Side (McCannic Music). McCann’s sixth album, and his third with the quintet of alto saxophonist John O’Gallagher, pianist/keyboardist Henry Hey, bassist Matt Clohesy, and drummer Mark Ferber, packs a hefty punch that emphasizes the confrontational aspect implied by its name. “It sounds like an aggressive album title,” McCann acknowledges, noting that ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Pete McCann

Jazz Musician of the Day: Pete McCann

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Pete McCann's birthday today!

Pete McCann is undoubtedly one of the most respected and industrious electric guitarists on the New York and international scene- a popular sideman in innumerable jazz and jazz/rock line-ups over the past 25 years, as well as a recording artist in his own right with five solo albums released to date. McCann\'s prowess has led him to perform with many of the jazz greats, including Kenny Wheeler, Dave Liebman, Lee Konitz, ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Pete McCann

Jazz Musician of the Day: Pete McCann

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Pete McCann's birthday today!

Pete McCann is undoubtedly one of the most respected and industrious electric guitarists on the New York and international scene- a popular sideman in innumerable jazz and jazz/rock line-ups over the past 25 years, as well as a recording artist in his own right with five solo albums released to date. McCann\'s prowess has led him to perform with many of the jazz greats, including Kenny Wheeler, Dave Liebman, Lee Konitz, ...

1

Performance / Tour

Guitarist/Composer Pete McCann On Tour In Support Of "Range"

Guitarist/Composer Pete McCann On Tour In Support Of "Range"

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

GUITARIST/COMPOSER/BANDLEADER PETE MCCANN ON TOUR IN SUPPORT OF HIS FIFTH RECORDING, RANGE Range is available now on Whirlwind Recordings. CD RELEASE CELEBRATION TOUR Nov 3 - 8PM - Marshall University, Huntington, WV Nov 4 - 9PM - Denison University, Granville, OH Nov 5 - 3:30PM - Clinic at Kent State Univ. Recital Hall, Kent, OH Nov 5 - 8PM - Blu Jazz, Akron, OH Nov 6 - Clinic for Jazz Arts Group, Columbus, OH Nov 7 - 10PM - Natalie's, ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Pete McCann

Jazz Musician of the Day: Pete McCann

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Pete McCann's birthday today!

Jazz guitarist Pete McCann has been an integral part of the New York City scene for 20 years. He currently leads an exciting new group of New York's finest jazz artists on his latest CD, Extra Mile, on Nineteen-Eight Records. McCann's other releases, Most Folks, You Remind Me of Someone, Parable, have been widely praised by top jazz critics. McCann is one of the first-call sidemen in New York... Read more. ...

5

Recording

Pete McCann Explores The Breadth Of His Formidable Artistry As A Guitarist, Composer & Bandleader On His Fifth Recording, "Range"

Pete McCann Explores The Breadth Of His Formidable Artistry As A Guitarist, Composer & Bandleader On His Fifth Recording, "Range"

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

Featuring: Pete McCann (composer, electric & acoustic guitars), John O'Gallagher (alto saxophone), Henry Hey (piano, Rhodes and organ), Matt Clohesy (acoustic & electric bass), Mark Ferber (drums) Available on Whirlwind Records on September 18, 2015 “McCann's tunes can be both manic and vivid, even when they're in ballad mode. That gives his stuff a cinematic feel—from car chase squall to closing credits poignancy - you often feel like you're walking through a film when this quintet hits its stride." —Jim ...

197

Interview

Guitarist Pete McCann Interviewed at AAJ

Guitarist Pete McCann Interviewed at AAJ

Source: All About Jazz

Jazz guitarist and educator Pete McCann has been a first-call sideman and bandleader on the New York scene for almost twenty years. Possessing a musical style that draws from the blues, jazz and rock genres, McCann's playing and writing styles are as diverse as his influences. Having worked with such world-class performers as Lee Konitz, Chris Tarry, Dave Liebman, Kenny Garrett, Greg Osby, Brian Blade and the Maria Schneider Orchestra, McCann has appeared on over fifty recordings as a sideman. ...

"This is the fifth album as leader by NYC-based guitarist Pete McCann and demonstrates just what heights the jazz guitar is capable of reaching when placed in the hands of an expert who understands the meaning of balance and finesse." - Roger Farbey, All About Jazz "Not an album to pigeonhole, it's an album for today but with many different facets: Gentle ethereal sounds; hard postbop and some wild jazz rock blasts." - Lance Liddle, Bebop Spoken Here "Living up to its title, Range makes a compelling case for McCann's manifold abilities, as a crack improviser, a noteworthy composer and a magnanimous bandleader." - Troy Collins, All About Jazz "It's a cool effect switching from cerebral, passive engagement to supercharged emotional connectivity." - Dave Sumner, Bird is the Worm

Primary Instrument

Guitar

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

McCann received his Bachelors of Music from the University of North Texas in 1989. He also studied at the prestigious Banff School of the Arts in 1988. Pete is an adjunct faculty guitar teacher at The New School and City College in New York City. He also teaches at the NYU Summer Guitar Intensive, and the Maine Jazz Camp.

Clinic/Workshop Information

McCann has done several clinics at major universities in the United States, Europe and Canada. One of Pete's favorite clinics uses concepts from "The Lexicon of Symmetric Scales and Tonal Patterns" by Dr

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Photos

Concerts

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Bianca

Outside in Music
2024

buy

As I Sing

SubContinental Records
2024

buy

What Place Can Be for...

Origin Records
2023

buy

Electric Miles 2

Summit/Mama
2023

buy

Without Question

Self Produced
2023

buy

Earotica

Cellar Records
2023

buy

The Door of No Return

From: What Place Can Be for Us? - A...
By Pete McCann

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