Mecadon McCune

Mecadon McCune is a drummer, composer, bandleader, and a true student of Black American Music. Growing up the son of esteemed pianist Brandon McCune and opera singer Christine McCune, Mecadon has been immersed in music from all sides. He grew up watching his father perform with the likes of Abbey Lincoln, Terence Blanchard, Nneena Freelon, Betty Carter, Miki Howard, Wynton Marsalis, Bruce Williams, Chrisette Michele, Ted Dunbar, Larry Ridley, Russell Malone, Lenora Zenzalai Helm, Mark Gross, Antonio Hart, and Orbert Davis just to name a few. 

Although Mecadon has been watching and learning from esteemed musicians since birth, his musical studies began at age three, when his parents enrolled him in the Suzuki Method of Classical Piano. He played classical piano until the age of 14, when he made the switch to drums thanks to the guidance of his high school band director, saxophonist Mario Banks. Since then, Mecadon has "fallen in love" with the drums, and describes the throne as his "inner peace."

He participated in the esteemed Montclair based program, Jazz House Kids, where he was almost immediately placed in top ensembles as a drummer. Thanks to directors Mellisa Walker, Christian McBride, Ted Chubb, and instructors/mentors Johnathan Blake, Alvester Garnett, Jerome Jennings, Darrell Smith, Nathan Eklund, and Mike Lee, Mecadon continued to excel in the music world, learning as much as he could. In just under 3 years of playing the drums, when Jazz House Kids competed in the renowned Mingus competition in 2023, Mecadon won an outstanding soloist award, and along with bassist Sam Konin and pianist Ben Collins-Seigel won best rhythm section. 

Mecadons career as a working drummer also began taking off recently. At age 17 band leader, and as a sideman for artists such as Bruce Williams, Mark Gross, Kenny Davis, Ark Ovrutski, and of course, his father Brandon McCune. He consistently works with young bass player Sam Konin, his "right hand man," and has aspirations of becoming one of the greats in this music that he holds so near to his heart.

Mecadon is also the 2023 recipient of the James Moody Jazz Scholarship, following winners of last years like Birsa Chatterjee, Ryoma Takenaga, Jalin Shiver, and Andrew Wagner just to name a few.

He is currently studying at Montclair State University under the direction of pianist Oscar Perez, Coordinator of the Jazz Studies Program. Working under MSU drum instructors Steve Johns, Alvester Garnett, and his mentor Jabali Billy Hart, the jazz and gospel community awaits this young man's rise to stardom.

Awards

Mingus Competition: Outstanding soloist, Best Rhythm Section in a Combo and Big Band.

Montclair State Jazz Workshop: Outstanding Soloist

Tags