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Brian McCarthy
Saxophonist, composer, educator
About Me
Truth Revolution Records recording artist and Selmer-Paris saxophonist, Brian
McCarthy is an active player, composer and educator. After receiving his
Bachelors and Masters from William Paterson University, Brian returned to
Vermont to cultivate and expand the appreciation of jazz in his home state.
A Vermont Arts Council Creation Grant recipient for his 9-piece ensemble project
The Better Angels of Our Nature, landed a two-night premiere in November
2015 and an album release on Truth Revolution Records (2017). His first album
as a leader, “This Just In” (2013), received wide acclaim. All About Jazz says
“[McCarthy] touches those roads Joshua Redman travels on with a fresh footing.
This band excels at building anticipation… exciting” and “[McCarthy’s] alto has
plenty of fire without surrendering its lighter touch.” John Barron, of Jazz World
Blog says “Saxophonist Brian McCarthy takes a progressive approach to straight-
ahead jazz, demonstrating a strong command of the jazz saxophone lineage.” The
album was heard from coast to coast on radio stations and syndicated
programming like Jazz After Hours with Jim Wilke.
When he is not headlining, you can find Brian at Hotel Vermont alongside jazz
trumpeter Ray Vega and with Burlington's most popular funk establishment, The
Grippo Funk Band.
Offstage, Brian has laid down roots as a central figure in presenting and
education. A faculty member at the University of Vermont and is director of bands
at Saint Michael's College. In addition to his college involvement, he 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 and Vermont All-State Music Festival. In 2011, Brian also
established and continues to produce 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, Steve Wilson/Lewis Nash/Nat Reeves, and The New
World Jazz Composers Octet.