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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.

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