Home » Member Page

Jose McLaughlin

About Me

I was born in Liverpool, England, and am a former member of the world-famous pop group Gerry and the Pacemakers. I now live in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia where I am in constant demand as a session guitarist and teacher.

I play in a variety of bands including my own beyond jazz bands AIRSTREAM and McJAZZ, The fusion group THE GUITAR GURUS, jazz groups PASSIONFRUIT and GENTLE JAZZ and freelance heavily in the Queensland area.

Current projects include recording and performances of free improv music with THE INCLUSIVE COLLECTIVE (featuring wind virtuoso JOHN STEFULJ), and writing and performing original music with my wife, Australian jazz doyenne LISA RYAN-MCLAUGHLIN.

I hold a Bachelor of Music degree majoring in jazz guitar and lecture in jazz guitar and ensemble playing at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music.

My book, SHORT AN SUITE, a collection of original jazz pieces and ideas for small ensembles, has recently been published by MAD HATTER PUBLICATIONS.

I have recorded over 200 albums both as leader and sideman, and have composed over 250 songs, most of which have been recorded either as singles/album tracks/TV themes etc.. One of these songs, called RISE, was the Official Australian Team Song for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. It was recorded by Australian singing star Marcia Hines, who subsequently released the song on her anthology album DIVA.

My main guitars are a Gibson ES335 and a Gibson ES175. I use Music Man, Roland and AER amps.