by Kelsey Higgins
A native of Maine, clarinetist, saxophonist and composer Mike McGinnis moved to New York City in 1997 and has been active in the jazz scene ever since.
On Oct. 8, 2013 McGinnis released two albums, which showcase his wide array of talents; “Ängsudden Song Cycle” released by 482 Music and and “Road*Trip” released by RKM.
He will be appearing on Thursday, Oct. 24 at Barbès with the nine other musicians who appear on “Road*Trip.”
Ängsudden Song Cycle
The New York City Jazz Record called McGinnis’ new album, “a poetically driven artistic statement… a clarinet-centered, stringbased song cycle, portraying nature through achingly beautiful arrangements.”
The album was inspired by the paintings and poems of McGinnis’ longtime friend, the Filipino American visual artist MuKha, said 482 music.
Road*Trip
David Garland, host of WNYC radio show “Spinning on Air,” introducted McGinnis to the music of Bill Smith, who has studied with Darius Milhaud and worked closely with Dave Brubeck.
“I loved the fact that he was exploring everything within the ’50s jazz language,” McGinnis said, according to RKM Music. “I see him as some one who explores the full potential of whatever it is that he’s doing.”
McGinnis worked with Smith to master his concerto and Smith encouraged him to write his own and the result is McGinnis’ new Roadtrip, said WNYC. “McGinnis navagates the ensemble through a musical landscape full of adventures, surprises, and beautiful vistas.”
Further Reading
Roulette, which is an organization “committed to supporting work by young and emerging artists as well as by established innovators,” sat down with McGinnis to talk about his work, his peers and what music means to him.
The Big Apple Hot Plate Report 