Bernie McGann

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Bernie McGann (born June 22, 1937) is a renowned Australian jazz alto saxophone player. He began his career in the late 1950s and is still active as a performer, composer and recording artist. He is regarded as a world-class player and composer and is considered one of the most original and accomplished modern jazz soloists to emerge from the Australian scene.

Born in Granville, New South Wales, in Sydney's western suburbs, McGann first came to prominence as part of a loose alliance of modern jazz musicians who performed at the famous El Rocco Jazz Cellar in Kings Cross, Sydney in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He has had an enduring collaboration with drummer John Pochee.

During the 1960s and early 1970s, McGann (like many other local jazz players) also performed with rock and pop groups and as a session musician, and ca. 1970 he was a member of the Sydney rock-soul band Southern Comfort.

He has led his acclaimed Bernie McGann Trio and Bernie McGann Quartet through his entire career, to the present day. The current lineup of the Trio is McGann (alto sax), John Pochee (drums), Lloyd Swanton (bass). The current lineup of the Quartet is the same as the Trio, with the addition of Warwick Alder (trumpet).

McGann's other career highlights include:

  • 1974 Founding and continuing member of The Last Straw (jazz group)
  • 1980-82 played support to US jazz artists Freddie Hubbard, Lester Bowie, Dave Liebman etc.
  • 1981 played and recorded with US saxophonist Sonny Stitt
  • 1983 Studied in New York on a grant from The Australia Council
  • 1986 Bernie McGann Trio toured Australia with US saxophonist Dewey Redman
  • 1987 Toured with The Last Straw to Tasmania. Recorded two albums, one trio and one quartet, for Emanem which received critical acclaim internationally
  • 1988 Toured Australia and USA with the Australian Jazz Orchestra, a special Bicentennial project. Feature artist in award winning documentary film "Beyond El Rocco". The Last Straw tour of New Zealand jazz festivals with an Australia Council international touring grant. Bernie McGann Trio played at London"s famous Ronnie Scott's club before touring jazz festivals in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, India and Malaysia
  • 1989 Solo artist at Auckland's Jazz & Blues Festival. Appeared with The Last Straw at the prestigious Montreal Jazz Festival in Canada. Performed with Nat Adderley
  • 1990 Toured USSR with The Last Straw, performing to enthusiastic audiences at jazz festivals including Leningrad
  • 1992 ARIA award for Bernie McGann Trio CD Ugly Beauty, Spiral Scratch MO Award for Bernie McGann Trio in Jazz Group of the Year
  • 1993 Toured Canadian Jazz Festivals
  • 1994 Australian MO Award for Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year.
  • 1995 ARIA award for Bernie McGann Trio CD McGann McGann, Rufus, which featured McGann originals
  • 1996 Toured Canada and Europe including Northsea Jazz Festival and Munchener Klaviersummer.
  • 1997 Bernie McGann Trio appeared at the Chicago Jazz Festival. ARIA award for Bernie McGann Trio CD "'Playground'", Rufus.
  • 1998 wins the Don Banks Music Award, the first time it has been awarded to a non-classical musician/composer. Launch of biography Bernie McGann: A Life in Jazz by Geoff Page (Kardooraire Press)