Mike McGinnis
Mike McGinnis (born 1973) is an American saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer.
Early life
Mike McGinnis was born in 1973 in Sanford, Maine where he grew up. McGinnis began saxophone lessons with Bill Street in 1987. He studied music at the University of Southern Maine and Eastman School of Music and has been studying traditional harmony and counterpoint with legendary NYC teacher Paul Caputo since 2004.
Career
By the time composer/woodwind player McGinnis arrived in New York City in May of 1997, he had already begun to develop an eclectic and unique voice on the saxophone & clarinet along with an ever expanding palette as a composer and arranger. This is evidenced by his having worked with some of today’s most innovative and influential artists including Anthony Braxton’s Trillium E Orchestra, Steve Coleman’s Aquarius Ingress (Ravi Coltrane, Tony Malaby, Miguel Zenon and Chris Speed), the Lonnie Plaxico Group, Stew & Heidi(of Tony Award winning Passing Strange/the Negro Problem), Nicholas Payton's TSO, Fela! on Broadway (saxophone soloist), Art Lande, Yo La Tengo,the Ohad Talmor/Steve Swallow Sextet, Jackie Cain, Ravi Coltrane, Alice Coltrane, Joe McGinty, Erik Deutsch, Briggan Krauss, Kyoko Kitamura, John Hollenbeck, Tommy Dorsey Orchestra under Buddy Morrow, Lisle Ellis, sculptor Martin Kersels (Whitney Biennial 2009), Harris Eisenstadt, Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society, Alan Ferber Nonet, The Four Bags, Clem Snide and the Losers Lounge among others.
McGinnis recorded his debut CD “Tangents” with his group Between Green (which included Shane Endsley and Jacob Sacks) for Ravi Coltrane’s RKM Music label in 2000. As a co-leader he has recorded 4 albums with the four bags, one with DDYGG and one with OK|OK. He also starred in Oscar winning director Ang Lee's "Taking Woodstock" as the flute player. Michael's compositions, arrangements and performances have been featured on WNYC, WKCR, HBO, MTV, the Daily Show, VH1 and a commercial with music by Wyclef Jean for the 2011 Super Bowl.