Bernard Francis McGann (22 June 1937 – 17 September 2013) was an Australian jazz alto saxophone player. He began his career in the late 1950s and remained active as a performer, composer and recording artist until near the end of his life. McGann won four ARIA Music Awards between 1993 and 2001.
McGann led the Bernie McGann Trio and Bernie McGann Quartet through his career. The most well-known lineup of the Trio was McGann (alto sax), John Pochee (drums), Lloyd Swanton (bass), with the addition of Warwick Alder (trumpet) in the quartet.
Career Born in Granville, in Sydney's western suburbs, McGann first came to prominence as part of a loose alliance of modern jazz musicians who performed at the El Rocco Jazz Cellar in Kings Cross, Sydney in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He had an enduring collaboration with drummer John Pochee.
During the 1960s and early 1970s, McGann also performed with rock and pop groups and as a session musician, and in the 1970s he was a member of the Sydney rock-soul band Southern Comfort. In 1974, McGann was a founding member of jazz group, The Last Straw.
Between 1980 and 1982, McGann played support to US jazz artists, including Freddie Hubbard, Lester Bowie, and Dave Liebman.
In 1983, McGann studied in New York on a grant from The Australia Council.
In 1988, McGann Toured Australia and USA with the Australian Jazz Orchestra, a special Bicentennial project. He was a featured artist in award-winning documentary film Beyond El Rocco.Beyond El Rocco, Ronin Films, 1988.
In 1992, McGann won the Spiral Scratch MO Award for Bernie McGann Trio in Jazz Group of the Year.
At the ARIA Music Awards of 1993, McGann won the ARIA Award for Best Jazz Album.
In 1994, McGann won Australian Mo Awards for Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year.
In 1998, McGann won 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).
At the ARIA Music Awards of 2001, McGann won his fourth ARIA Award.
McGann died on 17 September 2013, following complications from heart surgery. He was 76.
Discography Albums Title Album details The Ted Vining Trio (as Bernie McGann with the Ted Vining Trio) Released: 1984 Label: Anteater Records (018) Note: Recorded at the RMIT Glasshouse Theatre on 24 April 1983. At Long Last (as Bernie McGann Trio) Released: 1987 Label: Emanem (3601) Kindred Spirits (as Bernie McGann Quartet) Released: 1987 Label: Emanem (3602) Ugly Beauty Released: 1991 Label: Spiral Scratch (0010) Bernie McGann Trio (as Bernie McGann Trio) Released: 1992 Label: McGann McGann Released: 1995 Label: Terra Nova Records (TND-9017) McGann Playground Released: 1997 Label: Rufus Records (RF023) Bundeena Released: 2000 Label: Rufus Records (RF053) Live At The Side On Released: 2005 Label: Rufus Records (RF073) Note: Recorded at Annandale, Sydney on 13 March 2003. Blue for Pablo Too Released: 2005 Label: Rufus Records (RF083) Always (with Paul Grabowsky) Released: 2006 Label: ABC Jazz (476 5272) Solar Released: 2009 Label: Rufus Records (RF093) Double Dutch? Released: 2010 Label: Rufus Records (RF103) Wending Released: 2012 Label: Rufus Records (RF113) 1966 Released: 2014 Label: Sarang Bang Records (SBR028) Note: Live performance recorded in Sydney, Australia in 1966.
Awards and nominations ARIA Music Awards The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. It commenced in 1987.
! |- | 1993 | Bernie McGann Trio | rowspan="6"| Best Jazz Album | | rowspan="6"| ARIA Award previous winners. |- | 1995 | McGann McGann
| 1997 | Playground
| 2001 | Bundeena
| 2006 | Always
| 2012 | Wending
Australian Jazz Bell Awards The Australian Jazz Bell Awards, (also known as the Bell Awards or The Bells), are annual music awards for the jazz music genre in Australia. They commenced in 2003.
| 2008 | Bernie McGann | Hall of Fame
Don Banks Music Award The Don Banks Music Award was established in 1984 to publicly honour a senior artist of high distinction who has made an outstanding and sustained contribution to music in Australia. It was founded by the Australia Council in honour of Don Banks, Australian composer, performer and the first chair of its music board.
| 1998 | Bernie McGann | Don Banks Music Award
Mo Awards The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. Bernie McGann won three awards in that time. (wins only) |- | 1992 | Bernie McGann Trio | Jazz Group of the Year
| 1994 | Bernie McGann | Jazz Instrumental Performer of the Year
| 1997 | Bernie McGann Trio | Jazz Group of the Year
References