Mourning the Loss of Trumpeter/Composer John McNeil
Trumpeter/composer John McNeil
March 23, 1948 – September 27, 2024
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of trumpeter John McNeil in New York City on September 27, 2024 due to Hypertensive Cardiovascular Disease.
Born on March 23, 1948 in Yreka, California, John McNeil hit the New York jazz scene in the mid-70s and soon was playing with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, the Horace Silver Quintet, and saxophone great Gerry Mulligan, as well as leading bands of his own. As one of the world’s most original and creative jazz artists, he also wrote a lifetime’s worth of music and recorded 20 albums as a leader or co-leader. He also served as a producer, composer and arranger for numerous albums. His final recording was on Allegra Levy’s Lose My Number, an album of McNeil’s tunes for which Levy wrote lyrics. “One of the best improvisers working in jazz,” (Ben Ratliff, New York Times), McNeil’s mark on the music was indelible, and his acerbic sense of humor and dry wit were legendary. He was a phenomenal and sought-out jazz coach beloved by his many students.
His accomplishments were all the more extraordinary in light of his chronic struggles with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a debilitating neuromuscular illness with which McNeil was diagnosed early in life. At several points during his career, the muscle weakness and atrophy caused by this hereditary condition required him to virtually relearn how to play the trumpet. When he eventually lost use of his dominant right hand, he taught himself to play with his left, and even recorded an album while playing left-handed, 2001’s Fortuity.
John McNeil Full Bio
John McNeil was regarded as one of the world’s most original and creative jazz artists and among the most influential trumpet players of his generation. An actively touring and recording jazz trumpeter since the mid-1970s, he never settled into a comfortable stylistic niche, remaining instead consistently on the cutting edge of new music. He also composed and arranged in the jazz idiom with equal passion.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in trumpet performance from the University of Portland (Oregon) in 1971, McNeil worked toward a master’s at the University of Miami (Florida) until he felt ready to support himself as a full-time musician. Upon moving to New York in the early 1970s, he served as a freelance trumpet player in multiple musical genres for several years, eventually focusing exclusively on jazz.
His career took a major upturn when he beat out 10 of New York City’s finest jazz musicians to win the trumpet chair in Horace Silver’s quintet. After touring Europe and the US with Silver, McNeil began to record his own music and had led or co-led his own bands ever since. He toured for many years with his groups, recording critically acclaimed albums for both U.S. and European jazz labels. His working bands included Insomnia, Urban Legend. Hip Deep, Hush Point (a cooperative quartet), and The John McNeil New Quintet. Many of his compositions and arrangements have also been recorded by other jazz artists.
In 2006, McNeil discovered a treasure trove of neglected jazz compositions by a handful of bebop players from the 1950s, including pianist Russ Freeman, drummer Denzil Best and trumpeter Wilbur Harden. He fell in love with this music and re-arranged it for a contemporary quartet featuring Bill McHenry on tenor sax and himself on trumpet. The group performed regularly in Brooklyn, NY for years culminating in a week-long engagement at NYC’s Village Vanguard. It also recorded two CDs of this material for the Sunnyside label. When other musicians became aware of these tunes, a number of them re-emerged as part of the standard jazz repertoire.
The name John McNeil was also well-known in academia. He wrote several popular method books, most notably Flexus: Trumpet Calisthenics for the Modern Improvisor, co-written with Laurie Frink, considered by some to be the most important trumpet method manual of the new millennium. He also co-wrote The Classroom Guide to Jazz Improvisation with trumpeter and clinician Ryan Nielson, published by Oxford University Press in 2024. For nearly 40 years he commuted from New York to Boston as a faculty member in the Jazz Studies Department of New England Conservatory.
In 2016, the annual Festival of New Trumpet Music (FONT) culminated in a performance of McNeil’s music, during which he received the prestigious FONT Award of Recognition.
From 2010 to 2018, McNeil also led a regular jam session in Brooklyn, NY, with jazz trombonist Mike Fahey that attracted musicians from all over the world, both established pros and aspiring newcomers. These sessions were a great benefit to players trying to hone their craft and connect with others on the New York jazz scene.
Publications
2024
The Classroom Guide to Jazz Improvisation; Pub. Oxford University Press
Co-written with Ryan Nielsen
2015
Wrote a “Master Class” article for the April issue of DownBeat Magazine entitled, “Building Elements of Improv into Rote Practice.” See page 86
2014
Wrote an “Artist’s Choice” article for the October issue of Jazz Times about some of his favorite solos by the great Thad Jones on cornet.
2013
Created, edited and published Timeless, the Music of John Abercrombie, a book of 34 tunes chosen and vetted by Mr. Abercrombie, with commentary by McNeil.
2007
John McNeil’s Master Jazz DVD series: Learn to Play Jazz & Becoming an Improvisor. Here is a segment:
2003
Co-authored with Laurie Frink & published FLEXUS Trumpet Calisthenics for the Modern Improvisor, considered by some to be the most important trumpet method book of the new millennium.
2001
Wrote, narrated and performed in a three-part video series, Learn to Play Jazz produced by International Production Group, Inc.
1999
Edited new edition of The Art of Jazz Trumpet into a single volume, Including a CD. Originally published by Gerard & Sarzin, bought by Hal Leonard in 2017.
1993
Wrote the original edition of The Art of Jazz Trumpet, in two volumes.
1976
Wrote Jazz Trumpet Techniques, a practice book for trumpet players. (no longer available)
Key Press
NPR’s “All Things Considered” broadcast an interview with John conducted by Arun Rath on December 27, 2014.
“Interview: John McNeil” by Phil Freeman for Burning Ambulance, Oct. 2014.
“All Wit,” an article about John by Jim Macnie for DownBeat Magazine, Feb. 2011.
“John McNeil’s Backbone” by Ben Waltzer for All About Jazz, Mar. 8, 2011.
“Has Trumpet, Will Surprise” by Ben Ratliff for the NY Times, Feb. 15, 2007
“John McNeil: More Than Just Notes, Man” by Terrell Kent Holmes for All About Jazz, Sept. 2007.
“…And Its Present Takes Root in Brooklyn” by Martin Johnson, Wall Street Journal Jan. 17, 2007.
Current Biography Magazine did a story about John in the June 2007 issue by Miriam Helbock, Cliff Thompson editor.
“Brooklyn Jazz Renaissance” by Nate Chinen for the NY Times, 2006.
“Cool Front, Trumpeter-Composer Shares West Coast Jazz with Park Slope” by Robert Hicks for The Brooklyn Papers, July 2006.
“Meet John McNeil” by Craig Jolley for All About Jazz, May 19, 2005.
“Interview with John McNeil” by Ludwig Van Trikt for Cadence Magazine, June 2006.
“John McNeil: Overcoming” by Thomas Erdmann, International Trumpet Guild Journal, January 2021
“Lose My Number: Allegra Levy Sings John McNeil” by Steve Futterman
Published in the print edition of the August 24, 2020, issue of The New Yorker.
Outstanding Distinctions and Honors
The prestigious week-long Festival of New Trumpet Music (FONT) culminated on September 25, 2016 in “Honoring John McNeil” during which John received the FONT Music Award of Recognition and gave a performance of his music.
John was a judge for the Laurie Frink Career Grant since its inception in 2014. The grant awards $10,000 to a U.S.-based jazz brass player under the age of 25 every two years.
Artist Endorsements
For much of his career John was an artist-clinician for major brass instrument manufacturing companies including E.K. Blessing, Boosey & Hawkes, Kanstul, Bach/Selmer and P. Mauriat.
Unique Contributions to the Music Community
In 2006 John discovered a treasure trove of neglected jazz compositions by a handful of bebop players from the 1950s, such as pianist Russ Freeman, drummer Denzil Best and trumpeter Wilbur Harden. He fell in love with the music and re-arranged it for a contemporary quartet featuring Bill McHenry on tenor sax and himself on trumpet. The group performed regularly in Brooklyn, NY for several years, culminating in a week-long engagement at NYC’s Village Vanguard. They also recorded two CDs of this material for the Sunnyside label. When other musicians became aware of this material, a number of the tunes re-emerged back into the standard jazz repertoire.
From 2010 to 2018 John co-led a neighborhood jam session in Brooklyn, NY with trombonist Mike Fahie. They kept the quality high, encouraging professional jazz players to participate, young and old. When word spread about the great playing experience, musicians from all over the world came to play during their visits to New York. The sessions were of great benefit to jazz players working on their craft and trying to mingle and network within the New York jazz scene.
Discography
In addition to recording as a trumpet player, John was a composer, an arranger and a producer of records/CDs. The Discography includes his credits in all of these.
As Leader
1978 Embarkation (SteepleChase) – 4 of the 6 tunes are McNeil compositions
1979 Faun (SteepleChase) – all 6 tunes are McNeil’s originals
1980 The Glass Room (SteepleChase) – 5 of the 6 tunes are McNeil’s
1981 Clean Sweep (SteepleChase) – all 6 tunes are McNeil’s
1983 Things We Did Last Summer (SteepleChase) – 2 of the 8 tunes are McNeil’s
1983 I’ve Got the World on a String (SteepleChase) – standards & jazz standards
2001 Fortuity (Steeplechase) – 7 of 10 by McNeil, 2 others he arranged
2003 This Way Out (OmniTone) – 8 of 12 are McNeil’s
2004 Sleep Won’t Come (OmniTone) – 7 of 11 are McNeil’s
2006 East Coast Cool (OmniTone) – 10 of 12 are McNeil’s
As Co-leader
1979 Look to the Sky with Tom Harrell (SteepleChase) – no McNeil originals
1996 Hip Deep with Kenny Berger (Brownstone) – 6 of 10 are McNeil’s
1998 Brooklyn Ritual with Kenny Berger (Synergy) – 8 of 12 are McNeil’s
2006 Jam Session Vol. 17 with Ryan Kisor & Brad Goode (SteepleChase)
2008 Rediscovery with Bill McHenry (Sunnyside) –jazz tunes arr. by McNeil
2010 Chill Morn He Climb Jenny w/Bill McHenry (Sunnyside) – arr. by McNeil
2013 Hush Point with Hush Point (Sunnyside) – 3 of 10 are McNeil’s
2014 Blues and Reds with Hush Point (Sunnyside) – 4 of 10 are McNeil’s
2017 Hush Point III with Hush Point (Sunnyside) – 6 of 9 are McNeil’s
2017 Plainsong with Mike Fahie (Destiny Records) – 4 of 12 are McNeil’s
Composer/Arranger for Other Artists
1996 Tony D’Aveni / Broken Hip (Brownstone) (several arrangements)
1997 The Montgomery-Hill Sextet / Got Eyes For You (Sea Breeze)
(Arr. all 10 tracks)
1997 Tony D’Aveni / Hip Displacement (Brownstone) (Arr. “Giant Steps”)
1998 Sylvia Cuenca / The Crossing (Arr. “Granted,” “Think On Me,”
“The Crossing” & “Favela”)
1999 Diva / I Believe in You (Arbors) (Arr. “I Believe in You,” “’Tis Autumn,”
“The Claw”)
1999 Five Play Quintet / On the Brink (Arbors) (Arr. all 13 tracks)
1999 Darryl White / Ancient Memories (with 1 McNeil composition-
arrangement)
2002 Darryl White / In the Fullness of Time (with 3 McNeil compositions-
arrangements)
2002 Diva Jazz Orchestra / Live in Concert (Arbors) (Arr. “Did You Do That”
“I’ve Got the World On a String”)
2007 The Montgomery-Hermann Quintet / On the Brink (Summit) (Comp.
“Game Boy” & Arr. 4 tracks)
2007 Cindy Bradley / Just A Little Bit “Manhattan Rain” & “Out Of Service”
2008 Noah Preminger / Dry Bridge Road (NOWT-002)
2010 Mike Fahie / Anima (BJU Records BJUR 014)
2014 Allegra Levy / Lonely City (SteepleChase) (Arr. 5 tracks)
2017 Allegra Levy / Cities Between Us (SteepleChase) (Comp. “Down Sunday” & Arr. 3 tracks)
2020 Allegra Levy / Lose My Number: Allegra Levy Sings John McNeil (SteepleChase)
As Producer for Other Artists
1993 Randall Conners / Randall Conners Quartet (Billy Hart drums, Cecil McBee Bass, James Williams piano)
1993 Les Arbuckle / No More No Les (AudioQuest)
1996 Tony D’Aveni / Broken Hip (Brownstone)
2005 Ken Walker Sextet / Terra Firma (Synergy)
2005 Schumacher-Sanford Sound Assembly / Edge of the Mind (Beauport Jazz)
2008 Noah Preminger / Dry Bridge Road (NOWT)
2009 Nicholas Urie Large Ensemble / Excerpts from an Online Dating Service (Red Piano Records)
2010 Mike Fahie / Anima (BJU Records)
2014 Allegra Levy / Lonely City (SteepleChase)
2015 John Raymond / Foreign Territory (FreshSound)
Teaching/Coaching
New England Conservatory: From 1982 to 2021 McNeil was on the faculty of NEC’s Jazz Studies department, including teaching a Jazz Theory Course, a Jazz Repertoire Course, Private Studio students and coaching a Jazz Ensemble
Jazz clinics/workshops, at colleges around the world as part of performance tours, beginning in the mid 1970s.
Jamey Aebersold’s Summer Jazz Workshops, Trumpet Faculty, from appx. late 1970s to the mid 80s
Mile High Jazz Camp, Ensemble coach & trumpet teacher, University of Boulder, CO 1992–2006
Telluride Jazz Festival’s All-Star program – Coach for gifted high school jazz players at, Telluride, Colorado – 2006
Source: Ann Braithwaite
