Funky, groovy, swinging, and sophisticated three horn jazz writing.

12 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Traditional Jazz Combo, ROCK: Extended Jams



Details:
Mark and Kenny had just flown into New York the day before the recording. Because all the guys had been playing my music for years, we made this recording together in one room. Our close proximity allowed us to play comfortably without headphones and helped us to create a "live" feeling in the studio. With no overdubs possible, the vibe was electric and exciting. These guys were so in sync that we tracked ten of the twelve songs on thefirst day. A million thanks and much respect to Doug, Kenny, Mark, Gary, Diego, Mike Sim, and Liberty Ellman. Continued thanks to my family, teachers and peers who have taught and given me so much love and inspiration along the way. This is for you.
-Chuck

Chuck MacKinnon
Trumpet/Flugelhorn/Composer

BIOGRAPHY - Chuck has been playing the trumpet for 28 years and has been making a living at it ever since he left the nest, and has over 20 CD credits to his name. MacKinnon has performed and associated with many of the top names in jazz including the Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Cab Calloway Orchestra, Joe Henderson, James Moody, Rufus Reid, Randy Brecker, Mark Levine, Bruce Forman, Sam Rivers, Bob Mover, Kenny Brooks, and Dred Scott. Chuck has also performed with crossover groups including Norah Jones, Isaac Mizrahi, Charlie Hunter, The Bjorkestra, Benevento and Russo, Peter Apfelbaum, Will Bernard, Groove Collective, Dig, and the soul jazz band, Gravy, which he co-led and recorded the "Live at Brunos" CD in 1999.

Chuck was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area where he learned extensively in his youth by sitting in with local piano legend, Smith Dobson. Chuck studied at UCLA and earned his Bachelor of Music degree from William Patterson College in Wayne, NJ and his Master of Music in Composition degree from California State University at Hayward. Chuck thrived on the San Francisco jazz trumpet Scene from 1995-2000 and gave jazz trumpet masterclasses at University of Santa Cruz, Sonoma State University, California State University East Bay, State University at San Jose, and various high schools. He has taught New York City inner-city music programs and travels to teach the Stanford Jazz Workshop and the Lafayette Summer Music Workshop.

Currently Chuck resides in New York City where he composes and leads his own bands. Chuck works extensively as a sideman in jazz, rock, pop, hip hop and private party bands. In addition, he is also in demand as a composer/arranger having completed five commissions for big band, a staff arranger for JC Hopkins' Biggish Band, and won a Downbeat Magazine Award for Best Extended Composition by a collegiate musician in 1996.

He is pioneering many new sounds for the trumpet, often experimenting with delay, distortion, and live samples. Chuck completed a 2002 CD "We Own the Moon" of completely improvised psychedelic live electronica music with his cooperatively led trumpet/bass/drums trio, Spielplatz, which has performed in Heidelberg, Germany.

MacKinnon's very latest project, The Chuck MacKinnon Mactet, an all acoustic venture, is the culmination of his musical career and features his three horn writing. "New Transmission" will debut on Krispytone in April, 2006.