BILL MCBIRNIE (FLUTIST)
Bill McBirnie is a
jazz and Latin flute specialist based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
He has studied with distinguished Canadian flutist and composer,
Robert Aitken, and Cuban Charanga legend, Richard Egues. Bill is
known for his superior technique on the entire family of flutes (from
bass flute to piccolo). He is also recognized as an accomplished
improviser, notably in the bebop, swing and Latin idioms as
illustrated by his recordings as a sideman with Junior Mance,
Irakere, Memo Acevedo and Cache
About Bill:
“A distinguished flutist with a devotion that shows up in the airy
sweetness of his sound at ballad tempos and in the remarkable
control he can bring to rapid-fire, skittering runs on up tempo,
Coltrane-inspired material.” (Stuart Broomer, Editor, Coda magazine)
“Great, great playing...I have never heard anyone play like this…Bill,
when you read this, I have to take my hat off to you. This is great
playing by any standard.” (Sir James Galway)
“McBirnie has always handled bop exceptionally well. You can hear
his years at the conservatory in his sound—a pure, transparent tone
at rest, brightening with exertion—yet he swings like someone who
grew up with a large collection of Blue Note and Prestige LPs down
in the basement. He's entirely idiomatic, but also effortlessly
inventive.” (Mark Miller, The Globe and Mail)
“Include Bill McBirnie as an integral player in Canadian jazz. The
Toronto-based flautist has marked his credentials through recordings
of his own, in addition to appearances on albums by Junior Mance,
Memo Acevedo, and Irakere…Listening to McBirnie also makes his
credentials clear. He dips into the nectar of a melody and his
dulcet tones rise to trigger the core of his imagination for some
really interesting improvisational flights. These facets are
abundantly manifest on Paco Paco...” (Jerry D’Souza, All About Jazz)
“Bill McBirnie has a powerful claim to be Canada’s best player on
flute…What always stands out is his outstanding tone, agile
technique and fecund imagination.” (Geoff Chapman, The Toronto Star)
“Toronto's Bill McBirnie occupies the rarified air of jazz flute
with a sense of style and swing that sets him apart. There are
precious few flutists who can make the instrument burn with musical
intensity the way Bill does...McBirnie shows a range of emotional
colours on both Latin and jazz standards in duo and quartet
configurations…Bill McBirnie deserves to be placed alongside Moe
Koffman and Herbie Mann in the pantheon of jazz flute.” (Andy
Shepphard, After Hours, CBC Radio)
“His technique is flawless and sensual…Excellent!” (Lee Prosser,
Jazz Review)
“I highly recommend this recording; the music is joyous and
energetic throughout…I’m just itching to play it for some classical
flutists I know. I can’t wait to see the expressions on their faces
when they hear Bill practically turn the flute inside out on Teaneck.”
(Merlin Williams, Wholenote Magazine)
“Now that the great Moe Koffman is no longer among us, there’s an
opening in Canada for an outstanding straight-ahead jazz flutist
and, with Nature Boy, Bill McBirnie has submitted his application
and staked his claim…In the liner notes, McBirnie is modest about
his talents but he needn’t be. He has great chops, a clear,
sparkling sound and enough luminous ideas to brighten anyone’s
melancholy frame of mind.” (Jack Bowers, All About Jazz)
“...All beautifully recorded, unclassifiable, and virtually timeless...”
(Michael Steinman, Cadence Magazine)
“…With subtle playing, mature and confident swing, beautiful and
well-chosen compositions throughout, there is now nothing to stand
in the way of Bill McBirnie qualifying for the outstanding
reputation he has forged.” (Berengere Richard, Traversieres
Magazine, The Official Magazine of the French Flute Association)
“With a full tone, pin-sharp articulation, the occasional witty
quote and some jazz licks that pay a compliment to the listener who
can catch them (and which sometimes evaporate before they can be
fully identified), McBirnie demonstrates that he is an impressive
performer by any standard...The album is a treasure.” (Don Smith,
Night Train, 3RPP FM, Australia)
BILL MCBIRNIE DUO/QUARTET - PACO PACO
(2006)
Excellent, straight-ahead, acoustic
jazz flute in both duo and quartet formats
Bill
McBirnie (flute, leader)
Bernie Senensky
(piano)
Neil Swainson (bass)
John Sumner (drums)


review by
Paul J. Youngman: BILL MCBIRNIE DUO/QUARTET - PACO PACO
(2006)
review by
David Fujino: BILL MCBIRNIE DUO/QUARTET - PACO PACO
(2006)
Bill McBirnie Paco Paco (2006)
01-Like Sonny
Bill McBirnie Paco Paco (2006)
02-Hackensack
Bill McBirnie Paco Paco (2006)
03-Stand Up. Stand Up for Jesus
Bill McBirnie Paco Paco (2006)
04-Doxy
Bill McBirnie Paco Paco (2006)
05-Bright Mississippi
Bill McBirnie Paco Paco (2006) 06-My
Song
Bill McBirnie Paco Paco (2006)
07-Paco Paco
Bill McBirnie Paco Paco (2006)
08-East of the Sun
Bill McBirnie Paco Paco (2006)
09-This I Dig of You
Bill McBirnie Paco Paco (2006)
10-Hackensack-reprise
Bill McBirnie Paco Paco (2006) 11-The
Great City
Bill McBirnie Paco Paco (2006) 12-O
Grande Amor
more
tracks can be heard on Vinilemania's Radio Channels

