Bill McHenry (born 1972) is an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

saxophonist and composer. He is the leader of the Bill McHenry Quartet and has released over a dozen albums under his own name, in addition to collaborating on many more.

Early life

McHenry was born in

Blue Hill, Maine Blue Hill is a town in Hancock County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,792 at the 2020 census. It is home to the Blue Hill Public Library, Blue Hill Memorial Hospital, George Stevens Academy, the Blue Hill Harbor School, The Bay Sch ...

, in 1972. He attended the

Interlochen Arts Academy Interlochen Center for the Arts is a non-profit corporation which operates arts education institutions and performance venues in northwest Michigan. It is situated on a campus in Interlochen, Michigan, roughly southwest of Traverse City. In ...

, and went on to study at the

New England Conservatory of Music The New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) is a Private college, private music school in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the oldest independent music Music school, conservatory in the United States and among the most prestigious in the world. The ...

Later life and career

McHenry moved to New York in 1992. His recording debut as a leader was ''Rest Stop'', with Ben Monder, Chris Higgins and Dan Reiser in 1997. It was followed by ''Graphic'' two years later, with Ben Monder,Reid Anderson and Gerald Cleaver. In 2002 he recorded his music with Paul Motian and that led to appearances at the Village Vanguard and two more albums, Roses and Ghosts of the Sun, also with Ben Monder and Reid Anderson. '' Proximity'', a duo recording with drummer

Andrew Cyrille Andrew Charles Cyrille (born November 10, 1939) is an American avant-garde jazz drummer. Throughout his career, he has performed both as a leader and a sideman in the bands of Walt Dickerson and Cecil Taylor, among others. AllMusic biographe ...

, was released around 2016.

Discography

As leader/co-leader

* ''Jazz Is Where You Find It'' (Fresh Sound, 1997) * ''Rest Stop'' (Fresh Sound, 1997) * ''Graphic'' (Fresh Sound, 1998) * ''Live at Smalls'' with

Reid Anderson Reid Anderson (born 15 October 1970) is a bassist and composer from Minnesota. He is a member of The Bad Plus with drummer Dave King, saxophonist Chris Speed, and guitarist Ben Monder. The original lineup of The Bad Plus first played together i ...

Ethan Iverson Ethan Iverson (born February 11, 1973) is a pianist, composer, and critic best known for his work in the avant-garde jazz trio The Bad Plus with bassist Reid Anderson and drummer Dave King. Biography Iverson was born in Menomonie, Wisconsin. ...

, and Jeff Williams (Fresh Sound, 2000) * ''Quartet Featuring Paul Motian'' (Fresh Sound, 2002) * ''Sonic Pressure'' (Fresh Sound, 2005) * ''Roses'' (Sunnyside, 2007) * ''Rediscovery'' with John McNeil (Sunnyside, 2008) * ''Chill Morn He Climb Jenny'' with John McNeil (Sunnyside, 2010) * ''Bloom'' with Ben Monder (Sunnyside, 2010) * ''Ghosts of the Sun'' (Sunnyside, 2011) * ''La Peur Du Vide'' (Sunnyside, 2012) * '' Proximity'' with Andrew Cyrille (Sunnyside, 2016) * ''Solo'' (Underpool 2018)

As sideman

With Avishai Cohen *'' Into the Silence'' (ECM, 2016) With

Guillermo Klein Guillermo Klein (born 1969) is an Argentine pianist and composer. He graduated from Berklee College of Music in 1994, and throughout the 1990s held a residency at Smalls, a jazz club in New York City. Known for his highly original harmonic and ...

*''Filtros'' *''Live at the Village Vanguard'' (Sunnyside) *''Los Guachos V'' (Sunnyside) With

*''

Live at Smalls ''Live at Smalls'' is an album by pianist Harold Mabern. It was released by Smalls Live in 2013. Recording and music The musicians are Harold Mabern (piano), John Webber (bass), and Joe Farnsworth (drums).Tamarkin, Jeff (May 9, 2013"'Live at Smal ...

'' (Fresh Sound, 2000)

References

External links

Bill McHenry Homepage
Avant-garde jazz musicians American jazz saxophonists American male saxophonists People from Blue Hill, Maine 1962 births Living people New England Conservatory alumni 21st-century American saxophonists 21st-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians Fresh Sounds Records artists Sunnyside Records artists {{US-jazz-saxophonist-stub