Influences include Monk, Trane, Bird, Dexter Gordon, Ornette, Michael Brecker, Weather Report, Marvin Gaye, Debussy, Satie, Mingus, Brecker Brothers, Maria Schneider, Picasso, Duke Ellington, Tommy Smith, Thomas Dolby, Jan Garbarek, Outkast, Earth Wind and Fire, David Sylvian, Steve Coleman, Alessandro Scarlatti, Brand New Heavies, Rick Margitza, Ben Webster, Stan Getz, Wayne, Joshua Redman....... There are so many!
•••• Gail performing at DrumFantasy 2007 with Vinny Valentino, Baron Browne, Chrissie Poland, Dave Weckl and Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez ••••
Gail McArthur is one of a new generation of women saxophonists emerging in the world of jazz music. McArthur has performed with a plethora of noted jazz musicians including Benny Carter, Gerry Mulligan, Grover Washington, Don Cherry, Jackie McLean, Ciara Civello, Danny Gottileb, Ed Jackson, Ian Froman, Antonio Sanchez, Miguel Zenon, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Christian McBride, Maria Schneider, Fred Wesley, Kenwood Dennard, Dave Weckl, Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra and Vital Information - Steve Smith, Frank Gambale, Baron Browne and Tom Coster. Currently McArthur is working on a new project with Kenwood Dennard
(drums), Baron Browne (bass) and Leo Blanco (keys). ••••••••BIOGRAPHY•••••••• An immensely talented saxophonist from Scotland, Gail began playing tenor sax 14. Playing first with the Lanarkshire Concert band, then the Strathclyde Youth Jazz Orchestra. SYJO’s first rehearsal was broadcast by Channel 4 Television on “Down the Line”.
At 16, Gail studied with Tommy Smith (Scotland’s most prolific jazz saxophonist), Dan Haerle, Mike Tracy and Jerry Coker.
Gail worked as a professional musician performing regularly with her own quartet at many of the major venues and festivals in Scotland, including the Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dunoon Jazz Festivals. Gail was the force behind Scotland’s first Brazilian style marching carnival band, “Brass Street”. Performing extensively at all the major summer festivals in Britain and recording “Brassed Off!” late in 1993. Also that year Gail formed the “Hot and Anxious Big Band”.
Gail was the first British female tenor saxophonist to win a scholarship to the world renowned Berklee College of Music. There she had the opportunity to study with George Garzone, Frank Tiberi (Woody Herman band), Phil Wilson (Buddy Rich Band), Joe Viola, Billy Pierce (Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers) and Dino Govoni. She also appeared on the CNN Berklee television special as part of the Thelonious Monk Ensemble. Gail won several awards while at Berklee including the Woodwind Achievement Award and the Alex Ulanowsky Award for Harmony. Gail was the first British woman to graduate from Berklee with an Honors Degree in Jazz Performance.
Gail has won a string of awards including the Princes Trust Award , Foundation for Sport & The Arts Award, The STUC James Milne Award , Scottish International Education Trust Award, (whose trustees include Sean Connery), The Cross Trust Award, Daily Record Hearts of Gold Award, East Kilbride Arts Council Awards, the Mary Patton Rowan Award and the Scottish Arts Council Artist Award. Gail also won the prestigious Cosmopolitan Magazine/American Express Award for the Performing Arts.
In 1998 Gail was cast in “The Celtic Story” The play about a Scottish Soccer club opened in Glasgow to rave reviews and was performed in Dublin, Ireland before the Irish Prime Minister, Bertie O’Hearn.
In 1999 and 2001 Gail was commissioned by the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra as part of a series entitled “Famous Scots in History” and then a work entitled “Greyfriar’s Bobby”
Also in 2001, Gail performed with the SNJO under the direction of Maria Schneider.
Since 2002, Gail has been involved in music education, teaching on several VH1 Save the Music Programs and was interviewed for the CN8 “Nitebeat” show.
In 2003, Gail was the first British woman to join the Faculty at Berklee College of Music.
Thanks for your friendship i Enjoyed your Site and Music Thanks . Brand New Song Just in ...........Every Day Blues ...........plez take a min and send me a post of what you think of it thanks From Bleu Ocean . Writen by Steve Malski keys and vocals Bleu Ocean on Drums Many more Tracks to come soon ......... HI ♫♪♪ From THE OFFICIAL BLEU OCEAN MUSIC PAGE! Join my music site and Blog today for music info and upcoming summer Fun . Thanks for your friendship
Do keep in touch and have a great week full of music and fun . PS DROP ME A POST ANY TIME From your Drummer Friend . BLEU OCEAN www. bleu-ocean.com
PS Come and hear my new song Right out of the Studio ..............Every Day Bleus ............... and let me Know what you think thanks . Also new slide shows more music coming this week . Keep me posted . THE OFFICIAL BLEU OCEAN MUSIC PAGE! The Place where my Music lives Today myspace.com/bleuocea nmusicBLEU OCEAN ROCK IT TO THE MAXX ..... 2009.. http://www.bleu-ocean.com thanks ..website ..see blog for upcoming shows and info ..keep safe .ALSO MYSPACE HERE IS THE LINK http://www.myspace.com/bleuoceanmusic go there for my music and new bio and new pics you might even be in one thanks
Hello Bella! How are you? I think maybe you are a little cooling down after the finals at the Berklee with all those great students?? :) You are very welcome to come to listen some new tracks that I added recently. I wish you always the very best for your everyday and professional life. Peace and Music forever. Lorenzo
Hey Gail go to my page and check out peter cardarelli.....great tenor player i used to gig with years ago.......he's also from Boston.....i think you will like his playing tks. Neil B.......
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<br />Thank you kindly for the add sweetie!
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<br />I love your sax. You are extremely talented and I truly think that you are one of the great Masters of Music in our beloved planet.
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<br />I feel very honored to be in your list of friends.
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<br />May our beloved God keep enlightening your very blessed journey.
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<br />Sincerely,
<br />Patrick J. Powell
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Hello Gail! Today I listened for the first time the new songs posted. They are beautiful especially "Optimism's Friend". Best Wishes to you in Massachusetts from Arizona. Lorenzo
Hiya Gail, Hope your OK, heard about your little knock. Hope you feel better and are back in action. How is sunny Berkeley? I still want to come! On my facebook page, i have added videos of my perfermance exam at uni.Doing Children of Sanchez, What is Hip, Ya Gotta Try, and Squib Cakes, I'll try and put them on here too. Speak soon
Was great seeing you too! brought back some happy memories of Scottish weather, Hawaiian shirts with almost white trousers and the mantra must learn to dance and play at same time :-)
going to have to give us more warning when you over next so we can meet up properly and have a right good natter!
Gail, I am appalled that I'm not on your top friends list - shame on ye!
Nah, I jest. How are things going with you?? I'm Edinburgh at the moment, so won't be able to give you a call as the apartment I'm in has no landline. Fire me a message sooon!
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