Mike McGinnis

Mike McGinnis, an inventive and daring musician skilled on clarinet and saxophone, has delved into diverse musical territories encompassing swinging jazz, sharp avant-garde improvisation, and contemporary classical pieces. His ensemble the Four Bags has cultivated a sophisticated style that merges energetic collective improvisation with careful attention to detailed composition. While celebrated mainly for his innovative jazz projects, McGinnis has also gained acclaim beyond jazz circles through partnerships with his spouse, dancer and choreographer Davalois Fearon, along with contributions to recordings by Stew and Yo La Tengo.

Born in 1973 in Sanford, Maine, McGinnis began saxophone lessons during his teenage years under the guidance of instructor Bill Street. Following high school, he pursued further education at the University of Southern Maine as well as the Eastman School of Music. Post-graduation, his performances have included collaborations with numerous artists such as Steve Coleman, Anthony Braxton, Ravi Coltrane, and Lonnie Plaxico, among others. He also took part in the Broadway production of the Tony Award-winning show Fela!.

As a solo performer, McGinnis introduced his first album Tangents in 2000, featuring his ensemble Between Green, which included trumpeter Shane Endsley and pianist Jacob Sacks. He formed the progressive jazz group the Four Bags, drawing on classical influences, with trombonist Brian Drye, accordionist Jacob Garchik, and guitarist Sean Moran. The group issued several acclaimed recordings on the NCM East label: Offshore in 2004, Eating Mantis in 2008, and Forth in 2012. Additionally, he contributed to albums by James Ilgenfritz, Birthmark, and Giovanni Piacentini.

In 2017, McGinnis joined forces with his longtime idols bassist Steve Swallow and bassist Art Lande to create the trio album Recurring Dream, released on Sunnyside Communications. That same year, the Four Bags put out Waltz. He reunited with Swallow and Lande in 2018 for their follow-up trio recording, Singular Awakening.