Album Notes

What is EXTREME FLUTE?

Extreme Flute is a beautiful combination of improvised flute work, hypnotic harmonies and percussive elements that reflects the rich traditions of both Western (jazz) and World (Brazilian as well as a dash of Cuban) folkloric idioms.

The project is is centered around the extraordinary skill of flutist, Bill McBirnie, and, in addition, the accomplished writing and arranging skills of his collaborator, Bruce Jones.

The focus is ultimately on Bill's unique facility as both a flutist and improviser as well as the novelty of the flute as a strong and central voice in what is an arresting format. However, this result is also achieved through the remarkable freshness of Bruce's singular writing and performance skills. The outcome of their partnership speaks to as well as it satisfies an increasingly prevalent awareness of and interest in both Jazz and World Beat music.

Listen to and bask in the sounds of this collaboration. Surrender to the sonority of this unusual blend, a sonority that induces moods ranging from soothing to exhilarating but with an ambience that consistently conveys a dream-like charm.

BILL MCBIRNIE - Biography

Although he is recognized in his native jazz community as one of the country's finest flutists, Bill McBirnie is really one of Canada's "jazz secrets". His extraordinary competence is a plain and simple function of years of dedicated study with the likes of distinguished Canadian flutist and composer, Robert Aitken, and Cuban charanga legend, Richard Egues.

Bill has recorded with prestigious artists and groups such as the following:

-Junior Mance, "Here 'Tis" (Sackville)
-Memo Acevedo, "Building Bridges" (Jazz Alliance)
-Irakere, "!Afrocubanismo!" (Bembe Records)
-Brenda Carol, "Live at the Hot House Cafe" (Darwyn Records)
-Michele Mele, "Like This" and "Laugh" (Michele Mele)
-Cache, "Blended" (EMI)

He also has produced two of his own EXTREME FLUTE projects, "Desvio" and "Scratch It!"

Also, the first recording under Bill's his own name, a straight-ahead acoustic jazz project, "Nature Boy", teams him up with one of the most formidable rhythm sections in Canada, namely, The Mark Eisenman Trio with Mark Eisenman on piano, Steve Wallace on bass and John Sumner on drums.

Bill teaches privately and conducts clinics with particular emphasis on performing in non-classical contexts. In addition, he is a regular featured woodwind columnist in the Canadian Musician magazine.

Over the years, his workmanship has earned him the respect and admiration of listeners and critics alike including being voted Flutist of the Year by the Jazz Report Awards and, more recently, at the National Flute Association convention held in Las Vegas, a winner in the Jazz Flute Masterclass.