Bernie McGann - Ugly Beauty

 'Based on the cohesiveness of Ugly Beauty, altoist Bernie McGann is obviously onto something...McGann's alto is rapturously breathy like stan getz, but with both a Konitz-esque dryness and a tempered surgicality...even though his immensely supple trio consistently nudges him to the edge of expressionism, in addition to being subtle Ugly Beauty is really quite beautiful. Sorta like Monk?' K Leander Williams CADENCE

'a powerful, surprising individual player whose work deserves wider currency' PENGUIN JAZZ GUIDE

'this comes closest to the raw emotional and physical force of the great McGann trio in live performance...It is so exciting...This is a local classic'

John Clare SMH Five Star Rating - Jazz CD of the Week

'For sheer happiness, few things can compare with the trio playing, ah, The Bluebird of Happiness - one of those forgotten tunes that McGann will pull on us every now and then...You really ought to have it' Clare RHYTHMS