My very dear friend and musical collaborator, Larry McKenna, sadly passed away in Philadelphia on Nov. 19, 2023 at age 86. Larry enjoyed a 70-year career as a renowned jazz tenor saxophonist and composer, arranger, and beloved jazz educator. Modest, witty, and remarkably kind, he was loved by all. Happily, I still have content to share. Enjoy this new episode of my pandemic project presenting Larry telling some of his humorous true stories in the video series "After the Gig: Tales from Larry McKenna." -Melissa Gilstrap Dec. 16, 2023

My artist/lyricist website: www.melissagilstrap.com
Video copyright © 2021 Melissa Gilstrap. All rights reserved.

LARRY McKENNA BIOGRAPHY (1937-2023)
One of the world’s finest jazz saxophone players, Larry McKenna was known for his gorgeous tenor saxophone sound, the beauty of his balladry, and his fluid, bebop-inspired improvisations. Seven decades in his profession established his international reputation as a masterful jazz improviser and educator. Over the years, Larry performed and recorded with many jazz stars including Woody Herman, Clark Terry, Buddy DeFranco, Barry Harris, Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, Jimmy Heath, Jon Faddis, Harry Allen, Terell Stafford, Eric Alexander, Bill Charlap, Warren Vaché, Kenny Barron, Randy Brecker, Wynton Marsalis and Frank Sinatra.

Larry's final CD as a leader is "World On A String," the first album to feature Larry McKenna with strings (BCM&D Records 2022). This gorgeous collection of standards and one McKenna original highlights arrangements by Larry and his friend and fellow tenor saxophonist, Jack Saint Clair.

Larry McKenna’s composing, songwriting and arranging skills received critical acclaim with the 2013 release of his CD, “From All Sides,” supported in part by a Subito Grant from the American Composers Forum. Among other originals, this CD introduced his popular bossa nova “One Falling Tree” with lyrics by Melissa Gilstrap sung by Joanna Pascale, voted the number two song of the year out of 100 by listeners of WRTI 90.1 FM Philadelphia in 2013.

Larry’s writing and arranging skills are further showcased by the Larry McKenna Jazz Orchestra, a 17-piece band dedicated to presenting Larry’s original compositions and arrangements. In 2018, the Larry McKenna Jazz Orchestra was invited by WRTI to video three of Larry’s original songs, two with lyrics by Melissa Gilstrap sung by Joanna Pascale, now presented on NPR's Live Sessions website.

In 2018, Larry McKenna partnered with longtime friend and fellow Philadelphia tenor sax player, Robert “Bootsie” Barnes, to release their CD, “The More I See You” (Cellar Live 2018). This critically-acclaimed CD placed on national jazz charts for several weeks.

In addition to having been a frequent guest on recordings by other top jazz players, Larry released three other CDs under his own name to critical acclaim. “Profile” (Dreambox Media 2009) mixes jazz standards with Larry’s original compositions, including the poignant ballad “Perhaps This Wintertime” with lyrics by Melissa Gilstrap. Premiered on the CD by vocalist Nancy Reed, this ballad was critically praised as “destined to become a new standard” and subsequently performed and/or recorded by other internationally known vocalists, including Denise King, Mary Ellen Desmond and Jackie Ryan. Larry’s earlier CDs, “It Might As Well Be Spring” (Dreambox Media 2001) and “My Shining Hour – Music of Harold Arlen” (EPE Records 1995), received praise from jazz critics across the United States and Canada.

Recent performance highlights include Larry McKenna’s 2018 and 2015 “Barry & Larry” concerts with the legendary pianist Barry Harris at William Paterson University in New Jersey. In 2018 and 2014 Larry appeared with the Woody Herman Tribute Band in Los Angeles, including in 2018 a special quintet performance with trumpeter Bobby Shew. Larry was also a featured soloist in two concerts in 2014 with The Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia under the direction of Terell Stafford, together with jazz greats Wynton Marsalis, Jimmy Heath, Kenny Barron, and Randy Brecker. In 2011 the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra showcased Larry as a soloist, performing movements from an orchestral arrangement of Duke Ellington’s “Nutcracker Suite.”

Larry was one of the most sought-out saxophone and jazz theory teachers in Philadelphia. He taught countless students at University of the Arts, Temple University School of Music, West Chester University, Widener University, and Community College of Philadelphia.

Larry received numerous awards for his extensive contributions to the jazz world, including the 2015 Jazz Legend Award given to him and Pat Martino by the Philadelphia Clef Club.

Music arranged by Larry McKenna was performed on “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson and in the Nicolas Cage movie “Birdy,” in which Larry played and appeared. He has published many jazz arrangements for school bands which can be purchased from Northeastern Music Publications.