JOHN IS NOW RETIRED
John Mc Carthy was born in Sydney in January 1930, and started playing clarinet at fourteen years of age, and within two years he joined a band called the Riverside Jazz Band. In 1950 the 5th Australian Jazz Convention brought the talents of John to interstate musicians and delegates. They were enthusiastic about this youthful clarinet player with his Benny Goodman / Artie Shaw style. In 1953 John left the Riverside to join the Port Jackson Jazz Band on a casual basis and as a full time player in 1955. By 1958 he was also with the Ray Price Quartet but left both groups in 1962 to begin a long stay with the Dick Hughes Quartet. In 1963 John also worked with Graeme Bell's All Stars. In addition to other musical commitments, for most of 1973, John was also a member of the Bill Haesler Washboard Band and recorded with them. He left to lead the Paddington - Wollahra RSL house Band. In 1974 he joined Bob Barnard's Jazz Band for what became a twelve year stay, then became a much sought after freelance musician. From February 1989 John has been a member of the popular Geoff Bull's Olympia Jazz Band. He also leads his own quartet and is in demand for casual work as a side man for Sydney's leading Jazz Bands, including the Port Jackson, Reunion Jazz Band, Bob Barnards Jazz Band the Greame Bell All Stars and played in Tom Bakers Groups. John has recorded extensively as a jazz man and also as a soloist - session man for commercial recordings. He has been a supporting musician for visiting jazz artists Topsy Chapman and Barbara Morrison. He has also been a supporting musician with Bud Freeman, Ralph Sutton, Wild Bill Davidson and Art Hodes, with all of whom he recorded. In 1991 and 1992 John won the Australian Jazz Critics Award for clarinet and is considered one of our finest jazzmen.
You can Book a band lead by John, by E-Mailing to riffraffjazz@dodo.com.au
