Austin McMahon, one of Boston’s most in-demand jazz drummers for two decades, is Resident Artist in drum set at the University of New Hampshire and also teaches at Berklee and New England Conservatory. He performs regularly with saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi, plays in the C.A.T. trio with pianist Carmen Staaf and bassist Tony Scherr, and works with pianist Vardan Ovsepian.
He has appeared on more than fifty albums, co-founded the Fractamodi record label, and won Best Jazz Song at the Independent Music Awards. His latest release as a leader, his first in more than a decade, is the EP Things Are Looking Up, with saxophonist Troy Roberts, guitarist Nate Radley and organist Ana Petrova.
Austin performs weekly as a member of Jerry Bergonzi’s Quartet and has performed and/or recorded with George Garzone, Joe Lovano, Lionel Loueke, Ben Monder, Lage Lund, Kate McGarry and Grace Kelly. He has appeared as an opening act for Grammy award-winners Dianne Reeves and Esperanza Spalding.
On tour, Austin has performed at:
– Carnegie Hall
– The Kennedy Center
– Earshot Jazz Festival
– Aspen Music Festival
– Discover Jazz Festival
– Cape Cod Jazz Festival
– Bar Harbor Jazz Festival
– Lake George Jazz Festival
– Young Jazz in Town Festival (Foligno, Italy)
– Casa de Teatro Jazz Festival (Dominican Republic)
– Ballydehob International Jazz Festival (Cork, Ireland),
as well as performing at jazz clubs, concert halls and theaters throughout the US, Italy, Germany, Finland, and France.
McMahon is the winner of the 9th annual Independent Music Awards for Jazz Song Category and Nominee for Best Jazz Album in the 11th annual IMA’s. His debut CD Many Muses was selected as a CDBaby Editor’s pick and described as “subtle, reverential to tradition, and thoroughly new.” He has been featured on NPR JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater, WLRN Miami (NPR station) and live on WGBH radio, Boston, MA.
Austin has taught at New England Conservatory and spent six years as a Teaching Assistant for Jazz Improvisation at Harvard University, earning a Certificate of Distinction in Teaching. He has given masterclasses at Harvard University, University of Miami, University of Mainz (Germany) as well as numerous colleges and high schools throughout the US.
Austin is also the co-founder, producer and recording artist for the burgeoning record label Fractamodi (fractamodi.com) and has recorded on more than fifty commercially released albums in the past several years.
