Chip McNeill

Jazz Tenor Saxophonist
Chip McNeill is an Assistant Professor and Director of Jazz Studies at Virginia Tech University. He is currently the Musical Director and jazz tenor saxophonist for Grammy Award Winning recording artist Arturo Sandoval and has recorded with Arturo on his latest release "Hot House" on N2K Encoded Music. He was previously the Musical Director and jazz saxophonist for Maynard Ferguson. Chip produced, wrote and performed on four of Maynard' s latest releases: "One More Trip To Birdland" ('96, Concord Jazz), "These Cats Can Swing" ('95, Concord Jazz), "Live From London" ('94, Warner Bros. Jazz), and "Footpath Cafe" ('93, Avion Jazz).
Mr. McNeill has performed at countless jazz festivals and clubs around the world such as The North Sea Jazz Festival (The Hague, Holland), The Noto Jazz Festival (Japan), The Wigan Jazz Festival (England), The Pori Jazz Festival (Finland), The Wiesen Jazz Festival (Australia), The Immatra Jazz Festival (Finland), The Warsaw Jazz Festival (Poland), The Capitol Jazz Festival (U.S.A.), The Charlotte Jazz Festival (U.S.A.) and clubs such as The Blue Note (New York City), The Blue Note (Tokyo), The Blue Note (Osaka), Blues Alley (Washington D.C.), The House of Blues (Los Angeles), and the Jazz Showcase (Chicago).
Mr. McNeill's list of recording credits as a jazz tenor saxophonist have included such notables as Arturo Sandoval, Nat Adderley, Duffy Jackson, Ira Sullivan, The Woody Herman Orchestra, Ted Shumate and Larry Willis.
A Graduate of the University of Miami (Master in Studio Jazz Composition), he enjoys an active performance schedule as a solo saxophonist, clinician, writer and pianist. His past performances included numerous tours around the world with Arturo Sandoval, Maynard Ferguson, The Woody Herman Orchestra, The University of Miami Concert Jazz Band, and the North Texas State 1 O'clock Lab Band.
He has also performed with many of the world's top jazz artists and entertainers such as Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Joe Williams, Dizzy Gillespie, Billy Eckstine, Wynton Marsalis, Randy and Michael Brecker, Nat Adderley, David Liebman, Bob Mintzer, Slide Hampton, Tom Harrell, Paquito D'Rivera, and Ira Sullivan. Special venues he has performed include Carnegie Hall (U.S.), Town Hall (Sydney, Australia), the London Palladium and numerous jazz radio and television productions in Europe, Japan, U.K., India, and Indonesia.
Chip loves playing so much that he also performs with many local artists including the Bob Peckman Jazz Band. He often plays piano when we need it, exposing the secret that he is also a monster piano player.