Year Joined: 1985
Main Genre: Jazz
About me: Bill McCann has been the Host of "The Saturday Morning Edition of Jazz" on WCDB since April of 1985. This weekly jazz program airs on Saturday mornings from 8 am until Noon. April 2020 will mark the 35th Anniversary of Bill's hosting of this award-winning program. To mark the occasion, and to celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month, a "Day of Jazz" will be held on April 18, 2020, at the Alumni House at the University at Albany, featuring many of the finest jazz bands and jazz musicians from the Capital District. The program will include 10 bands in total!!!. The event will kick off at 1 pm with the UAlbany Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of David Hosley; followed by Michael Benedict Jazz Vibes; The Teresa Broadwell Trio; Cliff Brucker and Full Circle; Colleen Pratt with the Peg Delaney Trio; Skip Parsons Riverboat Jazz Band; The Joe Finn Trio; The Brian Patneaude Quartet; Joe Barna and Sketches of Influence; and the Dylan Perrillo Orchestra. The event will be free and open to the public, and is made possible through the generous support of our Sponsors: The UAlbany Alumni Association; The UAlbany Foundation; University Auxiliary Services (UAS); WCDB and Student Association; A Place For Jazz; and Canon Kay C. Hotaling. Bill received the prestigious "Jazz Hero" Award from the Jazz Journalists Association in 2012(the JJA) https://www.jjajazzawards.org/p/jazz-heroes.html. He was also named "Best Jazz D.J." on several occasions by "The Metroland" - the former long-time premiere weekly arts publication in the Capital District of New York. In recognition of his radio efforts, Bill was nominated for an "Eddies" Award in 2019, in the "Radio DJ of the Year" category. He has received a second nomination in 2020. https://theeddiesawards.com/index.php/2020-eddies-awards-nominees/ In addition to his serving as Host and Jazz Director at WCDB, Bill has been very active in the Jazz Community in the Capital District. He is a member of the Board of Directors of "A Place for Jazz" and has served as a Board Member for many years. A Place for Jazz is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation dedicated to promoting Jazz in the Capital District, and beyond. (aplaceforjazz.org) Bill is also a member of the Swingtime Jazz Society, a membership based organization having as it's sole purpose the promotion of good music by sponsoring open-to-the-public concerts that feature regional jazz artists. (swingtimejazz.org)