Gary Ronald McFarland (October 23, 1933 – November 2, 1971) was an American composer, arranger, conductor, vibraphonist, and vocalist. He recorded for the jazz imprints Verve and Impulse! Records during the 1960s. DownBeat magazine said he made "one of the more significant contributors to orchestral jazz". A 2015 review of a McFarland DVD documentary called him "one of the busiest New York jazz arrangers of the 1960s". The review further stated that McFarland's "ascendance coincided with the rise of bossa nova, and McFarland was adept at translating the mercurial song form into orchestrations. He wrote some beautiful orchestral settings for great soloists, yet wasn't immune to commercial forces."Silsbee, Kirk, "Gary McFarland: This Is Gary McFarland" (review), DownBeat, April 2015
Life McFarland was born in Los Angeles, on October 23, 1933, but relocated at the age of 15 to Grants Pass, Oregon.
He attained a small following after working with jazz luminaries Bill Evans, Gerry Mulligan, Johnny Hodges, John Lewis, Stan Getz, Bob Brookmeyer, and Anita O'Day.
As well as his own albums and arrangements for other musicians he composed the scores to the films Eye of the Devil (1966) and Who Killed Mary What's 'Er Name? (1971). By the end of the 1960s, he was moving away from jazz towards an often wistful or melancholy style of instrumental pop, as well as producing the recordings of other artists on his Skye Records label (run in partnership with Norman Schwartz, Gábor Szabó and Cal Tjader, until its bankruptcy in 1970). He also produced and arranged the soft-rock album Genesis by singing sisters Wendy and Bonnie Flower.Diamond, Jack, "Wendy and Bonnie — Genesis" (album review), KFJC 89.7FM, January 15, 2009
McFarland was considering a move into writing and arranging for film and stage. However, at age 38, on November 2, 1971the same day that he completed the Broadway album, To Live Another Summer; To Pass Another WinterMcFarland died in New York City at St. Vincent's Hospital from a lethal dose of liquid methadone that he had ingested at Bar 55 at 55 Christopher Street in Greenwich Village. It is not known whether he took the drug on purpose or someone spiked his drink; police did not investigate. McFarland had been married since 1963 to Gail Evelyn Frankel (1942–2007); they had a son, Milo (1964–2002), and a daughter, Kerry. Milo McFarland died of a heroin overdose at the same age as his father, 38.
Discography As leader 1961: The Jazz Version of "How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying" - Verve 1963: The Gary McFarland Orchestra: Special Guest Soloist: Bill Evans - Verve 1963: Point of Departure - Impulse! 1964: Soft Samba - Verve 1965: Jazz at The Penthouse (1965 club date released in 2014 ad CD with the DVD documentary This Is Gary McFarland!) 1965: Tijuana Jazz with Clark Terry - Impulse! 1965: The In Sound - Verve 1966: Eye of the Devil (soundtrack) 1966: Simpático with Gábor Szabó - Impulse! 1966: Profiles - Impulse! 1966: Soft Samba Strings - Verve 1967: The October Suite with Steve Kuhn - Impulse! 1968: Scorpio and Other Signs - Verve 1968: Does the Sun Really Shine on the Moon? - Skye 1969: America the Beautiful: An Account of Its Disappearance - Skye 1969: Slaves with Grady Tate - Skye 1969: Today - Skye 1971: Butterscotch Rum with Peter Smith - Buddah Records 1972: Requiem for Gary McFarland - Cobblestone Records
As producer/arranger 1961: All the Sad Young Men – Anita O'Day (Verve) 1961: Gloomy Sunday and Other Bright Moments – Bob Brookmeyer (Verve) – two compositions by McFarland 1962: Essence – John Lewis (Atlantic) – all compositions by McFarland 1962: Big Band Bossa Nova – Stan Getz (Verve) 1963: Gerry Mulligan '63 – Gerry Mulligan (Verve) – 3 compositions by McFarland 1963: The Groovy Sound of Music – Gary Burton (RCA) 1965: Latin Shadows – Shirley Scott (Impulse!) 1966: Waiting Game – Zoot Sims (Impulse!) 1969: Genesis – Wendy and Bonnie (Skye) 1969: Dreams – Gábor Szabó (Skye) 1969: 1969 – Gábor (Skye) 1969: Lena & Gabor – Lena Horne and Gábor (Skye) 1971: Steve Kuhn – Steve Kuhn (Buddah)
As sideman Bob Brookmeyer, Trombone Jazz Samba (Verve, 1962)
References
External links "This is Gary McFarland!" Documentary "Twelve Essential Gary McFarland Performance" by Bill Kichner (Jazz.com)