About
Boston-based saxophonist and composer, Hunter McKay, bridges the gap between various styles such as rock, jazz, contemporary classical, and experimental music, with a clockwork-like approach to rhythm, serpentine harmonies, and transportive improvisation.

 

Hunter is the founder of the Social Animals Big Band, a Boston-based collective with a postmodern musical philosophy that blends jazz aesthetics with various stylistic influences including folk, rock, hip-hop, and experimental music. In 2021, Hunter and his co-bandleader, Skyler Hagner received a Jazz Roads Tour Grant from South Arts. Hunter is also a member of the early jazz ensemble, the Unfailing Four, Boston-based experimental quartet, AHHA, and genre bending jazz quintet, The Still Point.. As a member of the Portland Jazz Orchestra, Hunter has performed with jazz artists such as Jeff Coffin and Graham Breedlove.  He has also performed as a sideman with popular artists such as Godsmack lead singer, Sully Erna, and America's Got Talent Winner, Landau Eugene Murphy Jr.  

 

Hunter is a doctoral teaching fellow at the New England Conservatory of Music and professor of music theory at Fitchburg State University. He is currently finishing his DMA in jazz composition from the New England Conservatory. He earned his MM in jazz arranging at William Paterson University, and his BM in saxophone performance from the University of Southern Maine.