Los Angeles–based multi-instrumentalist and composer Brett McDonald has established himself as a versatile performer, equally at home on saxophones, flutes, and clarinets across jazz, theater, classical, and commercial settings. His unique compositional style—blending jazz harmony with other disparate styles—was recognized with his chart The Beat In Progress, a breakbeat–big band fusion honored by the Jazz Educators Network (JEN Composition Showcase 2011) and ASCAP (Young Jazz Composers Awards: Honorable Mention, 2011). A varied and dynamic soloist drawing from a wide range of influences, his saxophone improvisations have been recognized by DownBeat magazine (Student Music Awards 2011) and the North American Saxophone Alliance (Jazz Saxophone Competition: semifinalist 2012, alternate finalist 2010).

As an in demand woodwind specialist, Brett has performed for LA Opera Off Grand, the San Diego Symphony, Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, and numerous productions at the Pantages and Dolby Theatres in Hollywood. His arrangements have been performed by the Cape Symphony (Kings of Soul and Swing), at the Collin County Jazz Festival (Bob Reynolds), and by the University of North Texas One and Two O’Clock Lab Bands.

He has toured extensively, including ten Broadway national tours: Dreamgirls (2012–2013, 2019–2020); A Christmas Story, The Musical (2014, 2015); My Fair Lady in China (2016); 42nd Street (2016–2017); How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2016–2019); and two national tours of Australia with the Glenn Miller Orchestra (2017, 2019). In the spring of 2019, he performed with the Ron King Big Band at the Java Jazz Festival in Jakarta, Indonesia—the largest jazz festival in the world. Brett currently resides in Long Beach, CA, where he maintains an active performance and writing schedule.