John McDonough is a composer/improviser/trumpeter based in New York City. His main focus is Brilliant Coroners, a band that plays Thelonious Monk songs in a wide variety of styles, including punk, funk, heavy metal and techno. His compositions/arrangements have included an arrangement of Mingus’ Goodbye Porkpie Hat, Tracheotomy for eight vocalists, Landscape Under Construction, for between one and 42 CD players playing John Cage CDs and a piece for solo viola. He has worked with Anthony Braxton and recently released a duo CD with him on Nessa Records: 6 Duos (Wesleyan) 2006. McDonough is currently working on a piece for 25 saxophone and an album of standards.