A talented multi-instrumentalist, best known for his longtime association with the innovative jazz group Oregon.

Born in Pennsylvania to a musical family, McCandless inherited his artistic passion from his parents who were both music teachers. His father played the oboe, as well as his grandfather, who acquainted Paul in his youth with the world of musical instruments in his repair shop, where pieces of old horns became toys. By 9, McCandless was playing the clarinet. Although his training was classical, he was introduced to jazz during junior high school and was learning saxophone at the same time that he took up his primary instrument, oboe.

While studying at the Manhattan School of Music, McCandless embarked on his performing career playing with the Pittsburgh Symphony at Carnegie Hall and the United Nations when he was only 19.

At the recommendation of his oboe teacher, Robert Bloom, Toscanini’s first oboe player, he joined the Paul Winter Consort, establishing an affinity for unconventional contemporary chamber settings. He played with the Consort until 1973, recording 5 albums and appearing at Fillmores East and West plus other major venues throughout the US.

While with the Consort, McCandless formed an alliance with guitarist/pianist Ralph Towner, bassist Glen Moore and percussionist Collin Walcott with whom he formed Oregon. Oregon continues to record and perform.

In 1999, he recorded three of his orchestral scores for Oregon and the Moscow Tchaikovsky Orchestra called Oregon In Moscow.

McCandless has also performed with various orchestras and has played and recorded with numerous artists including Jaco Pastorius, Eberhard Weber, Carla Bley, Pat Metheny, Steve Reich and Bruce Hornsby, as well as sessions of his own for Elektra and Windham Hill.

McCandless has specialised in a broad range of both single and double reed instruments, adding the bass clarinet, soprano and sopranino saxophones, penny whistles, various ethnic flutes and the electronic wind controller to his primary instruments, the oboe and English horn.