Album Review

"The multi-talented Pete McGuinness is a warm and fluent trombone soloist, a fine high-toned singer, and a skilled arranger. On the debut recording by his big band, McGuinness did all of the writing, composed six of the nine selections, and takes two scat vocals in addition to being the key soloist on trombone. He features such fine players as trumpeters Bill Mobley, Chris Rogers, and Tony Kadleck; tenors Tom Christiansen and Jason Rigby; altoists Dave Pietro and Charles Pillow; pianist Mike Holober (well showcased on "Comecar de Novo"); and the full trombone section on one of the best hottest selections, "The Tricksters." The music is essentially forward-looking straight-ahead hard bop, conventional but not lacking in surprises and excitement. First Flight is easily recommended to fans of modern big bands."       
                                                                                               ~ Scott Yanow,  Billboard.com