|
Jazz Orchestra
The Pete
McGuinness Jazz Orchestra
After
years of performing with and writing for numerous jazz big
bands, Pete finally decided to realize his life-long dream
and front a large jazz ensemble of his own. The Pete McGuinness
Jazz Orchestra was formed in 2006 and immediately began
performing in NYC area jazz clubs. It features all of the
various aspects of Pete’s musicianship - as a trombonist,
composer/arranger, and jazz vocalist. Pete’s music for the
band is a reflection of all the many great jazz writers Pete
has loved and been influenced by throughout his life,
including composer/arrangers Bill Holman, Bob Brookmeyer (a
former teacher of Pete’s), and the late Thad Jones, as well
as more recently established voices, such as John Fedchock
and Maria Schneider, creating a sound that is uniquely his
own. With a line-up of some of NYC’s very best big band
players and jazz soloists, there is a variety of exciting
and interesting personalities in the group which help spur
Pete’s various arrangements on (see “galley” page to view
photos of all of the musicians in the band). Like Pete, most
of the players have spent time with many other well-known
jazz big bands, including the Woody Herman Orchestra, the
Lionel Hampton and Buddy Rich big bands, the Maria Schneider
Jazz Orchestra, John Fedchock’s “New York Big Band”, The
Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, and others. Some of the musicians,
such as trumpeter Bill Mobley and pianist Mike Holober lead
full jazz orchestras of there own.
In September of
2006, the band went into New York’s famous Nola recording
studios to record it’s debut CD, “First Flight”. Pete was
ably assisted by legendary trombonist-arranger bandleader
John Fedchock, who acted as session producer, and later
provided the linear notes for the finished CD. In January
2007, the band and the CD project caught the attention of
the A + R people at Summit records, and the CD was set for
release. In June of 2007, “First Flight” was put out
nation-wide. See below to hear audio samples of various
tracks. The printed arrangements for each cut are also
available for purchase. See the
Contact page for ordering
information for either the CD and/or any of the charts from
the recording. You can find out when the band will be
appearing next by clicking the “Events” page on this site.
Members of The Pete McGuinness Jazz Orchestra:
Pete McGuinness
- leader/composer-arranger/trombone soloist/jazz vocals
Saxes:
Dave Pietro
Charles Pillow
Tom Christensen
Jason Rigby
Dave Riekenberg
Trumpets:
Tony Kadleck
Jon Owens
Bill Mobley
Chris Rogers
Trombones:
Bruce Eidem
Mike Christianson
Steve Armour
Jeff Nelson
Rhythm:
Mike Holober - piano
Andy Eulau - bass
Scott Neumann - drums |
Audio Samples
* Score and parts for each
selection are available for purchase
Here.
* All
arrangements by Pete
|
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
|
|
|
Home
| Bio | Jazz
Orchestra | Discography | Gallery
| Events/Gigs
|
Contact/Order
|
