Pete leads and/or co-leads several of his own jazz groups, including The New York Trombone Conspiracy, and the Pete McGuinness Jazz Orchestra, his new 16-piece big band which performs regularly in the NYC area.
The orchestra’s debut CD “First Flight” was released nation-wide in June of 2007 on the Summit Records label to much critical acclaim (“4-stars”: Downbeat Magazine) and radio airplay, and includes Pete’s GRAMMY-nominated arrangement of the Charlie Chaplin classic song “Smile”. .
Pete has been awarded numerous commission grants to compose original works, including awards from the NEA, and has had his music performed by Dave Liebman, Marvin Stamm, the Lionel Hampton Orchestra, and The Westchester Jazz Orchestra. He also is a past semi-finalist of the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition for vocalists.
Pete has been a member of the New Jersey City University jazz studies faculty since 1994, and is a clinician for Conn-Selmer brand instruments. His published compositions/arrangements are available through Otter Music Distributors and Kendor Music, and at Pete’s website (below). Pete’s educational degrees include Bachelor of Music (University of Miami, 1986), and Master of Music (Manhattan School of Music, 1987).. |