Pete McGuinness

Originally from West Hartford, CT, Pete’s been a fixture on the NYC jazz scene since 1987. Before that, Pete studied at New England Conservatory (1981-83), University of Miami (1986, BM is jazz studies) and Manhattan School of Music (MM in jazz studies). As a professional trombonist, he has performed with numerous well-known artists and groups including the Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra, The Woody Herman Big Band (dir. by Frank Tibieri), The Lionel Hampton Orchestra, Jimmy Heath, Kenny Werner, Dave Pietro, the “Smoke Big Band” directed by Bill Mobley, and since 1997 has been a regular member of the New York BMI Jazz Composers Workshop Orchestra. He also is three-time GRAMMY-nominated big band arranger, a multi- award winning jazz vocalist, and leader of his own big band The Pete McGuinness Jazz Orchestra. The PMJO has released two CDs since 2007, the latest being “Strength In Numbers” (2014, Summit records) gaining a “4 and ½ stars” review in Downbeat magazine’s July 2014 issue. Numerous jazz artists and both college and professional big bands have commissioned Pete to compose/arrange music, including commissions from Dave Liebman, The Lionel Hampton Orchestra, The Swiss Jazz Orchestra, The Westchester Jazz Orchestra and The University of Miami (Fl.). He appears on over 50 jazz CDs, either as a trombonist, composer-arranger, vocalist, or producer, and has released a total of 4 CDs as a leader since 1998

. He has appeared on the Downbeat Magazine critics poll six times since 2007 in either the jazz arranger or male jazz vocalist category (“Rising Star”). Since 2016, he has been the tenor vocalist/contributing arranger of a new NYC-based jazz vocal quartet, “The Royal Bopsters”. Pete is currently Associate Professor of Jazz Arranging at William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ

Awards

-Nominated for 2008 Grammy Award - Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) for "Smile" on CD "First Flight" (Summit Records) -First prize - Jazzmobile vocal competition 2010.