I like this guy! Pete McGuinness started his career as a trombonist (and he still shows his brass muscles here as well) but he’s veered over to the vocal side of life in this stage of this career, with this most recent release going, as the song says, “All The Way.” He’s joined by an adroit cast of boppers in Ted Kooshian/p, Andy Eulau/b, Scott N eumann/dr Jon Gordon/as-fl and Bill Mobley/tp. The songs, all jazz standards, have McGuinness mixing perfectly timed scatting (as on “Birks’ Works”) to increased testosteroned Chet Baker vocals on pieces like “Oh, You Crazy Moon” and “Yesterdays.” Gordon and Mobley get the lion’s share of the solos, but the rhythm team is as sleek as a NASCAR driver. McGuinness’ delivery, like Baker’s, is akin to a brass instrument, hitting the accents just right, as if he were soloing with a horn, as his take of “Tea For Two,” even with the intro, has the feel of a late night jam session of fellow instrumentalists. You’ll want to see this guy in town. Get him to LA!
Summit Records