For your Grammy® Consideration

McGuinness was spurred to delve deeper as a composer and a vocalist for Mixed Bag since the album marks the orchestra’s first release since he was forced to put down his beloved trombone. In recent years the bandleader suffered from a neurological disorder known as “embouchure dystonia” that gradually made playing his lifelong instrument unmanageable. “I miss playing,” he explains succinctly. “I focused more on my writing, which led to this being the strongest record I’ve done yet with the big band. I also put a lot into my singing because I still want to express myself as a soloist.”

The loss of McGuinness’ trombone from its ranks is one of remarkably few personnel changes that the orchestra has undergone throughout its history. It’s rare for a band of this size to maintain such consistency over such a long period, even more so given that each chair is filled by one of the most in-demand and virtuosic musicians on the New York City jazz, studio and Broadway scenes. They’re bonded by more than talent, however, comprising a generation of players with shared experiences and deep ties of personal and professional camaraderie.

“For the most part, we all came to New York around the same time, roughly 30 years ago,” McGuinness points out. “We formed a community of cats who played in big bands in New York, who were all in the trenches together for many years before I put this band together. There are a lot of talented young bands and talented young cats, but what makes our band unique is the fact that these cats are so well-seasoned that they bring a level of maturity and grown-up interpretation to the execution of my arrangements.”