In 1992, McGhee released his only album as leader, Could It Be (Mags Records 1334), a self-produced effort recorded in Boston that showcased his mature improvisational approach on tenor and soprano saxophones. The session featured pianist Ray Santisi, guitarist Joe Cohn, bassist Marshall Wood, drummer John Ramsay, and arrangements by Greg Hopkins, with standout tracks including the ballad “Sophisticated Lady”—praised for its harmonic depth and Coltrane influences—and the up-tempo original “Better Late Than Never.” The album emphasized lyrical ballads and standards like “Lover” and “Round Midnight,” reflecting McGhee’s emphasis on melodic storytelling over virtuosic flash. Distribution was limited, making it a rare document of his post-big band artistry.

“It is apparent that Andy McGhee knows too much about the essence of jazz to produce works that hammer the ear with ‘cleverness’ or confused ‘complexity.’ Here we see demonstrated the primary purpose of composition and arrangement for jazz performance: To create the best context for sparking improvisation at the highest level” – Stu Vandermark

Label: Mags Records – 1334
Format: CD, Album
Released: 1992