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| Nick Finzer is back with Debut Big Band Release Trombonist, composer, and bandleader Nick Finzer is proud to announce the release of his first full-length big band album, The Jazz Orchestra Volume 1, on August 22, 2025. Featuring an all-star lineup of New York's finest rising star jazz musicians, the album pays tribute to the rich history of the jazz orchestra while offering a fresh, contemporary voice in the large ensemble tradition. Finzer's journey toward a big band recording was organic rather than intentional, stemming from years of composing and arranging for the format. "I never set out to make a big band album, " he reflects, "but over time, I realized that I had built a collection of pieces that I truly loved for the jazz orchestra. Duke Ellington was my earliest and biggest inspiration to get into this music — and his ability to write for individual players rather than just instruments is something I've always admired and aspired to as a bandleader." This recording is a product of the post-pandemic era, captured in a single-day session in 2022 through a grant from the University of North Texas. With a carefully curated ensemble of top-tier musicians, the project came together in a fast-paced single day setting that captured the raw energy and spontaneity of the music. The album's title, The Jazz Orchestra Volume 1, reflects Finzer's conscious effort to contribute to the innovative and ever-evolving trajectory of large ensemble jazz. "The term 'big band' still carries associations with dance music from the '20s and '30s, " he explains. "While I love that history, this music isn't about nostalgia—it's about continuing to evolve the jazz orchestra tradition." This release also marks the beginning of an ongoing journey, as the "Volume 1" in the title suggests. "I hope this is the first of many big band recordings in my catalog, " says Finzer. Hailed as a "Rising Star" in the world of jazz (DownBeat Critics Poll), Nick Finzer is making waves in the music industry with his dynamic original compositions and trombone artistry. Finzer has toured the globe as a bandleader as well as sharing the stage with some of the most respected names in jazz. As both a headlining trombonist and an entrepreneur, Finzer is on a mission to spread the joy and power of jazz. Finzer's love for jazz began in his childhood, when he became captivated with the music of Duke Ellington. This passion led him to participate in the annual Essentially Ellington competition at Jazz at Lincoln Center, inspiring him to follow his dreams to move to NYC to pursue a life in music. Finzer went on to study at the renowned Eastman School of Music and then The Juilliard School, where he was mentored by trombone legend Steve Turre. A highlight of Finzer's recent accolades include a Grammy nomination with Anat Cohen's Tentet, being named "Rising Star Trombonist '' in the Downbeat Magazine 2020 Critics Poll, and receiving an ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award. As a bandleader, Finzer has released seven critically acclaimed albums, garnering features in the industry's top publications and placements in the Top 10 of the JazzWeek's charts. In 2020, he was awarded the prestigious New Jazz Works grant from Chamber Music America, resulting in his 2023 album "Dreams, Visions, Illusions". write your comments about the article :: © 2025 Jazz News :: home page |