Nick Finzer, a jazz trombonist/composer who has won numerous awards, is an award-winning musician. His musical prowess is solidly planted with one foot in history and the other leading to the present. Nick Finzer released “Exposition”, his debut recording as a bandleader, on his new label Outside in Music in January 2013. “Exposition” features Finzer’s unique musical perspective, with ten original compositions that draw from the many influences that have influenced his musical development. Nick discovered jazz through his high school years. He began a musical journey that would never be stopped with songs like “Harlem Airshaft” or “In a Sentimental Mood”. These experiences culminated with a performance by Elllington’s music at the Essentially Ellington Festival hosted at Jazz at Lincoln Center. This ignited Nick’s desire to move to New York City to pursue his dream of playing music. Wycliffe Gordon, a former Jazz at Lincoln Center Trombonist was also a mentor to Finzer. The relationship evolved into a four-year commission project in which Gordon composed four pieces featuring Nick while he was studying at the Eastman School of Music. Nick had the opportunity to perform with many musicians from Rochester, New York while studying at Eastman. This included engagements with Walt Weiskopf and John Clayton, Slide Hampton, John Clayton, John Clayton, and John Clayton. Finzer moved to New York City in 2010 and has since completed a Masters Degree at The Juilliard School. He shared the stage with Terrell Stafford at The Blue Note and Frank Wess at Dizzy’s Club. Nick was able to learn from many mentors, including Ray Drummond, Carl Allen, Ray Drummond and Frank Kimbrough. He also studied with Steve Turre, a jazz trombone innovator. Nick was a finalist for the 2010 International Trombone Association’s Carl Fontana Jazz Trombone Competition. In 2011, he was named the Eastern Trombone Workshop National Jazz Trombone Competition winner. He performed with Bill Reichenbach and Jim Pugh. Finzer is also an educator. The Institute for Creative Music, Nick’s non-profit, was awarded a grant from the Plum Creek Foundation in 2012 for “Great Classrooms”. Nick is currently the Co-Artistic director of the Institute for Creative Music. This non-profit organization promotes jazz and creative music throughout the country. Nick has led workshops, masterclasses and residencies from coast to coast since the founding of IfCM in 2011. Nick has also worked independently with students at the Eastman School of Music and Penn State. He has also taught at Ithaca College, Gonzaga University and Eastern Washington University. He was also a faculty member of the Eastman Summer Jazz Camp and the Juilliard Jazz Summer Camps, both in West Palm Beach, Florida, and Ephraim (Utah). Nick continues to perform, compose and teach in New York City, while also maintaining an active touring schedule and formulating new projects. Finzer is committed to developing his art from the music’s lineage, while remaining true to his musical voice. from www.nickfinzermusic.com
