NICK FINZER

LEGACY: A CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF J.J. JOHNSON

Outside in Music

Nick Finzer, trombone; Renee Rosnes, piano; Rufus Reid, bass; Lewis Nash, drums.

This latest CD released by trombonist, Nick Finzer is a tribute and centennial celebration to J.J. Johnson. Johnson is considered one of the most influential and pioneering trombonists in jazz history.  For this recording, Finzer gathered some of Johnson’s original band members including brilliant pianist Renee Rosnes, bassist extraordinaire, Rufus Reid and dynamic drummer Lewis Nash.  They set up a recording date at the iconic Rudy Van Gelder studios in Englewood, New Jersey.  This is the spot where Johnson himself recorded several of his classic albums.

Finzer opens with J.J. Johnson’s original composition, “Say When” that he recorded in 1987 with his big band. He recorded the second song that Finzer and his group play on this latest album, “Legacy” is a tune from Johnson’s same big band album.  The second tune is titled “Shortcake.”

“Sometimes it is the nature of our industry to overlook the trombone, but as my mentor, Steve Turre has said many times, J.J. Johnson did for the trombone what Charlie Parker did for the saxophone,” Nick Finzer asserts.

Carefully picking from the Johnson songbook, Finzer has also chosen to record the beautiful ballad, “Lament,” and “Fatback,” that’s a low-down blues tune. Renee Rosnes offers a tremendous piano solo, while Rufus Reid walks his big, bad bass underneath the groove. Lewis Nash pushes the tune ahead with solid trap drum licks. Additionally, Finzer adds a few of his own compositions including Track #6, “That Thing” and another one titled “CC” that swings hard, with a joyful melody that skips across my listening room. Finzer’s tone and technique are warm and smooth as silk.

Finzer is one of the dynamic jazz trombonists who has emerged from our millennial generation. He is an award-winning composer, arranger, producer, and musician who is credited as being a jazz talent who brings street-cred to the trombone.  His mother is an internationally recognized flutist and instilled in him a deep love of music.

Inspired and fascinated by the music of Duke Ellington, young Nick Finzer was performing at the annual Essentially Ellington Competition of Jazz at Lincoln Center as a high school student. Wycliffe Gordon heard him and began a mentorship program with the talented youngster. Finzer went on to get his master’s degree at Juilliard’s prestigious jazz program, where he continued his mentoring under the tutelage of trombone legend, Steve Turre. Every song on this album is well-played and musically delightful.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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