Trombonist Nick Finzer Set To Release Debut Big Band Album

Trombonist & Composer Nick Finzer Announces Debut Big Band Album – The Jazz Orchestra Volume 1 Out August 22, 2025

(New York, NY) – 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.

Stories Behind the Music

We the People – One of the most powerful pieces on the album, We the People was arranged by Jack Courtright, one of Finzer’s standout graduate students at the University of North Texas. The piece originated in 2016, amid the charged political climate of that year’s U.S. election. “The days after that election were some of the darkest I remember in New York,” says Finzer. “But this tune is about hope—about the power of people to lift each other up and fight for institutions that work for us rather than against us.” The song’s message remains as relevant as ever…

Lament – A tribute to JJ Johnson’s iconic trombone ballad, this new arrangement channels the harmonic depth of Gil Evans, whose orchestrations greatly influenced Finzer’s writing. “I’ve done several versions of Lament at this point—it’s a cornerstone for trombonists,” Finzer explains. “Gil Evans and Miles Davis included it on Miles Ahead, and that legacy is something I wanted to honor while bringing my own voice into the mix. Gil’s writing has always fascinated me, and I was deeply trying to dig into understanding [Gil’s writing] more, when I was working on this arrangement.”

The Ensemble – A Meeting of Small & Large Group Traditions

One of the defining elements of The Jazz Orchestra Volume 1 is the blend of small-group interplay within the full jazz orchestra setting. At its core, the ensemble features members of Finzer’s longtime sextet (formed in 2012), including Lucas Pino (tenor sax), Alex Wintz (guitar), Glenn Zaleski (piano), Dave Baron (bass), and Jimmy Macbride (drums), seamlessly integrated with an expanded roster of some of New York’s finest rising star jazz musicians.

Full Personnel:

🔹 Saxophones:

• Michael Thomas (Alto 1)
• Jordan Pettay (Alto 2)
• Lucas Pino (Tenor 1)
• Evan Harris (Tenor 2)
• Tony Lustig (Baritone Sax)

🔹 Trumpets:

• Augie Haas (Lead)
• Anthony Hervey
• Nadje Noordhuis
• Chloe Rowlands

🔹 Trombones:

• Rob Edwards (Lead)
• James Burton III
• Sara Jacovino
• Altin Sencalar

🔹 Rhythm Section:

• Alex Wintz (Guitar)
• Glenn Zaleski (Piano)
• Dave Baron (Bass)
• Jimmy Macbride (Drums)

Live Album Release Performance – August 25, 2025

To celebrate the album’s release, the Nick Finzer Jazz Orchestra will take the stage at Dizzy’s Club – Jazz at Lincoln Center for an exclusive album launch concert.

📅 August 25, 2025
📍 Dizzy’s Club, Jazz at Lincoln Center, NYC
🕖 Sets at 7 PM & 9 PM

Full Release Schedule

• June 20, 2025 – We the People (Single)
• July 25, 2025 – The Guru (Single)
• August 22, 2025 – The Jazz Orchestra Volume 1 (Full Album Release)

About Nick Finzer

A trailblazing voice on the trombone, Nick Finzer is redefining the role of the instrument in modern jazz. Praised by jazz icon Wycliffe Gordon as “a new voice to the pantheon of upcoming trombone greats in the making… the WHOLE package,” Finzer has carved out a unique space in the jazz world as a composer, bandleader, and educator.

Through his acclaimed solo projects, work with leading jazz artists (Anat Cohen, Ryan Truesdell, Lewis Nash, Renee Rosnes, Rufus Reid), and role as a mentor to the next generation of musicians (at the University of North Texas), Finzer is committed to honoring tradition while pushing jazz into new territory.

Source: Higher Level Media

Photo Credit: Will von Bolton