Nick Finzer Archive

Nick Finzer – Hear & Now [TrackList follows] – Outside in Music

by Audiophile Audition | Jun 12, 2017 | Jazz CD Reviews

Nick Finzer – Hear & Now [TrackList follows] – Outside in Music OiM1701, 57:19 [2/17/17] ****: Trombone in the here and now. (Nick Finzer – trombone, co-producer; Lucas Pino – tenor saxophone, bass clarinet; Alex Wintz – guitar; Glenn Zaleski – piano; Dave Baron – bass; Jimmy Macbride – drums) Trombonist Nick Finzer’s third release, Hear & Now, is a notable jazz album. First, it introduces Finzer’s new sextet, also dubbed Hear & Now. Second, it confirms trombones are masterful jazz instruments and trombonists continue to be dynamic jazz group leaders and composers: think Trombone Shorty, the members of New Orleans’ band Bonerama and Robin Eubanks. Third, the socio-political elements which flit through the hour-long Hear & Now resonate loud and clear in a time of turmoil, confusion, hatred and conflict: Hear & Now reinforces the idea that instrumental jazz music should, when possible, have connections to all our lives: not just musical but political, emotional and so on. All but one of the nine tracks are Finzer originals (there is one cover by Duke Ellington). Finzer starts with the initial single, “We the People.” The tune’s sentiment mirrors a quote by Indian philosopher, speaker and writer Jiddu Krishnamurti—the quote […]