Nick Finzer (jazz trombone) Freelance Jazz Trombonist Nick Finzer is a recent graduate of the Eastman School of Music, in Rochester NY. A Rochester native, Nick began his musical training in the 4th grade. Since then, Nicks passion for music has been growing and expanding rapidly, with influences ranging from the jazz and classical genres to rock and popular music.

In high school, Nick was chosen to play lead trombone with the 2005 Gibson/Baldwin GRAMMY Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Justin Diciocio, where he performed with renowned jazz artists Benny Golson, Jon Hendricks, Al Jarreau and Kurt Elling. Nick also developed a relationship with trombonist Wycliffe Gordon at this time, taking lessons and performing with him from time to time. Nick then chose to further his studies of jazz by attending the Eastman School of Music where he earned a Bachelors of Music in Jazz and Contemporary Media.

After graduation from high school, The Commission Project (a Rochester, NY non-profit whose mission is to commission pieces for school ensembles of various levels) chose Nick to participate in a program that teamed up Nick with Wycliffe Gordon to compose and perform four pieces specifically for Nicks own groups. The first piece in the series (a three part suite entitled The Nick of Time scored for jazz sextet) was premiered on Nicks first solo recital as a student at the Eastman School of Music. The second sextet piece, Bebop da Boogaloo was featured on a live radio broadcast on Rochesters jazz station Jazz 90.1 FM. Nick had the pleasure of premiering the third piece (the first for full jazz ensemble) with his alma mater the Hilton High School jazz ensemble with Gordon in attendance, and additionally with the Fairport High School jazz ensemble. The fourth piece in the series features a duet for Nick and Wycliffe on the George Gershwin composition I Got Rhythm accompanied by full jazz ensemble. Wycliffes arrangement of I Got Rhythm was premiered in April of 2009 with the Webster Schroeder High School jazz ensemble.

Nick can be seen performing with the Gap Mangione Big Band, the Rick Holland-Evan Dobbins Little Big Band, the Dave Rivello Ensemble, Orquestra Antonetti, The Po Boys Brass Band, and leading his own jazz-funk project DubbleStuff and the Nick Finzer Sextet. Nick has had the pleasure of performing with the legendary Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (lead by Buddy Morrow), Frank Tiberi, Rich Perry, Jeff Beal, Harold Danko, Clay Jenkins, Bill Dobbins, Al Chez and the Brothers of Funk Big Band, along with many fantastic salsa artists including Tito Alan, NKlabe, Eddie Santiago, Luisito Rosario, Kevin Ceballo, Michael Stewart, and Lalo Rodriguez.