Zachary Finnegan: Guidance and Gratitude

Guidance and Gratitude from trumpeter and composer Zachary Finnegan delivers nine highly-textured and involving selections. Each selection presents itself with a story background in its title and each is a multi-layered composition, a micro-symphony. It is intelligent music.

"Urban Motion" is an energetic, perhaps frantic, landscape with an ostinato six-note bed and a reflective interlude before Finnegan takes off over Camila Minnitte Pereyra's furious drumming that is negotiating with him. There is also an all hell breaks loose guitar solo from Matt Gold. The motif returns and trumpet and melody reappear. "Deceptive Rhetoric," is up-tempo and post-modern bop drenched. There's an impressionistic interlude with Lenard Simpson III's soprano saxophone over an almost Asian texture. The impressionistic soundscape continues with pianist Julius Tucker painting a haunting melody on "Guidance and Gratitude." Finnegan's horn joins and there's a burst of ensemble. The texture changes into a triple-metered platform for Finnegan's fine solo. All ends on an exciting, elevating and positive note. "Angel Tribute" offers Finnegan spinning a lengthy arpeggiated melodic line before he is joined by pianist Julius Tucker. The piece generates an obvious copping of "You Are My Sunshine." It is a superb track.

As a composer, Finnegan seems to prefer Impressionistic textures and repetitive, spinning wheel lines. There are cinematic elements throughout the album. Finnegan is a fine trumpeter who has toured with Michael Buble and who has golden tone and excellent technical command. That plus his penchant writing melodically rhythmic repetition indicates his pen might be driven from the soul of his horn playing. Selected pieces offer structural and textural variations and layers. The incorporation of a string quartet on three tracks is a nice touch. The accompanying players here are all outstanding.

"The Movement," a darker, percussive statement, opens before Finnegan enters and offers a lengthy, inventive solo. It is pastel in its melodic presence. There is a frantic soprano solo here from Simpson. It is an intriguing track. "New Beginnings" is a slower and very lovely, scene painter in which pianist Tucker provides a terrific solo. It is the standout track of the album. "Perseverance" closes things out in an almost "Dolphin Dance" vibe, albeit more vigorously. Terrific solos here from bassist Ethan Philion and pianist Tucker.

Guidance and Gratitude is an interesting and aurally involving debut album.