Nick Finzer: The Jazz Orchestra Volume 1

Listening chronologically to seven of Nick Finzer's preceding albums is enlightening and entertaining, making several aspects of his musicianship abundantly apparent. His trombone sound is full and expressive, his playing melodious and he can soulfully sing a ballad. Six albums, dating back to 2013, featured his highly talented sextet, a significant accomplishment that enhances the depth and confidence of the recordings. But Finzer's evolving skills in arranging his fresh compositions truly distinguish his work. He choreographs his bandmates amidst lovely harmonies and shifting dynamics, their solos artfully staggered. It seems inevitable, then, that Finzer would expand his sextet into a larger organism. Ergo, the 18-member The Jazz Orchestra Volume 1. All of the songs herein appeared on previous recordings, imaginatively reorchestrated for this release.

"The Guru" from the sextet album Cast of Characters (Outside in Music, 2020) is an excellent example. Rather than the all-too-common head-solos-head structure, Finzer's charts transform a pleasant and straightforward theme into an elevated, far more interesting experience. The scripted interplay flows loosely, mixing and contrasting musical personalities, timbres and statements. The sextet itself sounds orchestral, but the additional 12 voices add richer ensemble passages and moments of tension that ebb and flow with the central theme and its interpretations. Both versions warrant multiple listenings.

Finzer shines on the melancholy and beautiful ballad "Lament" by the legendary J J Johnson. First recorded on Jay and Kay (Savoy, 1954), it included Kai Winding as a second harmonizing trombone over a guitar trio, giving the rendition a novel voicing. Finzer recorded the song on his celebration of Johnson's 100th birthday, Legacy (Outside in Music, 2024) (AAJ review: Nick Finzer: Legacy), on which he is the lone horn. While faithful to the original in tempo and emotional feel, he deftly re-arranges the tune for piano trio. It opens with a brief marching cadence and a muted trombone intro before launching into heartfelt explorations. It ends on a sweet, sustained note that wistfully trails off.

The orchestral performance begins with the brass suggesting the theme over an ostinato phrase by the reeds. Layered horn harmonies swell and recede around solo statements by multiple players, deepening the emotional journey that gently drifts away. "Lament" has been performed countless times since its origin, memorably as an interlude on Miles Ahead (Columbia, 1957) by Gil Evans and Miles Davis. Finzer's longer arrangement significantly reimagines the tune and ranks among the most creative, making it a highlight of this consistently entertaining recording.

Volume one bodes well for the future. What can we expect as the index increases? New material written specifically for this larger ensemble? The addition of strings? A multi-movement thematic suite? Finzer's evolution so far, and The Jazz Orchestra Volume 1 in particular, are encouraging.