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 at The Bunker Studio (Brooklyn, NY) 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.