By Kerilie McDowall | Published August 2018
Smooth compositional transitions and joyous swinging harmonies emanate from Nick Finzer’s No Arrival. The New York trombonist’s vibe is upbeat and relaxed on five original compositions set among some standard fare with a contemporary twist.
The 30-year-old Finzer shapes melodies on the album in a polished, charismatic manner with arranging that summons intricate summits. The introductory “Rinse And Repeat” dances sunbeam-like with happy-go-lucky Latin ambiance. After reedist Lucas Pino’s fiery feature, guitarist Alex Wintz nails his solo, leading back to swooping unison piano and guitar, gliding in-between horns. “Tomorrow Next Year,” a burner for sizzling solo trombone and starry soaring saxophone, shows off cooking uptempo melodic lines. Gershwin’s “Soon” waltz is gentle, with well-crafted development, featuring outstanding lyrical piano accompaniment from Victor Gould. No Arrival’s finale, Billy Strayhorn’s “A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing,” is a modernized nod to the swing era. With restraint and respect for the elegance of Strayhorn, Finzer chooses sensitivity and space over flash, and brings melody forward, concluding with admiration for the tradition, honoring the genre’s legacy.
No Arrival: Rinse And Repeat; Never Enough; Maria; Tomorrow Next Year; Soon; No Arrival; Pyramid; Only This, Only Now; The Greatest Romance Ever Sold; A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing. (58:28)
Personnel: Nick Finzer, trombone; Lucas Pino, tenor saxophone, bass clarinet; Victor Gould, piano; Alex Wintz, guitar; Dave Baron, bass; Jimmy Macbride, drums.
