Album Notes

A professional musician for fifty years, Matt Finley plays flugelhorn, trumpet, flute and soprano sax. A native of Lake George, New York, Matt performed for many years with Grammy-winning baritone saxophonist Nick Brignola and was a featured trumpet soloist and arranger with the Albany Jazz Workshop professional big band. He studied composition with Edgar Curtis, Director of the Albany Symphony Orchestra.

Matt leads "Rio JAZZ", the dynamic Brazilian jazz concert band formed in 1988, featuring Peter Tomlinson, Jeff Ciampa, Don Miller, Joel Rosenblatt, and Tomas Martin Lopez. Matt is also musical director for his wife, singer/songwriter Denise Jordan Finley. They live in New York's Mid-Hudson Valley and in Lake George. Matt is a retired professor of computer information systems and was academic dean at Dutchess Community College in Poughkeepsie, New York.
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"Brazilian Wish" features nine of Matt's original Brazilian jazz compositions of sambas and bossa novas played by an all-star lineup produced by Jon Werking. Musicians include Romero Lubambo [Trio da Paz], Warren Bernhardt [Steely Dan & Steps Ahead], Mark Egan [Pat Metheny, Sting & Larry Coryell], Joel Rosenblatt [Spyro Gyra & Bill Evans], Jon Werking [New York Voices], Tomas Martin Lopez [New Swing Sextet], Dave Finck [Phillipe Saisse], Jeff Siegel [Sir Roland Hanna], Jeff Ciampa [Dave Matthews], and horn section Dan Levine, Barry Danielian and David Mann [Tower of Power]. All songs composed by Matt Finley ©2006 Kingsmill Music / BMI.
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DJ Guide to "Brazilian Wish"

Track 1. Father's Day (4:10) - a hip, driving straight-ahead jazz samba with solos by Matt Finley, Jon Werking, Jeff Ciampa and David Mann

Track 2. Brazilian Wish (4:38) – a dusky, introspective bossa nova reminiscent of Jobim, featuring solos by Matt and Warren Bernhardt in a hybrid of Brazilian sonic structures under sleek, melodic American-style jazz

Track 3. There You Are (3:54) – a contemporary bossa fusion sound in driving 7/4, featuring the drumming of Joel Rosenblatt and the arranging of keyboardist Jon Werking

Track 4. Childhood Home (5:24) – a lyrical bossa nova anchored by Romero Lubambo with a lovely flugelhorn solo by Matt and rhythmic counterpoint to create additional interest

Track 5. When She’s Gone (4:08) – a catchy jazz cha-cha; dance to this one that’s easy on the ears!

Track 6. So Close (4:49) – the whole band charges out of the gate on this uptempo samba and keeps up the pace throughout, especially Romero Lubambo’s acoustic guitar solo, with a percussion break showcasing Joel Rosenblatt and Tomas Martin Lopez

Track 7. Another Year (4:40) – urban sophistication in a pop-oriented bossa nova with unusual syncopation and changes, and Matt on sensuous harmon-mute trumpet

Track 8. Calm Waters (6:10) – a smooth-as-silk bossa melody that breaks into driving double-time solos by Matt and Warren, seriously roiling the waters before returning to the calming melody

Track 9. Softly Speaking (4:22) – a wistful and introspective closing track that conveys the musical equivalent of the tropical sunset pictured on the CD's
back cover
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“Brazilian Wish” is a fantastic CD featuring tightly played, captivating arrangements performed by a group of top flight New York City professionals. The band is perfectly suited to backing up trumpet/flugelhorn player Matt Finley in his solo explorations of his own compositions. Matt is a truly natural player; i.e., an “ear” player whose musicianship is on par with the great band he’s surrounded himself with. His solos are smooth, perfectly executed and always logical.” - Kelly Conner (pro pianist, composer & music prof)
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"Brazilian Wish" was recorded May 2005 at the Clubhouse, Rhinebeck, New York. Engineered by Paul Antonell. Horn section recorded at Dubway Studios, New York City. Engineered by Clint Collins.

Mixed by Bruce Berky at Nevessa Production, Woodstock, New York. Mastered by Dr. Toby Mountain, Northeastern Digital, Southboro, Massachusetts.

Photography by Andrzej Pilarczyk, Saratoga Springs, New York and Jordan Finley, Sherman Oaks, California. CD design by David Stevenson, Retinal Graphics, Chester, New York. Manufactured by Oasis.

Arranged and produced by Jon Werking, Cedar King Productions, Warwick, New York. Matt Finley, Executive Producer.