A professional jazz musician for over sixty years, Matt plays flugelhorn, trumpet, flute, soprano sax and vibes. He performed for many years with Grammy-winning baritone saxophonist Nick Brignola and studied composition with Edgar Curtis, Director of the Albany Symphony Orchestra.
Currently performing in several big bands, Matt led Rio JAZZ, a Brazilian jazz concert sextet from 1988 to 2018. In concert, Matt plays Brazilian sambas and bossa novas, jazz classics, and original compositions.
A 50+-year lifetime member of American Federation of Musicians, Matt is a retired professor of computer information systems and was academic dean at Dutchess Community College in Poughkeepsie, New York. For many years, Matt accomplished his goal of learning to play a new instrument every year to improve his composing and arranging abilities. Not only a multi-instrumentalist, he is in demand as a composer, arranger, sound engineer and recording sideman.
He is featured on eleven CDs released since 2006. In 2013, Matt orchestrated and performed four of his Brazilian jazz compositions in concert with the Northern Dutchess Symphony Orchestra. He currently directs and writes for the 14-piece Smithfield Chamber Orchestra.
► "Flugelhorn master!" - Poughkeepsie Journal
► "Your playing certainly is top notch." - Russ Davis, XM Radio Channel 72 (Beyond Jazz)
► "Matt's execution is virtually flawless; he smokes on every tune." - WWW.VINILEMANIA.NET
► "Remarkable technique on trumpet & flugelhorn" - Schenectady Gazette
► "Standout solo trumpet" - Troy Times Record
► Matt's CD, "Brazilian Wish", features nine of his original Brazilian jazz compositions and an all-star lineup produced by Jon Werking. World-best musicians include Romero Lubambo, Warren Bernhardt, Mark Egan, Joel Rosenblatt, Jon Werking, Tomas Martin Lopez, Dave Finck, Jeff Siegel, Jeff Ciampa, Dan Levine, Barry Danelian and David Mann. It's Rio JAZZ in a box!
► "Brazilian Wish showcases thirteen of the hippest Brazilian jazz performers in the world. Silky smooth grooves are expertly crafted and easy on the soul. This disc never takes its eyes off its roots, and is a hybrid of Brazilian sonic structures under sleek, melodic American style jazz." - J. Spica, Chronogram and WVKR Radio
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Location: Dutchess County, NY
Website: www.mattfinley.com
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Calendar for Matt Finley |
Saturday 3:00 pm to 4:15 pm | 19th Annual Christmas Concert & Tea with Matt Finley, Smithfield Chamber Orchestra Acoustic, Instrumental. Classical, Pop, Jazz and Holiday Music | The Smithfield Church 656 Smithfield Valley Road, (Rt. 83) Amenia, NY See Map |
The public is invited to the Annual Christmas Concert and Tea at The Smithfield Church in the Smithfield Valley of Amenia, NY at 3 PM on Saturday, December 7, 2024. This year's program features the Smithfield Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Matt Finley. Music ranges from classical, pop, jazz, and holiday favorites.
The thirteen-piece instrumental ensemble includes flautists Michelle Demko and Lynnette Benner, clarinetists Charlie Gray and Kay Sutka, violinist Rob Murphy, violist Piotr Kargul, cellist Jean Vilkelis, bassist Lou Pappas, Larry Ham on piano, Walter Barrett on trombone, Jeff Siegel on drums, Milt Lee, conductor, and arranger Matt Finley on trumpet and flugelhorn. Tea and delicacies will be served in the church community room after the music. Admission is free. A $20 donation is suggested. This concert is part of the Bang Family Concert Series. Info: | ||
CDs by Matt Finley
Brazilian Wish 2006 Jazz, Latin, and Contemporary Exciting CD by jazz composer and flugelhorn artist Matt Finley featuring Matt's original Brazilian jazz sambas and bossa novas with world-best studio musicians. It's Rio JAZZ in a box! | ||
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