Out at Lovin’ Cup, the patrons
taste their beer, they don’t just guzzle it. On Wednesday, February 13, the
crowd of beer aficionados shunned the Bud and wrapped their buds around some
tasty Smutty Nose treats to the solid strains of some sweet jazz. While all
this tasting and testifying was going on, trombonist/composer/Rochester ex-pat Nick
Finzer set brassy, icy fire to the
bandstand with his quintet. Finzer and his fine five
took to the stage and launched head-first into Finzer’s
own “Alternate Agenda,” a snappy modal exploration off his debut, “Exposition,”
and colored just a wee bit outside the lines, with everyone in the locally
assembled group getting a turn with the crayons.

Finzer — also known for his
pedal-enhanced slide wizardry with the Po Boys Brass Band — is a traditionalist
in that he follows in the footsteps of quintets led by the likes of Curtis
Fuller and Benny Golson, but also acts as a pioneer
by following non-standard arrangements with a dash of impressive dexterity and
a smirk. That’s how we keep it new, kids.

Friday night was downright regal at The Auditorium Theatre at
the 70’s Soul Jam starring Philly sensations, The
Stylistics. It was a day-glow zoot suit riot and lots of size 14 gals
buttered up and shoehorned into size 5 dresses. I swear to God, I saw one cat
dressed like a king in all-white fur and platform heels that had goldfish
swimming in them.

Though not all original, The Stylistics brought their vocal
soul and the house down with the hits like my personal fave,
“You Are Everything.” I would have loved to have seen the band pull it off
street-corner style and a cappella. You know they could.

Later that night, me and my
rejuvenated soul made our way back to Lovin’ Cup to
catch The Swooners as this
unassuming trio swung like a junior Rat Pack. The drummer was MIA so the
bassist played a box with snares on it as the piano strolled
the bottom end. The group swung the standards as if drunk on Slim Gaillard
atomic cocktails, digging into Gershwin and Charles, et al.

This article appears in Feb 13-19, 2013.