
Biography

“When you hear Zach Finnegan, you will love his sound, feel and presence. When you meet Zach Finnegan, you will be charmed by his gracious, honest, and warm demeanor combined with a contagious smile and a generous joy for life. When you discover how dedicated Zach Finnegan is to serving his community, you will realize how very special he is: as a musician and a messenger for good in our world."
Matt Wilson; Grammy Nominated Drummer
Zach is regarded as a rising-star trumpet artist based in Chicago, IL. He is currently on a world tour with 5-time Grammy Award winner, Michael Bublé, playing arenas and venues around the world. He has appeared on 11 albums and has played in the bands of renowned musicians such as the Buddy Rich Big Band, Alan Gresik Swing Orchestra, Jared Thompson's Potluck, Camila Mennitte Quintet, Blueshift Big Band, Meghan Stagl Duo, Christy Bennett's Fumee, Carrington Clinton Quartet, and has shared the bandstand with the likes of Matt Ulery, Lenard Simpson, Ethan Philion, Thaddeus Tukes, Rob Dixon, and Marlene Rosenberg.
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Zach previously founded two bands entitled, “Crossroads Quintet,” and, “Omnos Quartet,” which released debut albums respectively. Along with his freelance work in the midwest, he is a sideman in the popular hip-hop/jazz-fusion band, “Clint Breeze and the Groove.” Zach received his Bachelor's degrees at UW-Stevens Point and received his Masters degree at Indiana University.
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Zach’s groups have played multiple festivals, most notably opening for Dave Liebman at the Riverfront Jazz Festival in 2017. He has headlined the Bull Falls Jazz Festival, and the Taste of Bloomington Festival. Other festivals he has performed at are the Indy Jazz Fest, Mole De Mayo Festival, CHREECE Festival, B’town Jazz Fest, Ear Taxi Festival and Feast of Lanterns Festival. In 2018, Zach traveled as a solo guest artist with the Wisconsin Ambassadors of Music Tour to various venues across seven European countries.
Long Biography
Zachary Finnegan was raised in Weston, Wisconsin and currently resides in Chicago, IL. His music has consistently dealt with the merge of spirituality, groove music, cinematic elements and aspects from the jazz tradition. Zach sees himself as a lifelong learner in all facets of life, including music. His love for music came at a young age. His father, Joseph Finnegan, instilled a passion for the arts as his band teacher for four years beginning in the sixth grade.
Zach received a Masters degree in Jazz Performance from Indiana University under the guidance of John Raymond and Joey Tartell. He received his Bachelors in Music Education and Jazz Performance from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point under the guidance of Mathew Buchman, Brent Turney and Patrick Lawrence. Zach has enjoyed a varied musical journey with work in performing, composing, education, recording, and entrepreneurship. Zach has played professionally alongside John Raymond, Carrington Clinton, Rob Dixon, Vince Mendoza, Thomas Walsh, Pat Harbison, Brent Turney, Jeremy Allen, Joe Galvin, Joel Tucker, Ryan Korb, Nick Tucker, John Greiner, The Buddy Rich Big Band, Lenard Simpson, Camila Mennitte, Matt Ulery, Jared Thompson, Tim Albright among others. Through his collegiate studies, he has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with artists such as Matt Wilson, Walter Smith III, Michael Rodriguez, Tim Green, Michael Dease, Rufus Reid, Jim McNeely, Rodney Whitaker and Brandon Lee. Zach is a founding member of Omnos Quartet, Crossroads Quintet, and part of the Indianapolis-based hip-hop/jazz-fusion band, Clint Breeze and the Groove.
As a performer, Zach’s groups have played multiple festivals, most notably opening for Dave Liebman and the New Light Quartet at the Riverfront Jazz Festival in 2017. Additionally, “The Zachary Finnegan Quintet,” has also opened for Janet Planet at the Bull Falls Jazz Festival in 2018, and opened for the Jeremy Allen Trio at Taste of Bloomington in 2019. He has also played as a sideman at CHREECE Hip Hop Festival, Ear Taxi Festival and Feast of the Lanterns Festival. Zach began a group in Bloomington, IN entitled, “Crossroads Quintet.” Their debut EP release occurred at the 2019 B'town Jazz Festival, and debut album, Intertwined, released May of 2020 on the Midwest Crush Music Label. Zach’s first group, “Omnos Quartet,” recorded their debut album at Daly’s Restaurant and Wine Bar in December 2018 in Wausau, WI. Additionally, Zach has traveled as a solo guest artist with the 2018 Wisconsin Ambassadors of Music Tour to seven European countries, featured in various venues across Europe. His composition entitled, Hugh, was featured on a Jazz Studies promotional video for the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 2016.
Zach was the manager of the groups Omnos Quartet, and Crossroads Quintet, as well as currently assisting Travis Lee, Clint Breeze and the Groove and his own freelance career in Chicago. Understanding and functioning within the business side of music has been a passion of Zach's for some time, and has proved to be a positive aspect on his musical journey.
Zach has proved to be comfortable leading new projects, from creating bands to working with organizations within the community. Zach was the President of the Jazz Society of UWSP for two years. This outlet allowed the student organization to host guest artists, plan events, host jam sessions, and attend professional jazz concerts in Chicago, IL and Appleton, WI. This experience at UWSP stemmed similar outcomes as Zach transitioned to Indiana University as he began leading the Jacobs School of Music Jazz Education Network Student Chapter. This partnership allowed students to access national and international music resources. Simultaneously, Zach was appointed as one of four interns for the Project Jumpstart team through the Office of Entrepreneurship and Career Development at Indiana University. This office allowed him to promote and collaborate on fellow student's creative projects, host events with guest artists, build a positive and uplifting environment for fellow students, and put him in a position to lift up the arts community of Bloomington, IN. These academic organizations stemmed into Zach being proactive in the communities he has been a part of. In 2019, Zach became the newest member of the B’town Jazz Organization’s board of directors as the social media director, and co-coordinator for the 2019 B'town Jazz Festival. Similarly, he held a position with the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra as the Jazz Intern where he worked with the local Boys and Girls Club, and curated a jazz listening session at a local art gallery.
Zach has previously been on staff at the Wausau Conservatory of Music as the Trumpet Artist. He taught private lessons and camps, as well as masterclasses to any and all ages. Education plays a huge role in Zach's life. He has worked at multiple jazz institutes across the country including the Skidmore Jazz Institute, Brevard Jazz Institute, Birch Creek Jazz Program and the Madison Summer Music Clinic. Currently, he has a private trumpet studio through PCCCArts and is on staff at Jazz Empowers and Band for Today in Chicago, IL. He looks continuously for outlets to spread the knowledge of music to younger students, and create a healthy environment for learning and creativity.
"Zach is one of those rare special [musicians] who seem to have the entire skill set for being a very successful performer. He is always joyful, entrepreneurial, highly motivated, ambitious without being off-putting, and he connects with his audience musically and personally."
~Brent Turney; Chicago Jazz Orchestra, Broadway in Chicago, Maynard Ferguson and Aretha Franklin Horn Section


