James Joseph Finn

James Joseph Finn is a versatile composer and performer who has toured the world and has appeared on national and international television. In 1992, he was invited to perform in Russia, by the Yeltsin government, and has recorded for internationally distributed recording labels ranging from Cadence Records to Virgin Records. His own recordings, as a leader, have been received with national and international acclaim.

James received a M.A. degree summa cum laude on full academic scholarship in 1991 from The Aaron Copland-Queens College School of Music in Jazz Performance. He has studied with Sir Roland Hanna, Jimmy Heath, Benny Golson, JR Monterose, Nick Brignola, Andrew Cyrille, John Esposito, Robert Dick, Gary Schocker, and John Wion. James has recorded and/or performed with Sir Roland Hannah, Cecil McBee, Chico Hamilton, Warren Smith, Teddy Kotick, Cecil Bridgewater, Newman Taylor Baker, Arthur Rhames, Dominic Duval, Johny Coles, Baikida Carroll, Ben Harper, and many more. James received his B.A.summa cum laude from Empire State College in Music Composition where he designed his own curriculum approved by administration. He also attended North Texas State University and Albany State University.

His childhood studies on the violin led him to learning the saxophones, clarinets, flute and piano. He has been performing and composing professionally for thirty plus years. His musical life has exposed him to performing an eclectic array of genres: classical, jazz, latino, blues, R&B, funk, reggae, and various ethnic folk music including Jewish, Irish, Greek, and more. James has also served as the recording engineer and producer for eight CDs and owns his own label, Gingko Tree Records.

As a teacher, he has taught the woodwinds, piano, theory, classical and jazz ensembles, music history and jazz improvisation in various high schools, colleges, and privately for more than thirty years. He has also conducted string orchestras and jazz ensembles on the high school and college levels.

Currently, James enjoys composing new works and teaching private music lessons in NYC. He has been on a public performance sabbatical since 2006. James performs private classical flute concerts for Concerts in Motion. He currently resides on the upper west side of Manhattan with his wife Jennifer Finn and six year old daughter.