Matt Finders
Matt Finders , trombonist, studied music at San Jose State University, CA. During Matt’s junior year he won a spot in Clark Terry’s Big Bad Band which toured Europe and the U.S. in 1981. This experience led Matt to New York upon graduation from SJSU. The New York scene provided Matt with many musical experiences including stints with Benny Goodman, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Marian McPartland, Loren Schoenberg, The WDR Big Band, Mel Lewis, Lionel Hampton, Grover Mitchell,Blood Sweat and Tears, Sting, Natalie Cole, The Smithsonian Jazz Orchestra, Leon Redbone, and numerous Broadway shows and recordings.
In 1992 Matt found himself in Los Angeles as part of the Tonight Show with Jay Leno Band. This position lasted 17 years and allowed Matt to involve himself with jazz education in the schools.
Currently Matt leads his own group, on bass, directs jazz bands in three middle schools as well as Livermore High School, and conducts numerous Jazz Labb workshops throughout the year in Livermore.