Michael Barry Finnerty (born December 3, 1951) is an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

guitarist, keyboardist, singer, songwriter, and arranger, known for his work as a touring and recording session musician for

Miles Davis Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926September 28, 1991) was an American trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. Davis adopted a variety of musi ...

, The Crusaders, the Brecker Brothers,

Hubert Laws Hubert Laws (born November 10, 1939) is an American flutist and saxophonist with a career spanning over 40 years in jazz, classical, and other music genres. Laws is one of the few classical artists who has also mastered jazz, pop, and rhythm- ...

, and Ray Barretto. Finnerty is the author of books on music improvisation and a semi-autobiographical novel.

Music career

Finnerty was born in San Francisco and raised on the West Coast, studying at the

San Francisco Conservatory of Music The San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) is a private music conservatory in San Francisco, California. As of 2021, it had 480 students. History The San Francisco Conservatory of Music was founded in 1917 by Ada Clement and Lillian Hodg ...

and

University of California Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California) is a public land-grant research university in Berkeley, California. Established in 1868 as the University of California, it is the state's first land-grant univ ...

. He lived in

Hong Kong Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delta i ...

with his mother in the early 1960s. When he was fourteen, he began playing electric guitar and joined a band that opened a show for Herman's Hermits. On returning to San Francisco, he became friends with guitarist Jim Checkley, who invited him to join Beefy Red in 1969. He played in that band for several years. He moved to New York City after attending Berklee College of Music for a short time in 1971. In 1974 he began playing with Chico Hamilton, Airto Moreira, and Flora Purim. In 1975 he became a member of the

Joe Farrell Joseph Carl Firrantello (December 16, 1937 – January 10, 1986), known as Joe Farrell, was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist who primarily performed as a saxophonist and flutist. He is best known for a series of albums under his own name o ...

quartet, and later in the decade played with

Tower of Power Tower of Power is an American R&B and funk based band and horn section, originating in Oakland, California, that has been performing since 1968. There have been a number of lead vocalists, the best-known being Lenny Williams, who fronted th ...

Thad Jones Thaddeus Joseph Jones (March 28, 1923 – August 20, 1986) was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, and bandleader who has been called "one of the all-time greatest jazz trumpet soloists". Biography Thad Jones was born in Pontiac, Michigan, U ...

and

Mel Lewis Melvin Sokoloff (May 10, 1929 – February 2, 1990), known professionally as Mel Lewis, was an American jazz drummer, session musician, professor, and author. He received fourteen Grammy Award nominations. Biography Early years Lewis was ...

, and Ray Barretto. Finnerty played and recorded with

Michael Brecker Michael Leonard Brecker (March 29, 1949 – January 13, 2007) was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. He was awarded 15 Grammy Awards as both performer and composer. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Berklee College of M ...

and

Randy Brecker Randal Edward Brecker (born November 27, 1945) is an American trumpeter, flugelhornist, and composer. His versatility has made him a popular studio musician who has recorded with acts in jazz, rock, and R&B. Early life Brecker was born on No ...

(1977–81) and The Crusaders (1979–84), in addition to touring in Europe with

Billy Cobham William Emanuel Cobham Jr. (born May 16, 1944) is a Panamanian–American jazz drummer who came to prominence in the late 1960s and early 1970s with trumpeter Miles Davis and then with the Mahavishnu Orchestra. He was inducted into the ''Mode ...

in 1980. He played and recorded with

in 1981, being featured on much of Davis's 1981 album '' The Man with the Horn'' and is mentioned in Davis's autobiography. Finnerty has worked both as a session musician and as leader of his own bands.

As author

He released his first jazz education book, ''The Serious Jazz Practice Book'', in 2006. The work was endorsed by notable musicians including

Bob Sheppard Robert Leo Sheppard (October 20, 1910 – July 11, 2010) was the long-time public address announcer for numerous New York area college and professional sports teams, in particular the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (1951–2007), and ...

and

Dave Liebman David Liebman (born September 4, 1946) is an American saxophonist, flautist and jazz educator. He is known for his innovative lines and use of atonality. He was a frequent collaborator with pianist Richie Beirach. In June 2010, he received ...

. Finnerty authored a follow up work in 2008, '' The Serious Jazz Book II'', endorsed by jazz flautist

. In 2016 Finnerty released a novel loosely based on his life in New York City in the mid-90s.

Personal

Finnerty is the son of actor

Warren Finnerty Warren Finnerty (April 9, 1925 – December 22, 1974) was an American actor best known for his Obie award-winning performance as the character "Leach" in the stage production ''The Connection'' (1959) and its film version. Career After mak ...

(1925–1974) who appeared in numerous films including '' Cool Hand Luke'' (1967) and ''

Easy Rider ''Easy Rider'' is a 1969 American independent drug culture road drama film written by Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, and Terry Southern, produced by Fonda, and directed by Hopper. Fonda and Hopper play two bikers who travel through the American So ...

'' (1969). He is married to artist and songwriter Clarita Zarate.

Discography

* ''New York City'' (Victor, 1982) * ''Lights On Broadway'' (Morning, 1985) * ''2B Named Later'' (

Cheetah The cheetah (''Acinonyx jubatus'') is a large cat native to Africa and central Iran. It is the fastest land animal, estimated to be capable of running at with the fastest reliably recorded speeds being , and as such has evolved specialized ...

, 1988) * ''Straight Ahead'' (

Arabesque The arabesque is a form of artistic decoration consisting of "surface decorations based on rhythmic linear patterns of scrolling and interlacing foliage, tendrils" or plain lines, often combined with other elements. Another definition is "Foli ...

, 1995) * ''Space Age Blues'' (Hot Wire, 1998) * ''Manhattan Sessions Part 1'' (ESC, 2009) * ''Blues for Trane'' (Finn, 2010) * ''Nothing's Gonna Be All Right'' (Birdland, 2015)

As sideman

With Ray Barretto * ''Tomorrow: Barretto Live'' (Atlantic, 1976) * ''Eye of the Beholder'' (Atlantic, 1977) * ''Gracias'' (Fania, 1978) With The Crusaders * '' Street Life'' (MCA, 1979) * '' Standing Tall'' (MCA, 1981) * ''

Royal Jam ''Royal Jam'' is a live recording by the jazz-funk band The Crusaders with B.B. King, Josie James and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. It was recorded at London's Royal Festival Hall. Track listing All songs written by Joe Sample and Will Je ...

'' (MCA, 1982) * ''Live in Japan'' (GRP, 1993) With Jun Fukamachi * ''The Sea of Dirac'' (Kitty, 1977) * ''Evening Star'' (Kitty, 1978) * ''On the Move'' (Alfa, 1978) With others * Brecker Brothers, '' Heavy Metal Be-Bop'' (Arista, 1978) * Brecker Brothers, '' Straphangin''' (Arista, 1981) *

& Eliane Elias, ''Amanda'' (Passport, 1985) * Coati Mundi, ''The Former 12 Year Old Genius'' (Virgin, 1983) *

, ''Live: Flight Time'' (Sandra, 1981) *

Jorge Dalto Jorge Dalto (July 8, 1948 – October 27, 1987) was a pop, jazz and Afro-Cuban music pianist from Argentina, and the former musical director and keyboardist (together with Ronnie Foster) for George Benson, contributing the acoustic piano intro a ...

, ''Rendez-Vous'' (Eastworld, 1983) *

, '' The Man with the Horn'' (Columbia, 1981) *

Eliane Elias Eliane Elias
BrowseBiography.com, 20 November 2011; retrieved 10 September 2014. is a Brazilian

Jose Fajardo, ''El Talento Total'' (Zeida 1977) * Hiroshi Fukumura, ''Hot Shot'' (Morning 1985) *

Wilton Felder Wilton Lewis Felder (August 31, 1940 – September 27, 2015) was an American saxophone and bass player, and is best known as a founding member of the Jazz Crusaders, later known as The Crusaders. Felder played bass on the Jackson 5's hits "I Want ...

, ''Gentle Fire'' (MCA, 1983) *

Roy Gaines Roy James Gaines (August 12, 1937 – August 11, 2021) was an American Texas blues and electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. He wrote and recorded the song "A Hell of a Night", which was first issued on his 1982 album ''Gainelining''. ...

, ''Gainelining'' (Red Lightnin' 1981) * Roy Gaines, ''Roy Gaines with Crusaders Crew'' (P-Vine 1982) * Steve Grossman, ''Perspective'' (Atlantic, 1979) * Chico Hamilton, '' Peregrinations'' (Blue Note, 1975) *

Tom Harrell Tom Harrell (born June 16, 1946) is an American jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist, composer, and arranger. Voted Trumpeter of the Year of 2018 by ''Jazz Journalists Association'', Harrell has won awards and grants throughout his career, including mul ...

, ''Aurora'' (Adamo, 1976) *

Roy Haynes Roy Owen Haynes (born March 13, 1925) is an American jazz drummer. He is among the most recorded drummers in jazz. In a career lasting over 80 years, he has played swing, bebop, jazz fusion, avant-garde jazz and is considered a pioneer of jaz ...

, ''The Island'' (Explore 2007) *

Terumasa Hino is a Japanese jazz trumpeter. He is considered one of Japan's finest jazz musicians. His instruments include the trumpet, cornet, and flügelhorn. Early life He was born in Tokyo, Japan, and his father was a trumpeter and tap dancer. Hino start ...

, ''Double Rainbow'' (CBS/Sony 1981) *

Stix Hooper Stix or STIX may refer to: People * Stix Hooper (born 1938), American jazz musician * Gary Stix, American journalist * Thomas H. Stix (1924–2001), American physicist * Christine Stix-Hackl (born 1957), Austrian jurist Arts and entertainment ...

, ''The World Within'' (MCA, 1979) *

, ''New Life'' (A&M, 1976) *

Patrick Juvet Patrick Juvet (21 August 1950 – ca. 1 April 2021) was a Swiss model and singer-songwriter, who had a string of hit records in Europe. While his early career was focused on making pop records, he found international success as a disco music p ...

, ''Lady Night'' (Casablanca, 1979) *

Masabumi Kikuchi was a Japanese jazz pianist and composer known for his unique playing style. He worked with many diverse musicians, including Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones, Gary Peacock and Paul Motian, and collaborated with Gil Evans and ...

, ''Susto'' (CBS/Sony 1981) *

, ''

Romeo & Juliet ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetime and, along with ''Ham ...

'' (Columbia, 1976) * Hubert Laws, ''Say It with Silence'' (CBS, 1978) *

Didier Lockwood Didier Lockwood (11 February 1956 – 18 February 2018) was a French violinist. He played in the French rock band Magma in the 1970s, and was known for his use of electric amplification and his experimentation with different sounds on the electri ...

, ''The Kid'' (MPS, 1983) *

Teruo Nakamura was a Taiwanese- Japanese soldier of the Imperial Japanese Army who fought for Japan in World War II and did not surrender until 1974. He was the last known Japanese holdout to surrender after the end of hostilities in 1945. Military service N ...

, ''Big Apple'' (Agharta, 1979) * Teruo Nakamura, ''Super Friends'' (Eastworld, 1985) * Opa, '' Magic Time'' (Milestone, 1977) *

Noel Pointer Noel Pointer (December 26, 1954 – December 19, 1994) was an American jazz violinist and record producer, whose life inspired a music foundation. Career Pointer made his solo debut at the age of 13, performing Vivaldi with the Symphony of the N ...

, ''Feel It'' (Soul Music.com, 1979) *

Joe Sample Joseph Leslie Sample (February 1, 1939 – September 12, 2014) was an American keyboardist and composer. He was one of the founding members of The Jazz Crusaders in 1960, the band which shortened its name to "The Crusaders" in 1971. He remained ...

, ''Rainbow Seeker'' (ABC, 1978) * Joe Sample, ''Oasis'' (MCA, 1985) * John Serry Jr., ''Exhibition'' (Chrysalis, 1979) *

Steve Smith Stephen, Steve, Stevie, or Steven Smith may refer to: Academics * Steve Smith (political scientist) (born 1952), British international relations theorist and senior university manager * Stephen Smith (journalist) (born 1956), American journalist, ...

, ''Fiafiaga'' (Columbia, 1988) * SOS All-Stars, ''New York Rendezvous'' (Chase 1987) *

John Stubblefield John Stubblefield (February 4, 1945 – July 4, 2005) was an American jazz saxophonist, flautist, and oboist. Early life Stubblefield was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas. He studied music at the Association for the Advancement of Crea ...

, ''Sophisticated Funk'' (Cheetah, 1990) *

Syreeta Syreeta Wright (February 28, 1946 – July 6, 2004), who recorded professionally under the single name Syreeta, was an American singer-songwriter, best known for her music during the early 1970s through the early 1980s. Wright's career heights we ...

, ''Set My Love in Motion'' (Tamla, 1981) *

Taj Mahal The Taj Mahal (; ) is an Islamic ivory-white marble mausoleum on the right bank of the river Yamuna in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1631 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan () to house the tomb of his favourite wife, Mu ...

, ''Evolution'' (Warner Bros., 1978) *

Vital Information Steve Smith and Vital Information is an American jazz fusion group led by drummer Steve Smith. The first line-up of Vital Information — Steve Smith (drums), Tim Landers (bass), and Dave Wilczewski (sax) — met in 1971 during their high scho ...

, ''Global Beat'' (Columbia, 1986)

References

* Barry Finnertyat

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...

* Mark Gilbert, "Barry Finnerty". '' Grove Jazz'' online

External links

Official site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Finnerty, Barry 1951 births Living people Jazz musicians from San Francisco American jazz guitarists American jazz keyboardists American session musicians Arabesque Records artists 20th-century American guitarists Guitarists from California University of California, Berkeley alumni