The Fins

The New Jersey septet the Fins combine several different musical styles —R&B, swing, jazz, big band, and blues — into its varied and original sound. Formed in the early '90s, the group immediately began playing live at numerous fundraisers in the New York tri-state area, and even made a fan out of former President Bill Clinton as they played at the 1993 and 2000 Democratic conventions, as well as Clinton's 1993 inaugural gala in Landover, MD. The Fins have issued a pair of albums thus far — 1997's Bluesprint (which was voted "best debut CD" by the international blues magazine Real Blues) and 2000's Superstar. In support of their sophomore release, the band appeared in the summer of 2000 at such worldwide festivals as the Chicago Blues Festival, Jamaica's Ocho Rios Jazz and Blues Festival, Norway's Notodden Blues Festival, Israel's the Heineken Black & Blues Festival, and Ireland's Harvest Blues Festival. In addition, over the years the Fins have shared the stage with such acclaimed artists as Albert Collins, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, John Mayall, Otis Rush, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Robert Cray, Johnny Winter, and former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor.