Dominick Farinacci

2026 marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Over the past eight months, I’ve been mainly offline creating a new Modern Warrior production with Jaymes Poling that features FDNY World Trade Center firefighter Bill Spade together with Jaymes (combat veteran who served in the war that followed). We will debut the new show in this year of remembrance, and I’m thrilled to finally share this with you.

Behind the Lines: a 9/11 Story is a live story, music, and theatre production set against the tragedy of 9/11 and the war that followed. The show features World Trade Center firefighter Bill Spade — the sole survivor of FDNY Rescue Company 5 — and Jaymes Poling, a three-tour Afghanistan combat veteran and the original storyteller behind Modern Warrior. Together, they relive their experiences and find a deep connection shaped by service, resilience, and the weight of what they continue to carry.

Eight years ago, I met Jaymes. Hearing his story of fighting in Afghanistan and returning home to process everything he experienced sparked an idea we pursued together — a new model of storytelling that brings the individual whose story it is directly to the stage, surrounded by an immersive music and theatre experience.

Since then, we’ve toured our flagship production Modern Warrior LIVE around the country and have built partnerships with leaders in mental health, veteran and first responder communities. Together, we’ve created spaces for meaningful dialogue around how life-changing events shape our lives, our mental wellbeing, and our communities. Our work has expanded to include a wide range of individuals sharing their stories including veterans, first responders, caregivers, individuals rebuilding their lives after incarceration, and more.

Now, 25 years after the September 11 attacks, we begin the next chapter of this work with Bill Spade and Jaymes Poling — bringing their stories to stages across the country while also developing a documentary film that will follow the project.
For those of us old enough to remember, we know exactly where we were that day. At the same time, an entire generation has now grown up without a living memory of it.

This production is our continued effort to honor those who gave so much in the face of unimaginable tragedy, remember those who were lost, address how life-changing events impact our mental health, and, in this context, ensure that the stories of that day — and the years that followed — are never forgotten.
It has been incredibly meaningful to work with Jaymes and our director Emmett Murphy since the earliest days of Modern Warrior. Welcoming Bill Spade to the team has been deeply inspiring. Just like when you add a new band member, sometimes your collective artistic output evolves into something different and special.

The courage of all the storytellers we’ve worked with so far, the dedication of our creative team, and the support of so many along the way have made this one of the most meaningful creative endeavors of my life.

We look forward to sharing more about Behind the Lines: a 9/11 Story as the production unfolds.

Looking forward to playing two nights of shows at EDWINS in Cleveland this Valentine's week, introducing a great young vocalist Kate Kortum to our Cleveland community! She recently graduated from Juilliard, was featured with Wynton Marsalis, and won the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. Should be a fun couple of nights!

Tickets: https://buytickets.at/edwins

Jon Thomas, piano
Jordan McBride, bass
Gabe Jones, drums

Edwins Leadership & Restaurant Institute

Happy New Year! We had two sold-out shows to ring in the New Year at EDWINS in Cleveland, marking the return of New Year’s Eve concerts in this historic room (formerly Nighttown) for the first time since 2020!

Loved having Jon Thomas (piano), Steve Kortyka (saxophone) and a true Cleveland musical treasure Evelyn Wright (vocal). Plus, a special shout-out to two dedicated young musicians, Oscar Lacombe (bass) and Nehemiah Baker (drums), who held it down and rose to the moment.

Thank you to everyone who came out and made it so special. Wishing you all a wonderful 2026 and beyond.

Edwins Leadership & Restaurant Institute

In 2020, I had the bittersweet privilege of playing the final concert in Nighttown history—a virtual New Year’s Eve performance marking the end of an era. Now, for the first time in five years, New Year’s Eve concerts are returning to this same historic venue, now EDWINS in Cleveland.

I’ll be performing in the main room with several special guests joining me, while Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland legends Sammy Deleon, Jackie Warren and their band will be on the other side of EDWINS at the same time. Both shows start around 10pm. I'm also doing a New Year's Day Brunch concert January 1.

Ticket for all shows here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/edwins

We are here at Jazz St. Louis for our 2nd night of a 5-night run featuring the music of Miles Davis' iconic "Kind of Blue" recording. Tonight's show will be live-streamed at 8:30pm EST at the link below!

Kind of Blue Sextet Like Miles, all alumni of Juilliard, Aaron Diehl, Sharel Cassity, Dominick Farinacci, Aaron Kimmel, Yasushi Nakamura, and Jon Irabagon join forces to pay tri...

Looking forward to these upcoming performances. Plus, my new concert series at Edwins Leadership & Restaurant Institute in Cleveland is now in full swing! It was great to start off the series with two beloved Cleveland artists - Evelyn Wright & Jackie Warren - and also to host the Jeff Hamilton Trio & Jamey Haddad to get things started.

Tickets & details to all shows: dominickfarinacci.com

JUST ADDED - CLEVELAND - SEPT. 9: I'll be in Cleveland workshopping the next chapter of Modern Warrior LIVE in September, and decided to take a night off and do a jazz show at Edwins Leadership & Restaurant Institute while pianist Jon Thomas and vocalist Akua Allrich are in town with us. Looking forward to seeing some of you at the show!

Tickets: www.dominickfarinacci.com

Thank you Peter Chakerian & cleveland.com for this interview ahead of Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland this weekend. So much great music happening at the festival this year. Check Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland for the lineup!

Trumpets, tributes, triads and Tri-C JazzFest: Dominick Farinacci walks the talk He walks the talk and juggles the struggle. CLE trumpeter extraordinaire Dominick Farinacci knows that jazz is life. He's made it his mission to make it the cornerstone of education, empathy and edification wherever he goes. His tribute show this Saturday honors three of the city's most iconic music...

Monday, June 16 marks the first of three events I’m hosting this month at Edwins Leadership & Restaurant Institute in Cleveland: a dinner talk with three legendary saxophonists in Cleveland - Howie Smith, Ken LeeGrand and Ernie Krivda who collectively have impacted every aspect of our jazz community for decades through their artistry, and through their dedication to nurturing younger generations of musicians. Their musical voices couldn’t be more different than each other, and their influences are interwoven into the fabric of the Cleveland music scene.

This is a great opportunity for our community to hear stories of their remarkable careers, and in the context of a significant part of Cleveland music history. This talk is ahead of my concert for Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland featuring the three of them at the Ohio Theatre June 28.

Reservations: https://buytickets.at/edwins