In the world of Latin jazz and contemporary composition, John Finbury is a name synonymous with emotional depth and elegant craft. With Grammy and Latin Grammy nominations under his belt and collaborations with the likes of Thalma de Freitas, Magos Herrera, and Christian McBride, John’s musical story is filled with accolades and cross-cultural richness.
But long before the awards, international recognition, and Brazilian jazz arrangements, there was a different kind of song. A more personal one. A track called “Too Far To Go.” And at the heart of it was the voice of Patty Brayden — John’s wife, muse, and musical partner.
The First Spark: Boston, 1979
It was 1979 in Downtown Recording Studio in Boston, and John, then a young composer with a deep love for R&B and jazz, was stepping into a new role: songwriter and producer. He wrote the music for “Too Far To Go,” a contemplative, soul-infused ballad. The lyrics came from longtime friend Karen Petersen, and the arrangement was built around an intimate, live studio sound that let the emotion breathe.
On vocals was Patty Brayden, a gifted folk and country singer who had just entered John’s life a couple of years earlier. With John on piano, David Reiser on bass, and a 16-year-old Ted Pickman on alto sax, the ensemble captured a sound that felt both classic and immediate. “DB” Butler engineered the track, preserving the warmth and raw elegance of the moment.
Though John imagined the song one day reaching someone like Bonnie Raitt, it was clear from the beginning that Patty’s voice was the perfect fit — smoky, soulful, and intimately tied to the song’s emotional current.
Why “Too Far To Go” Still Matters
In interviews, John reflects on “Too Far To Go” not just as an early success, but as a defining moment in his creative life. It was a song that revealed the magic of collaboration, the value of vulnerability, and — most importantly — the beginning of his lifelong partnership with Patty.
“We still play it,” he says. “There’s just something about that song that never left us.”
For longtime fans of Finbury’s Latin jazz catalog — from the warm textures of Sorte! to the intricate layering of Quatro and Vã Revelação — listening to “Too Far To Go” is like discovering the roots of a great tree. The song doesn’t have the Brazilian rhythms or rich percussion of later albums, but it contains the emotional DNA that runs through all of John’s work: intimacy, lyrical storytelling, and deeply human themes.
Patty Brayden: The First Voice of Finbury’s Music
Patty would go on to sing on several more of John’s early recordings, including “Without You” and “I Don’t Cry Anymore”, and later became a co-writer on projects like Pitanga and the witty jazz-vaudeville track “Look At What A Mess You Made Of Me”. As a lyricist and vocalist, her influence is woven throughout Finbury’s discography.
But “Too Far To Go” was the first moment she brought his music to life. The song’s enduring presence in their live sets — including in their local jazz group Day For Night — is a testament to that creative bond.
A Time Capsule Rediscovered
The original recording of “Too Far To Go” rested quietly in John’s attic for over 30 years before being unearthed during a revival of his early catalog. In 2014, Fervor Records acquired many of John’s 1978–1982 recordings, and renewed interest in this era sparked a fresh appreciation for those foundational tracks.
While John’s sound evolved into Latin jazz, chamber jazz, and even international collaborations, songs like “Too Far To Go” remain touchstones — connecting fans to the origins of an artist whose work now spans continents and styles.
For Fans of Latin Jazz — Why This Song Still Resonates
Though “Too Far To Go” doesn’t sit within the Latin jazz genre directly, its melodic richness, emotional storytelling, and expressive vocal performance mirror the qualities that Latin jazz listeners cherish. It speaks the universal language of longing and hope, and it’s easy to see how this kind of song laid the emotional groundwork for later masterpieces like A Chama Verde and Independence Day.
If you’re a listener who appreciates the works of João Gilberto, Elis Regina, or even the softer side of Rubén Blades — there’s a thread here that connects the past and present, the soul and samba, the ballad and the bolero.
Listen to the Track
“Too Far To Go” isn’t just a song. It’s the beginning of the John Finbury story. We invite you to listen to it — whether for the first time or the fiftieth — and hear the moment where music met muse.