Jim Rotondi: Finesse

One of the first pairings of a jazz soloist with a big band and strings dates back to December 1947, and the event was largely an accident. At the time, Clef Records owner and producer Norman Granz was on a recording tear, trying to wax as much jazz as possible in advance of a threatened January 1, 1948 recording ban by the musicians union.

Granz rented out an empty Carnegie Hall to record a batch of top artists, including alto saxophonist Charlie Parker. While Neal Hefti was conducting a rehearsal of two original orchestral compositions and arrangements, Parker wandered out with his horn and started playing a solo on the first one. Granz immediately loved what he heard and wanted Hefti to retool the arrangement to work in Parker. But there wasn't time.

So Hefti had an idea. They'd play the composition through twice—once as planned and a second time with Parker joining. Granz liked the idea, and Hefti renamed the song Repetition, since that's exactly what happened. Parker with strings was so effective that Granz recorded him in the studio with strings in 1949, 1950 and 1952, and backed by a big band on several occasions. Dizzy Gillespie, of course, recorded with strings arranged by Johnny Richards in 1946, but those were fairly straight readings by Gillespie of the chosen songs.

In the spirit of this turning point in jazz and all of the “with strings" albums that followed, trumpeter Jim Rotondi has just released Finesse (Cellar). Eleven of the 13 songs are originals by Jim, with two by Jakob Helling—Before Curtis and Prelude for 14 Strings and Flute. Jakob also arranged all of the songs.

The tracks:

• Ruth
• Dark Blue
• Ladybug
• Designated Hitter
• Falset
• Before Curtis
• For Curtis
• Going to the Sun
• Prelude for 14 Strings and Flute
• Interlude
• In Graz
• Happy Feet
• Miller Time 

Jim solos on every track except the Jakob originals mentioned above. For some odd reason, the album's packagers neglected to include Jim's name in the personnel listing on the CD jacket or in the list of each song's soloists. Jim confirmed his role.

Recorded in 2021 at Konzerthaus Wien in Vienna, where Jim resides and teaches now, the album features the Austrian Notes and Tones Jazz Orchestra led by Jakob, with guest soloists Dick Oatts on soprano saxophone and Steve Davis on trombone. Jim's trumpet is beautiful all the way through, and his original compositions are spectacular. The Austrian musicians are tender and brash in all the right places, and Jakob's arrangements are splendid. [Photo above of Jakob Helling conducting]

Another great production by co-executive producer Cory Weeds, who was joined by co-executive producer Frank Rotondi, Jim's brother.

JazzWax tracks: Here's Dark Blue...



Here's In Graz...



And here's Miller Time...