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Jim Rotondi: 1000 Rainbows
by Bruce Lindsay
1000 Rainbows swings beautifully, drawing together a few original tunes from trumpeter Jim Rotondi and some out-of-the-ordinary classics that are delivered in real style by a classy quintet. The New York-based Rotondi has been in the jazz scene for more than 20 years and has an extensive back catalog of recordings as a leader. This is his third Posi-tone release as leader, following Four Of A Kind (2008) and Blues For Brother Ray (2009). The musicians on ...
Continue ReadingJim Rotondi: 1000 Rainbows
by John Barron
On his third release as a leader for Posi-Tone Records, acclaimed trumpeter Jim Rotondi leads a stellar quintet of New York heavy-hitters on a straight-ahead presentation of original compositions and standard fare. Featuring the unremitting vibraphone work of Joe Locke, 1000 Rainbows swings hard through up-tempo burners, ballads and laid-back funk grooves. Rotondi and Locke are as like-minded as they come, unraveling shapely bebop- style lines full of vigor and surprise. The two, plus pianist Danny Grissett, ...
Continue ReadingJim Rotondi: 1000 Rainbows
by Dan Bilawsky
Trumpeter Jim Rotondi's steady stream of solo albums and work with the collective supergroup One For All--along with his role as a jazz educator and Selmer clinician--have put him at the epicenter of the jazz world. For this, his third album on Posi-Tone Records, Rotondi rounded up some fellow Big Apple-based heavy hitters to join him, including vibraphonist Joe Locke and drummer Bill Stewart. Rotondi tackles everything from The Beatles to Buddy Montgomery on 1000 Rainbows and, ...
Continue ReadingJim Rotondi at The Turning Point Cafe
by David A. Orthmann
Jim Rotondi The Turning Point Café Piermont, NY April 11, 2010When the words “Bye, Bye" sounded from outside The Turning Point Cafe in the middle of Jim Rotondi's “Angel Eyes" cadenza, he didn't hesitate to imitate the singsong tone of the woman's voice. A journeyman whose credits include the Ray Charles Band, the collective One For All, as well as several discs as a leader on the Posi-Tone, Criss Cross and Sharp Nine labels, the ...
Continue ReadingJim Rotondi with Joe Locke at Jazz Cafe, Detroit
by C. Andrew Hovan
Jim Rotondi Quintet featuring Joe Locke Jazz Cafe at Music Hall Detroit, Michigan December 22, 2007It's not an easy proposition. Locating good live jazz has become a major challenge in even the major cities outside of New York. Oh sure, you can find local musicians honing their craft at the neighborhood bar or catch major artists at corporate-sponsored events staged in a concert hall setting, bringing with them all the inherent pomposity usually associated with ...
Continue ReadingJim Rotondi: Iron Man
by Elliott Simon
The harsh sterility that can sometimes characterize post bop horn-based quintets is noticeably lacking on Iron Man. Jim Rotondi's trumpet and flugelhorn are deliciously warm, and saxman Jimmy Greene's tenor fits right into the overall mood. A member of the hard bop ensemble One for All, Rotondi eschews the piano here in favor of seasoned vibraphonist Steve Nelson and wisely taps drummer Bill Stewart, along with bassist Doug Weiss, to solidify a stylish sound. The title cut ...
Continue ReadingJim Rotondi: Trumpet Man Seeking New Pleasures
by C. Andrew Hovan
Part of a new breed of mainstream artists who have managed to carve a niche among the bustling and often overwhelming New York jazz scene, trumpeter Jim Rotondi has developed quite a resume working with a long list of jazz luminaries that happens to include Charles Earland, George Coleman, Mike LeDonne, and Cecil Payne. Part of a small coterie of like minded artists; Rotondi has recorded often for Criss Cross Jazz both as a leader and a sideman. Together with ...
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