Jazz Articles about Jim Rotondi

Jim Rotondi: The Pleasure Dome

by C. Andrew Hovan
August 1, 2004

His already impressive catalog of work for Criss Cross notwithstanding, trumpeter Jim Rotondi's Destination Up is arguably one of his best records, and it gained numerous critical kudos when it was released a few years back. While the trumpeter's follow-up for the Sharp Nine label might not be as ambitious as its predecessor, it's no less engaging. Furthermore, Rotondi continues to foster an individualistic approach that comes out of the Freddie Hubbard/Woody Shaw bag, but which has amalgamated into a ...

Jim Rotondi: New Vistas

by C. Andrew Hovan
August 1, 2004

Aptly titled to be sure, Jim Rotondi's New Vistas offers somewhat of a new direction for this hard bop trumpeter, who finds himself mixing it up with a cast of new friends. Although he had included a few cuts with Larry Goldings on B3 for his debut Criss Cross release, this session also marks the first time that Rotondi has opted for an organ combo approach that goes beyond the norm with a little extra help from Chris Potter. In ...

Mike DiRubbo: Human Spirit

by Russ Musto
January 20, 2004

Alto saxophonist Mike DiRubbo's most recent outing for Criss Cross features the Jackie McLean protege in the fast company of trumpeter Jim Rotondi, pianist David Hazeltine, bassist Peter Washington and drummer Joe Farnsworth (two thirds of the sextet One For All) in a set that showcases his growing talent and expansive command of the jazz idiom.

Like his mentor, DiRubbo is no run-of-the-mill neo-bopper. He has his own unique sound on the saxophone, which while clearly primarily McLean-influenced, ...

Mike DiRubbo: Human Spirit

by David A. Orthmann
May 17, 2003

On his second Criss Cross release, alto saxophonist Mike DiRubbo thrives on the challenges posed by a great rhythm section. Pianist David Hazeltine, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer Joe Farnsworth, most notably of the cooperative sextet One For All, have lit a fire under dozens of significant jazz recordings over the past decade. Full of inspired interplay and subtle shifts in emphasis, their concentrated swing supports and provokes the soloist.

Regardless of the material or the tempo, the ...

One For All: Live at Smoke, Volume 1

by David A. Orthmann
February 1, 2002

As anyone who frequents jazz clubs will attest, there are nights that live on in memory for years after the last note fades. Aside from basic details easily recalled (personnel, tunes, arrangements, etc.), what really matters is the way the music made us feel. On these rare occasions, the sounds were so potent that, for a time, nothing else mattered and all worldly concerns yielded to the happenings on stage. In search of another incredible experience, we keep coming back ...

One For All: Live at Smoke- Volume 1

by C. Andrew Hovan
January 1, 2002

Growing out of a weekly jam session that drummer Joe Farnsworth used to lead at a New York club called Augie’s, the hard bop ensemble One For All now encompasses a pool of leaders who still manage to get together and cultivate the kind of musical empathy that they’ve developed over the years. After two initial albums for the Sharp Nine label, the group jumped ship to Criss Cross Jazz where the majority of the guys cut records of their ...

Jim Rotondi: Reverence

by C. Andrew Hovan
October 1, 2001

Not since the days of Alfred Lion and Blue Note Records have we seen such a healthy stable of mainstream jazz artists develop as those men who currently make up the hard bop ensemble One For All. Eric Alexander, Steve Davis, David Hazeltine, Joe Farnsworth, and Jim Rotondi are all at the top of their games and not only work collaboratively as a team, but also boast sizable catalogs as leaders for a variety of labels. In the case of ...