JIM ROTONDI FINESSE
JIM ROTONDI
FINESSE
Cellar Music Group
Jim Rotondi, composer/producer/trumpeter; Jakub Helling, arranger/conductor; NOTES & TONES JAZZ ORCHESTRA: Mario Gonzi, co-leader/drums; Danny Grissett, piano; Karol Hodas & Tim Dunin, bass; GUEST SOLOISTS: Dick Oatts, soprano saxophone; Steve Davis, trombone; Wolfgang Lindenthal, flute; Stefan Peindl, oboe; Julia Gutschlhofer, bassoon; Melissa Danas, horn; TRUMPETS/FLUGELHORNS: Tabias Weidinger, Markus Peachmann, Simon Plotzeneder; Daniel Nösig, co-leader/trumpet/flugelhorn; TROMBONES: Clemens Hofer, Mario Vavti, Johannes Herrlich, Christina Lachberger. Fabio Devigill & Martin Fuss, alto & soprano saxophones/ flute/clarinet; Michael Erlan, tenor & soprano saxophone/flute/clarinet; Robert Unterköfler, tenor saxophone/clarinet; Herwig Gradischnig, baritone saxophone/bass clarinet; VIOLINS: Damir Orascanin, Mariya Orininskaya, Balazs Schwartz, Tomas Novak (all violin 1); Anne Harvey-Nagl, Ion Scripcaru, Maximillion Bratt, Amoro De Swardt (violin 2.); VIOLA: Lena Fankhauser, Emily Stewart, Annamaria Kowalsky; CELLO: Asja Calcic, Mara Achleitner, Phillipp Preimesberger.
Jim Rotondi has been blowing his trumpet in jazz bands for over three decades, including as a member of ensembles headed by Toshiko Akiyoshi and Bob Minzer, and in smaller groups led by Lou Donaldson, Curtis Fuller and Joe Chambers. This is his ninth album release, recorded in Austria where Rotondi currently lives and teaches. It’s a dream-come-true project, his first composing for orchestras and big band. This album may be his most profound and incredible production to date. Rotondi features all original compositions, apart from one written by Jakob Helling, the arranger and conductor of this production. They open with “Ruth,” that skips along at a moderate pace with an undertow of string arrangements bubbling beneath the swing. Rotondi’s trumpet leads the way, like a pied piper.
His composition, “Dark Blue” follows. It’s a ballad that once again features the opulent trumpet tone of Rotondi. On a tune called “Ladybug,” Danny Grisset shines on piano. The horn section is harmonically rich and supportive throughout. Drummer, Mario Ganzi, soaks up the spotlight during the orchestral arrangement on “Designated Hitter.” On this festive orchestra and big band production, Rotondi offers the listener his original compositions, along with bright, boisterous arrangements interpreted by the Notes and Tones Jazz Orchestra. This project also becomes a platform to feature guest soloists, Dick Oatts (on “Falset” where he plays soprano saxophone) and Steve Davis playing trombone on “Miller Time.”
Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil
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