Jim Rotondi

shawn·m · March 26th, 2004, 12:21 PM

Trumpeter Jim Rotondi began his musical studies at a very early age. His mother, a piano teacher, encouraged Jim to begin playing the piano at age eight. He took up the trumpet at age twelve.

In 1980 Jim graduated from Butte High School in Butte, Montana. He then attended North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas), where he graduated with a degree in trumpet performance. While in Texas, Jim was awarded first place in the International Trumpet Guild’s jazz trumpet competition for the year 1984.

After college Jim began recording and touring internationally with the Ray Charles Orchestra. Immediately following this he commenced a six-year tenure with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra. During this time Jim also became a member of organist Charles Earland’s quintet. He currently tours with his own group, as well as with Grammy-winner Toshiko Akiyoshi and the collective known as One For All, which features a front line of Eric Alexander and Steve Davis.

Jim’s extensive recording experience most recently includes the release of his second date as a leader for the Sharp Nine Label, titled The Pleasure Dome, following a successful previous release on the same label as well as four CD’s on the Criss Cross Jazz label. He can also be heard on several of Charles Earland’s Highnote Records releases, alongside saxophonist Eric Alexander, with whom Jim made his recording debut on Eric’s Delmark release Straight Up. Other recordings include saxophonist George Coleman’s Octet, featuring Harold Mabern, as well as drummer Ray Appleton’s Sextet, which features Slide Hampton, Charles McPherson, and John Hicks. Jim is also a member of the aforementioned One For All, whose Sharp Nine Records releases Too Soon To Tell and Optimism received critical acclaim from Cadence, JazzTimes, and The Detroit Free Press.

“Clearly, [Rotondi] emerges as one of the best of the post-Hubbard generation” – Chris Hovan, allaboutjazz.com

“[His] solos are a near-perfect amalgam of power, finesse and logic” – David A. Orthmann, allaboutjazz.com

“One of the unsung heroes of the trumpet.” – Bret Primack, gmn.com

“Rotondi has the passion and focus to find a place for the music in the new millennium.” – The New Yorker, Jan. 2003

“There isn’t a better trumpet player in New York City than Jim Rotondi, for whom the word versatile is inadequate.” – Bob Belden

Jim currently lives and works in the New York City area, where he maintains a vigorous performing, recording, composing and teaching schedule. He has recently given clinics at Emory University in Atlanta ,the Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Camp and served on the faculty of the Stanford Jazz Workshop in Palo Alto, California, as well as being an affiliate faculty member at the State University of New York in Purchase.

shawn·m · March 26th, 2004, 12:22 PM

The Pleasure Dome
Sharp Nine
Coming in April, 2004

Website: www.jimrotondi.com

shawn·m · March 26th, 2004, 12:22 PM

Please hold any questions until after Jim makes his first post.

Tunj3625 · March 27th, 2004, 08:28 AM

Hey Shawn.
Thanks for the bio post.
I've always dug this site anyway, so it's nice to have a formal connection.
Don't forget to keep making the changes.
Jim

Tunj3625 · March 27th, 2004, 08:29 AM

By the way, what is a pysmatic morologist anyway?

xricci · March 27th, 2004, 08:40 AM

Hi Jim,

Welcome to the board. I really enjoyed Destination Up--it made my top picks for 2001.

I've been spinning The Pleasure Dome over the last few days. I'll make sure it gets a little home page love.

Best,
Mike Ricci

shawn·m · March 27th, 2004, 01:46 PM

Glad to see you here, Jim!

“Pysmatic Morologist”? It means something like… moron who won’t stop asking boring questions. All things considered, maybe I should come up with a different title? Maybe something distinctive yet unpompousified? Wait, doesn’t pysmatic morologist fit the bill?

See what I mean?

I noticed you’re set to appear in St. Paul beginning on April 2nd. Will you work with the same band as on The Pleasure Dome? Since I’ve been a fan of your work with Eric Alaxander for some time –you compliment each other so well– I’m very curious about your relationship with Jesse Davis. I only regret that, due to forces beyond my control, I’ll have to wait for the disk's general release.

That Mike is such a show off.

Somebody really should tell jazzymary and Hardbop that Jim’s in the house…

Kryssi · March 27th, 2004, 02:27 PM

Hey Jim,

I haven't heard all of your recordings, but everything that I have heard is really good. What I enjoy most about your playing is your phrasing in your improvisation. It's always really fresh and interesting. Also, in everything I've heard you always have a good attack and you have a great tone too. I'm really picky about trumpet players and I only listen to a handful of them. So, you're one of the few!
Outside of your solo albums I've heard your work with Giacomo Gates and on Eric Alexander's album "The Second Milestone." I enjoyed them both. It's also very cool that you teach at Purchase because that's one of the schools I'll be applying to next year. So I guess keep up the good work!

Tunj3625 · March 28th, 2004, 09:02 AM

Shawn,
In Minnesota I'll be with local musicians, at a club called the Artist's Quarter in St. Paul.
Specifically, I'm playing with a quartet featuring vibraphonist Dave Hagedorn as the only harmonic instrument, which I'm excited about because I've never played with Dave and I've never worked in this format, so it should be cool.
The drummer, Kenny Horst, owns the club and is one of the great supporters of the music as well as being a really fine drummer. Hope to see all the Twin Cities fans next weekend!
As far as Jesse Davis is concerned, we played recently at a tribute to Charlie Parker held at Birdland and produced by Ira Gitler.
Needless to say, he was so tough on the gig that I had to get him on the date.
I guess that's it for now.
Ciao,
Jim

Tunj3625 · March 28th, 2004, 09:03 AM

Kryssi,
Thank you indeed for all the nice things you said in your post.
Hope to seeing you around campus.
Jim

Tunj3625 · March 28th, 2004, 09:11 AM

Mike,
Thanks for all your support over the years.
No question about it, without cats like you there wouldn't be cats like us.
Cheers,
Jim R

mari · March 30th, 2004, 10:47 AM

Hi everybody ! Its very nice that I can learn a few things about american artists ! Tunj3625 , " pysmatic morologist " are two greek words that actually cant be used together pysmatic is staborn ( I m afraid my spelling about this word is wrong ) morologist ( moros ) is an anciend greek word that means silly . The actual words are " pysma " n " moros " . I m impressed Shawn-m ! Really !

sal · March 30th, 2004, 01:02 PM

Hello Jim!

I've recently become familiar with your playing through One For All. I think its great that in this day and age, there are those special groups of musicans who not only find ways to continue to work together over a long period of time, but who seem to really enjoy making musical magic with one another. I caught a couple of sets when you guys came to Chicago last year, and I really enjoyed watching you perform and the music you guys created. Any plans to return this year?

Also, I think that you are an amazing trumpet player. I am looking forward to acquiring some of your solo work. Oh, and welcome to the board!

Sal

KolumBUZZ · March 30th, 2004, 03:15 PM

Hi Jim. I dig your playing- I hear a lot of the classic references but your tone is very original IMHO and you have a nice relaxed feel on ballads.

I had a chance to hear you play in Dayton back in 98 or 99 with the Mighty Burner Charles Earland. Frank Catalano was on tenor and he was freakin' out all night long. I thought your playing was the best-crafted overall though.

So here's my question for you: do you think there's any composers who are really writing memorable tunes today? Mulgrew?

Tunj3625 · March 31st, 2004, 05:49 PM

Sal,
One For All collectively loves to play in Chi-town, as do each of its members individually. You probably already know that Eric Alexander lived there for a few years and we both worked with Charles Earland for quite a while so we feel very much at home there.
We'd love to return, of course, but usually we need to have a tour booked that includes other stops as well to make it feasible, since there are so many mouths to feed.
But stay with us....we'll be back sooner or later.
Thanks for listening,
Jim

P.S. - Since you mention acquiring some of my own CD's, I thought I'd mention that I have a brand new one out on the Sharp Nine label called "The Pleasure Dome". Hot off the presses!

March 26th, 2004, 12:21 PM	#1
shawn·m tulip or turnip? Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: woodinville, wa Posts: 1,842	Jim Rotondi Trumpeter Jim Rotondi began his musical studies at a very early age. His mother, a piano teacher, encouraged Jim to begin playing the piano at age eight. He took up the trumpet at age twelve. In 1980 Jim graduated from Butte High School in Butte, Montana. He then attended North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas), where he graduated with a degree in trumpet performance. While in Texas, Jim was awarded first place in the International Trumpet Guild’s jazz trumpet competition for the year 1984. After college Jim began recording and touring internationally with the Ray Charles Orchestra. Immediately following this he commenced a six-year tenure with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra. During this time Jim also became a member of organist Charles Earland’s quintet. He currently tours with his own group, as well as with Grammy-winner Toshiko Akiyoshi and the collective known as One For All, which features a front line of Eric Alexander and Steve Davis. Jim’s extensive recording experience most recently includes the release of his second date as a leader for the Sharp Nine Label, titled The Pleasure Dome, following a successful previous release on the same label as well as four CD’s on the Criss Cross Jazz label. He can also be heard on several of Charles Earland’s Highnote Records releases, alongside saxophonist Eric Alexander, with whom Jim made his recording debut on Eric’s Delmark release Straight Up. Other recordings include saxophonist George Coleman’s Octet, featuring Harold Mabern, as well as drummer Ray Appleton’s Sextet, which features Slide Hampton, Charles McPherson, and John Hicks. Jim is also a member of the aforementioned One For All, whose Sharp Nine Records releases Too Soon To Tell and Optimism received critical acclaim from Cadence, JazzTimes, and The Detroit Free Press. “Clearly, [Rotondi] emerges as one of the best of the post-Hubbard generation” – Chris Hovan, allaboutjazz.com “[His] solos are a near-perfect amalgam of power, finesse and logic” – David A. Orthmann, allaboutjazz.com “One of the unsung heroes of the trumpet.” – Bret Primack, gmn.com “Rotondi has the passion and focus to find a place for the music in the new millennium.” – The New Yorker, Jan. 2003 “There isn’t a better trumpet player in New York City than Jim Rotondi, for whom the word versatile is inadequate.” – Bob Belden Jim currently lives and works in the New York City area, where he maintains a vigorous performing, recording, composing and teaching schedule. He has recently given clinics at Emory University in Atlanta ,the Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Camp and served on the faculty of the Stanford Jazz Workshop in Palo Alto, California, as well as being an affiliate faculty member at the State University of New York in Purchase.

March 27th, 2004, 08:28 AM	#4
Tunj3625 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 20	Hello Hey Shawn. Thanks for the bio post. I've always dug this site anyway, so it's nice to have a formal connection. Don't forget to keep making the changes. Jim

March 30th, 2004, 10:47 AM	#12
mari Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Athens-Greece Posts: 14	- Hi everybody ! Its very nice that I can learn a few things about american artists ! Tunj3625 , " pysmatic morologist " are two greek words that actually cant be used together pysmatic is staborn ( I m afraid my spelling about this word is wrong ) morologist ( moros ) is an anciend greek word that means silly . The actual words are " pysma " n " moros " . I m impressed Shawn-m ! Really !

March 30th, 2004, 03:15 PM	#14
KolumBUZZ Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 386	Hi Jim. I dig your playing- I hear a lot of the classic references but your tone is very original IMHO and you have a nice relaxed feel on ballads. I had a chance to hear you play in Dayton back in 98 or 99 with the Mighty Burner Charles Earland. Frank Catalano was on tenor and he was freakin' out all night long. I thought your playing was the best-crafted overall though. So here's my question for you: do you think there's any composers who are really writing memorable tunes today? Mulgrew? __________________ Support improvised music in the state of confusion. www.iceboxshows.com

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March 26th, 2004, 12:22 PM	#2
shawn·m tulip or turnip? Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: woodinville, wa Posts: 1,842	The Pleasure Dome Sharp Nine Coming in April, 2004 Website: www.jimrotondi.com

March 27th, 2004, 08:29 AM	#5
Tunj3625 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 20	By the way, what is a pysmatic morologist anyway?

March 27th, 2004, 08:40 AM	#6
xricci AAJ's Barrel Roller Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Lansdale, PA Posts: 10,427	Hi Jim, Welcome to the board. I really enjoyed Destination Up--it made my top picks for 2001. I've been spinning The Pleasure Dome over the last few days. I'll make sure it gets a little home page love. Best, Mike Ricci

March 27th, 2004, 01:46 PM	#7
shawn·m tulip or turnip? Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: woodinville, wa Posts: 1,842	Glad to see you here, Jim! “Pysmatic Morologist”? It means something like… moron who won’t stop asking boring questions. All things considered, maybe I should come up with a different title? Maybe something distinctive yet unpompousified? Wait, doesn’t pysmatic morologist fit the bill? See what I mean? I noticed you’re set to appear in St. Paul beginning on April 2nd. Will you work with the same band as on The Pleasure Dome? Since I’ve been a fan of your work with Eric Alaxander for some time –you compliment each other so well– I’m very curious about your relationship with Jesse Davis. I only regret that, due to forces beyond my control, I’ll have to wait for the disk's general release. That Mike is such a show off. Somebody really should tell jazzymary and Hardbop that Jim’s in the house…

March 27th, 2004, 02:27 PM	#8
Kryssi Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: N. Haven CT Posts: 139	Hey Jim, I haven't heard all of your recordings, but everything that I have heard is really good. What I enjoy most about your playing is your phrasing in your improvisation. It's always really fresh and interesting. Also, in everything I've heard you always have a good attack and you have a great tone too. I'm really picky about trumpet players and I only listen to a handful of them. So, you're one of the few! Outside of your solo albums I've heard your work with Giacomo Gates and on Eric Alexander's album "The Second Milestone." I enjoyed them both. It's also very cool that you teach at Purchase because that's one of the schools I'll be applying to next year. So I guess keep up the good work!

March 28th, 2004, 09:02 AM	#9
Tunj3625 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 20	Shawn, In Minnesota I'll be with local musicians, at a club called the Artist's Quarter in St. Paul. Specifically, I'm playing with a quartet featuring vibraphonist Dave Hagedorn as the only harmonic instrument, which I'm excited about because I've never played with Dave and I've never worked in this format, so it should be cool. The drummer, Kenny Horst, owns the club and is one of the great supporters of the music as well as being a really fine drummer. Hope to see all the Twin Cities fans next weekend! As far as Jesse Davis is concerned, we played recently at a tribute to Charlie Parker held at Birdland and produced by Ira Gitler. Needless to say, he was so tough on the gig that I had to get him on the date. I guess that's it for now. Ciao, Jim

March 28th, 2004, 09:03 AM	#10
Tunj3625 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 20	Kryssi, Thank you indeed for all the nice things you said in your post. Hope to seeing you around campus. Jim

March 28th, 2004, 09:11 AM	#11
Tunj3625 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 20	Mike, Thanks for all your support over the years. No question about it, without cats like you there wouldn't be cats like us. Cheers, Jim R

March 30th, 2004, 01:02 PM	#13
sal Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 508	Hello Jim! I've recently become familiar with your playing through One For All. I think its great that in this day and age, there are those special groups of musicans who not only find ways to continue to work together over a long period of time, but who seem to really enjoy making musical magic with one another. I caught a couple of sets when you guys came to Chicago last year, and I really enjoyed watching you perform and the music you guys created. Any plans to return this year? Also, I think that you are an amazing trumpet player. I am looking forward to acquiring some of your solo work. Oh, and welcome to the board! Sal

March 31st, 2004, 05:49 PM	#15
Tunj3625 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 20	Sal, One For All collectively loves to play in Chi-town, as do each of its members individually. You probably already know that Eric Alexander lived there for a few years and we both worked with Charles Earland for quite a while so we feel very much at home there. We'd love to return, of course, but usually we need to have a tour booked that includes other stops as well to make it feasible, since there are so many mouths to feed. But stay with us....we'll be back sooner or later. Thanks for listening, Jim P.S. - Since you mention acquiring some of my own CD's, I thought I'd mention that I have a brand new one out on the Sharp Nine label called "The Pleasure Dome". Hot off the presses!