Trumpeter Jim Rotondi releases his second as album as leader on the Posi-Tone label adding to his credit of performing as a sideman on 70 recordings to date. This project takes on a special meaning for Rotondi as he pays humble tribute to his old boss and mentor, Ray Charles. Known in the jazz world as one of the better post-bop trumpeters around, Rotondi does not disappoint here producing one very fine session of jazz borrowing many standards and using a mighty quintet to pay due homage to “Mr. C.”
For a tribute album to Charles, Rotondi only uses one of the singer’s charts and that is the familiar “What’d I Say” which opens the music. Other standards making the mark here are Frank Loesser’s timeless “Baby, It’s Cold Out There,” Lou Donaldson’s Makin’ Whoopee, “One Mint Julep” and the classic “Cry Me A River.” Organist Mike Ledonne is prominent contributing one tune with the splashy “Brother Ray,” complete with heavy cymbal crashes from drummer Joe Farnsworth making this one memorable. Other members of the quintet not to be forgotten i s the incredible Eric Alexander providing the tenor work and Peter Bernstein completing the stellar rhythms on guitar.
Not a flashy or high-pitched trumpeter, Rotondi stays firmly grounded to the music venturing outside the normal range sparingly preferring to honor each piece with tasteful full-toned play.
An unselfish leader, the trumpeter provides ample space for his players to solo with gusto and so they do. Listen carefully and you can hear every player capturing their fair share of the lime light. Kudos to Jim Rotondi for he has fashioned one excellent tribute album with “Blues For Brother Ray,” engaging and quite sophisticated, this is one of the superior jazz projects out there.
Year:2009
Label: Posi-Tone Records
Artist Web: www.jimrotondi.com
