Jazz Police - Jim Rotondi Returns to the Artist Quarter with Phil Aaron and Bill Carrothers, April 4-5

How often do we get to enjoy one of the leading purveyors of modern trumpet on stage with two of Minnesota’s finest pianists? Jim Rotondi, one of the most popular performers at St. Paul’s Artists Quarter, returns to share the bandstand with local star Phil Aaron (Friday night) and expatriate native son Bill Carrothers (Saturday night), a giant of keyboard improvisation who is more often on tour in Europe than in his home territory. And they will be supported by a pair of the Twin Cities most potent timekeepers, bassist Tom Lewis and drummer/AQ owner Kenny Horst. Jim will no doubt share a sampling from his latest recording, Four of a Kind. The confluence of these great artists makes for an unforgettable weekend of cutting edge jazz,

Jim Rotondi grew up in Butte, MT where his mother (a piano teacher) introduced him to piano at age 8. The trumpet attracted his attention at age 12. Initially he enrolled at the University of Oregon but ended up spending his tuition money on records. Recognizing that music was his destiny, he switched to the jazz program at North Texas State Univeristy. But even before completing his undergraduate studies, Rotondi was making sonic waves, winning the International Trumpet Guild Competition in 1984. His first job after college was with the Ray Charles Orchestra; he was a featured soloist at the 1992 Chile International Jazz Festival in Santiago, along with saxophonist Joe Lovano and pianist Danilo Perez. Other touring credits include the Lionel Hampton and Toshiko Akiyoshi orchestras. Citing as key influences the great trumpeters Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, and Clifford Brown, Rotondi’s mentors have included trumpeter Bill Hardman, and saxophonists Junior Cook and Cecil Payne; he has toured with Payne’s Sextet as well as with the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band, the Joe Farnsworth Quintet, Eric Alexander Group, Bill Mobley’s Space Time Big Band, and the Gregg August Group. He is a founding member of the ensemble One for All (with Eric Alexander and Steve Davis), co-leader of the electronic band Full House with David Hazeltine, and leads his own ensembles, including his Quartet, Quintet (featuring Eric Alexander or Joe Locke), and his Jim’s New Electric Band. In addition to Alexander, Farnsworth and Locke, his compatriots have often included David Hazeltine, Rick Germanson, John Webber, Steve Nelson and Bill Stewart.

Jim Rotondi is a busy recording artist as well as touring performer. He has released six acclaimed CDs on Criss Cross (including the acclaimed 2006 quintet recording, Iron Man), as well as two for Sharp Nine. He also appears on recordings of Charles Earland, Eric Alexander, the George Coleman’s Octet, and Ray Appleton’s Sextet, as well as on a number of releases with bop ensemble One For All. Currently based in New York, Rotondi keeps a busy teaching schedule, which has included clinics at Emory University, the Stanford Jazz Workshop in Palo Alto, CA, and serving on the affiliate faculty of the State University of New York at Purchase. He also presents workshops and clinics throughout the U.S. (He’ll be at McNally Smith College in St. Paul on April 3rd.)

Bill Carrothers©Andrea Canter

In late 2007, Jim released Four of a Kind (Positone), his first recording leading a quartet. The disc features original compositions from Rotondi and cohorts David Hazeltine and Joe Farnsworth as well as arrangements of jazz classics like “Love for Sale,” “Manteca” and “Easy to Remember.” Notes Jim, “The music on this disc is the fruition of my long-time vision to make a quartet recording with some of my favorite musicians, guys with whom I am always completely relaxed and musically at ease.”

Pianist Bill Carrothers was last at the AQ in January to present his epic tone poem tribute to World War One, Armistice. Described by John Kelman (All About Jazz) as “a harmony-rich player with an uncanny ability to see the greater potential of both hands in concert,” Carrothers started out on organ and initially hated the piano: “My mom made me play…I wanted to play baseball.” But eventually Bill was turned on to jazz by his piano teacher, the late Bobby Peterson, who introduced young Carrothers to Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, and most importantly, Miles Davis. After playing with visiting artists like James Moody and Billy Higgins while enrolled at North Texas State University, Bill landed in New York, where he recorded with Gary Peacock and Bill Stewart, and had gigs at the Village Gate, Birdland, and Visiones. Eventually relocating to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Bill now spends much of his music time in Europe. He’s released 14 acclaimed recordings as leader, including Shine Ball, a set of spontaneous improvisations with Gordon Johnson and Dave King, and his latest, Keep Your Sunnyside Up. (Click here for a Jazz Police reviews of Shine Ball and Sunnyside.) Bill performed with Jim Rotondi at the AQ in 2006.

Phil Aaron©Andrea Canter

Phil Aaron plays regularly with the Phil Hey Quartet and other area ensembles and vocalists, including Connie Evingson and Carole Martin. When touring artists come to town, Phil will often be on the bandstand. Drawing inspiration from Bill Evans, Cedar Walton, Tommy Flanagan, and Keith Jarrett, he “can swing hard or wax romantic at the keyboard" (Minneapolis Star Tribune). Recently Phil sat in with Soul Café, presenting the music of Miles Davis, and filled the key David Frishberg role when Connie Evingson released her Frishberg album, Little Did I Dream. For many years, Phil and his trio had a weekly gig at the Hotel Sofitel in Bloomington, where bass duties were supplied by Tom Lewis. A busy sideman throughout the Twin Cities, Tom is a “straight-ahead, hard bop, and bebop bassist and he swings like anything” (Don Berryman, Jazz Police). Tom performs with the Out to Lunch Quintet, did a stint with the brass ensemble Snowblind, and is a first-call player for many area vocalists and bands. AQ owner Kenny Horst regularly keeps time at the AQ with such bands as the Tuesday Night Band, How Birds Work and the Dean Granros Trio, and with most of the visiting touring artists. Notes Don Berryman, “Great hard-bop, soul jazz, and fusion chops and the sweetest guy you could meet.”

A weekend with Jim Rotondi is always cause for celebration, but add in a night with Bill Carrothers and a stellar supporting band—now there’s reason to spend your weekend in downtown St. Paul, You don’t want to miss a single set!

The Artists Quarter is located at 408 St. Peter Street in the lower level of the Hamm Building. Friday and Saturday night (April 4-5), sets begin at 9 pm. Visit www.artistsquarter.com for full calendar and information. Four of a Kind will be available at the show.