Finesse by Jim Rotondi

”Finesse” weaves together the threads of a brilliant jazz life.

I was with Jim when he played the trumpet for the first time, and discovered Clifford Brown, the launch point. As beginning horn players learn the basics of an instrument, they also start playing with other people. Ensembles. Jim has formed, played in, recorded, toured the world with, and written incredible tunes for every imaginable ensemble form throughout his mainstream bebop career, mostly in small group settings. But the big band form was his first jazz ensemble form, and as it has been for jazz in total, was never very far away in his own career…school, Ray Charles, Lionel Hampton, Toshiko, later Bob Mintzer, Bill Mobley and others.

When Jim first told me about his dream to record his own music with big band and strings, it made perfect sense. I could tell it would be very special to him. But it took several years. Something was missing.

Then he found it – Jakob Helling. Jakob arranged Jim’s tunes, pulled together the great Notes and Tones Jazz Orchestra and strings, and directed the recording. But there was more. Jakob brought his owns threads, notable among them his influence from Monday nights on Seventh Avenue South, the Vanguard, Thad and Mel, and the amazing writers of their music. Jakob helped turn Jim’s dream into a brilliant reality.

I feel like jazz lovers will be blown away when they listen to Finesse for the first time.

It will take many times through to, well…….trace the threads.

Enjoy it.

Thanks Jimbo, Love you.

Frank Rotondi

Tracklist

1.	Ruth	7:31

2.	Dark Blue	6:47

3.	Lady Bug	8:02

4.	Designated Hitter	4:18

5.	Falset	7:47

6.	Before Curtis	0:41

7.	For Curtis	7:09

8.	Going To The Sun	6:26

9.	Prelude For 14 Strings and Flute	1:14

10.	Interlude	5:01

11.	In Graz	7:31

12.	Happy Feet	6:04

13.	Miller Time	8:20

Credits

released February 9, 2024

Notes and Tones Jazz Orchestra:
Mario Gonzi – co-leader, drums
Daniel Nösig – co-leader, trumpet, flugelhorn
Tobias Weidinger (lead), Markus Pechmann, Simon Plötzeneder - trumpet/flugelhorn
Clemens Hofer, Mario Vavti, Johannes Herrlich, Christina Lachberger - trombones
Martin Fuss - alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute, clarinet
Fabio Devigili - alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, clarinet
Michael Erian - tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute, clarinet
Robert Unterköfler - tenor saxophone, clarinet
Herwig Gradischnig - baritone saxophone,, bass clarinet
Danny Grissett - piano
Karol Hodas - bass

Guest soloists
Dick Oatts – soprano saxophone
Steve Davis – trombone

Orchestra (tracks 1,2,5,8,9,11)
Joanna Lewis (concertmaster)
Damir Orascanin, Mariya Orininskaya, Balazs Schwartz, Tomas Novak - Violin 1
Anne Harvey-Nagl, Ion Scripcaru, Maximillian Bratt, Amora De Swardt - violin 2
Lena Fankhauser, Emily Stewart, Annamaria Kowalsky - viola
Asja Valcic, Mara Achleitner, Philipp Preimesberger - cello
Tim Dunin - bass
Wolfgang Lindenthal - flute
Stefan Peindl - oboe
Julia Gutschlhofer - basson
Melissa Danas - horn

Solos:
Ladybug (8:04) (Danny Grissett, piano)
Designated Hitter (4:22) (Mario Gonzi, drums)
Falset (7:41) (Dick Oatts, soprano saxophone)
Before Curtis* (0:40) (Clemens Hofer, Mario Vavti, Johannes Herrlich, and Christina Lachberger, trombones)
For Curtis (7:11) (Danny Grissett, piano)
Prelude for 14 Strings and Flute* (1:11) (Herwig Gradischnig, baritone saxophone)
Interlude (5:02) (Danny Grissett, piano)
In Graz (7:35) (Martin Fuss, alto saxophone)
Happy Feet (6:06) (Daniel Nösig, trumpet)
Miller time (8:22) (Steve Davis, trombone)

All compositions by Jim Rotondi
*except by Jakob Helling

Executive Producers: Frank Rotondi and Cory Weeds
Produced by Jim Rotondi
Co-produced by Jakob Helling

Recorded September 19/20, 2021, at TonZauber studio in Konzerthaus Wien
Edited and mixed at Mushroom Studio, Pinkafeld, Austria
Engineered, edited and mixed by Reinhard Buchta
Assistant recording engineer – Kristaps Andris Austers
Recording supervisor – Ursula Reicher

Cover photo by Maurizio Righetti
Back cover an inside photo by Mauro Cionci
Design and layout by John Sellards

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