Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify.
The life of a jazz m
usician tends to be an itinerant one. While traveling the world over the past three decades, trumpeter Jim Rotondi has formed a tenuous definition of the work “home”-sometimes it can mean a permanent residence, sometimes just a welcoming room for a few nights’ performances once or twice a year. On his latest album, “Dark Blue,” Rotondi offers a musical travelogue of some of the places he’s been privileged to call home. While the title track doesn’t refer to any place in particular, it’s a vivid description of one of the ever-changing locations where Rotondi feels most at home: his band. The disc evokes the mood of this particular quintet, a first-time conglomeration that includes old friends David Hazeltine on piano and Joe Locke on vibes as well as new additions in bassist David Wong and drummer Carl Allen.
Hazeltine and Wong also appear on the new CD by saxophonist Bob Kenmotsu, “I’m In Love With You.” Coming out of the San Francisco Bay area, Kenmotsu made his way to New York where he was a member of the Jack McDuff organ combo and the Ruth Brown Band. He’s also worked and recorded with Ira Coleman, Billy Hart, Pat Martino and others. Now back in the Bay Area in Berkeley, Bob is now working jazz clubs and concerts on the Wes Coast but still records in New York on occasion, as he did with his new disc. Rounding out his quartet is drummer Billy Drummond.
Also this week, bassist Brian Bromberg, who started his career as a drummer, comes “Full Circle” on his new CD as both bassist and drummer with guests Alex Acuna, Bob Sheppard, Arturo Sandoval, Lee Thornburg, Mitch Forman and Kirk Whalum.
Saxophonist Adison Evans pays tribute to some of the people who have helped shape her career, including Stevie Wonder, Sonny Rollins, Steve Wilson and Beyonce, on “Hero”.
Guitarist Ed Cherry is joined by organist Kyle Koehler and drummer Anwar Marshall for “Soul Tree.”