Jul 9, 2024 11:35 AM
Trumpeter, Educator Jim Rotondi Dies at 61
Jim Rotondi, a renowned hard-bop trumpeter, composer and educator, died suddenly on July 7 at a hospital in France. He…
Legendary guitarist Les Paul celebrates his 90th birthday with an upcoming album, Les Paul & Friends featuring a slate of guitar talents who learned a thing or two from the master artist. Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Steve Miller, Keith Richards and Kenny Wayne Shepherd are among the artists who show up on the nonagenarian’s first album in 26 years.
Paul, who still plays a weekly gig at New York’s Iridium Jazz Club, doesn’t possess the nimble fingers of his heyday, he is battling arthritis, so on the album he lets the younger guns take on the lead and solo parts, while providing some signature riffs, trill and staccato exclamations to the arrangements during post production.
Paul’s birthday is marked with other releases as well in the form of music, text and hardware. Capitol Records reissued Les Paul With Mary Ford: The Best Of The Capitol Masters on June 7. Hal Leonard Publishing is set to release The Les Paul Legacy in October, and Russ Cochran Publishing released Les Paul In His Own Words, a limited-edition autobiography by the guitar innovator. Gibson Guitars, which distributes the famous Les Paul guitar line will release 12 special edition guitars, one for each month of the year, to commemorate Paul’s 90th.
Jim Rotondi was acclaimed for his wide, round trumpet tone, remarkable virtuosity and assured swing.
Jul 9, 2024 11:35 AM
Jim Rotondi, a renowned hard-bop trumpeter, composer and educator, died suddenly on July 7 at a hospital in France. He…
Charles Lloyd, seen here at the 2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, makes DownBeat Poll history!
Jul 11, 2024 12:23 PM
The incomparable Charles Lloyd swept the 72nd Annual DownBeat Critics Poll, becoming the first artist ever to earn…
“Being president of Blue Note has been one of the coolest things that ever happened to me,” Was said. “It’s a gas to serve as one of the caretakers of that legacy.”
Jun 4, 2024 12:21 PM
Sitting with Don Was is a comfortable and unhurried exercise. He may seem slightly reserved at first, but ideas and…
The Century Room in downtown Tucson, Arizona, was born in 2021.
May 21, 2024 12:58 PM
Players got to play. It’s long been a part of jazz history: When there’s a venue vacuum, when there are fewer…
“She reminds me of my childhood and makes we want to cry,” Cécile McLorin Salvant, pictured here with writer Ashley Kahn, said of Dianne Reeves.
Jun 11, 2024 12:31 PM
Italy’s Umbria Jazz Winter is one of those rare annual festivals that not only coincides with a major holiday —…
