Following the previous evening’s disappointing excursion to watch Terence Blanchard, I headed back to SMOKE‘s Monday night Jam session in search of something to cheer me up. Tonight, the special guest was another of my favourite contemporary players; Jim Rotondi.
As with the previous week, when I caught Eddie Henderson‘s set here, SMOKE proved to me why it is one of the hottest places to be in New York on a Monday night. I arrived at about 9.15pm, just in time to catch the last tune by trumpeter Jeremy Pelt‘s Electric Quartet who were playing an early set before the regular festivities. Apparently, I didn’t read the advertising carefully enough!! When they were finished I grabbed a seat next to the stage and got settled for the forthcoming set.
The band were in fine form. The line-up was the same as the previous week with the exception of pianist Harold Mabern, a veteran who has played with many of the greats including John Coltrane and Max Roach. This proved apposite as the band dedicated their set to Mr Roach who, as it turned out, was celebrating his 81st birthday that day. In tribute, they opened with the Clifford Brown/Max Roach arrangement of "I Get A Kick Out Of You". This got them off to a roaring start and set the tone for a wonderful 85 minutes of music featuring the crackling trumpet of Jim Rotondi and his cohorts.
Jim Rotondi is an absolute master of his instrument. He plays very much in the hardbop style and reveals the influence of such Trumpet greats as Freddie Hubbard, Booker Little and Woody Shaw. He has a sumptous tone and tremendous facility which allow him the freedom to express his melodic concept in his characteristically energetic fashion. I have collected his many CDs on the Criss Cross and Sharp Nine labels and they have documented his musical development well. He has also recorded numerous albums as a sideman with his contemporaries such as Eric Alexander, Joe Farnsworth, David Hazeltine, Steve Davis, Mike DiRubbo and larger groups like the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band and Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra. Add to that his recordings with such luminaries as Ray Charles, Lionel Hampton, Slide Hampton, organist Charles Earland and bop legend Cecil Payne and you have an idea of the depth of his talent and appeal.
On this evening, we were presented with a first-class display of straight-ahead Modern Jazz. On a selection of tunes ranging from standards; Irving Berlin’s "They Say It’s Wonderful" and Gershwin’s "Isn’t It A Pity", to originals from Rotondi, Mabern and saxophonist John Farnsworth, the audience were treated to electrifying solos from all involved. Harold Mabern was in great form, alternating blistering bop lines with extraordinary block-chord assaults on the harmony. I can only encourage anybody who is not familiar with his playing to get some of the many records on which he features or go and see him live while you have the chance. He is a part of the Jazz generation who are slowly but surely dying out – such is the passing of time – and it is a joy to see such experience revelling in the company of his younger peers. Joe Farnsworth was also quite wonderful. He is a Drummer to match any of your current favourites, combining a light touch and driving, swinging feel to give the impression that, somehow, his sticks dance over the drumkit and cymbals of their own accord. John Webber, on Double Bass, laid everything down in the solid and unfussy fashion which, in my opinion, is the mark of the very best Bass players. His time, swing and harmonic contributions were all impeccable. Jim Rotondi was simply out of this world. There is little more that can be said about him than that. He combined his many facets to create some of the most exciting Jazz I have ever heard. I can’t praise him highly enough.
Following this fantastic gig, as if anything could, was the Jam Session. There were some great (and not so great) local musicians playing and I even had a chance to get up on a tune myself. I particularly enjoyed listening to Norbert Stachel on Tenor Sax. At first, when they announced him, I couldn’t place where I had heard his name before. I then remembered that he was with Tower of Power in the late ’90s. I guess you never know who you might see at a Jam. What distinguishes SMOKE from many other New York clubs is the fact that so many great musicians choose to hang out there. I spotted Lou Donaldson, Eddie Henderson, David Hazeltine and Peter Washington amongst others just chatting and having a drink. Apparently, Cecil Payne is also a regular! Now that doesn’t happen in Leeds!! The other great thing was that, potentially, the club was open until 4am. I left at 2am and it seemed to be winding down so I doubt it went past 3 but it still beats the UK licensing laws.
- Location:
- SMOKE, Broadway & 106th St, New York
- Musicians:
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- Jim Rotondi – Trumpet.
- John Farnsworth – Tenor Saxophone.
- Harold Mabern – Piano.
- John Webber – Double Bass.
- Joe Farnsworth – Drums.