Thomas Erdmann has article published in International Trumpet Guild Journal

Professor of Music Thomas Erdmann had a 6,000-word article, “Jim Rotondi: Living the Good Life,” published in the January 2018 issue of the International Trumpet Guild Journal.

The article is on trumpeter, flugelhornist, composer and college professor Jim Rotondi. Born and raised in Butte, Montana, the young trumpeter started his college career at the University of Oregon. After two years he transferred to The University of North Texas (UNT). Upon graduation he was quickly snatched up by a cruise ship and sailed the seas for a year, saving money.

The large network of New York City-based UNT grads paid off and Rotondi moved there to room with a friend. Soon a regular at jam sessions around town, it wasn’t long before he was on the road with an R&B review show quickly followed by a call from the Artie Shaw Big Band. From there it was on to a position as featured soloist with Ray Charles’ band. Word spread quickly about his excellence and a host of other touring artists were quickly clambering for his services. These included, but are not limited to, the Lionel Hampton Orchestra and Charles Earland’s quintet.

This approach to building a career has landed him as one of the most highly honored trumpeters in today’s jazz scene as proven by what the top jazz critics write about his abilities. For example, Ted Panken calls Rotondi, “a modern master, a slamming trumpeter with a surging attack, a penchant for weaving logical melodies from the headiest harmonic fabric, and a warm, burnished tone in all the registers.” Noted jazz historian, saxophonist, and composer, the late Bob Belden, said of Rotondi about his place among the best jazz trumpeters in the melting pot of jazz, “There isn’t a better trumpet player in New York City.” The heady praise is perhaps best summed up by David A. Orthmann, “(Rotondi’s) solos are a near-perfect amalgam of power, finesse and logic.”

Today, in addition to leading his own bands, Rotondi currently co-leads the electric band Full House (drawing on electronic innovations from the 1960s and ‘70s) with David Hazeltine, and One For All with, among others, Eric Alexander and Joe Farnsworth (one of the early super groups of New York based musicians).

As a teacher Rotondi currently holds a jazz professorship at the University of Music and Dramatic Arts at Graz, Austria. Previous teaching positions include 10 years as an adjunct at the State University of New York at Purchase, a year at Rutgers University, and time spent teaching at Jamey Aebersold’s summer clinics.