"Sadly but truly, today's jazz community rarely receives such sublimely beautiful jazz combos as One For All...the group's amazing empathy and subtleness are its strongest trump cards…An early contender for sleeper of the year."
John Murph, JazzTimes
"…an intense, swinger winner all the way around…One For All displays the fire, verve, and thrill of the best of straight-ahead jazz, in a clear, well-recorded venue, where the up-close feel of the small club is reproduced in stunning clarity."
Steven Loewy, Cadence
"Crisply executed and painstakingly recorded (by engineer Rudy Van Gelder, the best)…Too Soon To Tell succeeds, in large measure, because of the judicious balance between arrangement and improvisation."
Gene Kalbacher, CMJ
"Too Soon To Tell ...features crisply executed arrangements in a variety of meters, tempos and 'feels,' with thick, closely executed horn lines and cowbell-and-cymbal-heavy drums à la Blakey. Rudy Van Gelder's bristling, up-front production values fit hand and glove."
Paul de Barros, Down Beat
"Get familiar with these names now 'cause these guys are gonna be around for awhile."
George Fendel, Jazz Scene
ONE FOR ALL is a New York-based band comprised of six talented and successful musicians. Collectively, they have been sidemen to jazz greats Lionel Hampton, Art Blakey, Chick Corea, Ray Charles, Louis Hayes, George Coleman, Benny Golson, Chet Baker, Freddie Hubbard, Elvin Jones, Jackie McLean, Tommy Flanagan, Kenny Barron, and Cecil Payne, among others. Having achieved exceptional musicianship individually,.each member of this jazz sextet possesses his own singular style and together they have created a rare, unique sound that has become the signature of ONE FOR ALL.
In 1988, trumpeter Jim Rotondi met drummer Joseph Farnsworth and tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander.It was Farnsworth's association with the renowned New York jazz club, Augie's (now called Smoke), that eventually brought them to, former Art Blakey Jazz Messenger, trombonist Steve Davis. In the fall of 1996, the quartet joined forces with pianist David Hazeltine and bassist Peter Washington for a weekend gig at Smalls in Greenwich Village, NYC. In February of 1997, the newly formed sextet, now known as ONE FOR ALL, recorded their first CD, Too Soon To Tell, for the Sharp Nine Label at Rudy Van Gelder's Studio. They went on to record their critically acclaimed second project, Optimism, for Sharp Nine Records in February of 1998.
Eric Alexander is quickly becoming a "voice to be reckoned with" on the tenor saxophone. Having toured and/or recorded with jazz greats Charles Earland, Cecil Payne, Kenny Barron and Harold Mabern, Eric is now leading his own groups throughout the US, Europe, and Japan. A graduate of the William Paterson College Jazz Studies program, Eric now records for the Delmark, Highnote, and Criss Cross labels and has an upcoming release featuring Cedar Walton on Alfalfa Records.
Trombonist Steve Davis' work with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, Jackie McLean, and more recently with Chick Corea's sextet Origin, led trombone legend Curtis Fuller to declare, "I predict that Steve Davis will become one of the true masters of the slide trombone." Davis' impressive resume also includes stints with jazz legends Elvin Jones, Cecil Payne, Eddie Palmieri, Lionel Hampton, Cedar Walton and Charlie Persip. Young jazz greats with whom Davis has worked and/or recorded include Joshua Redman, Geoff Keezer, Brad Mehidau and Leon Parker.
Trumpeter Jim Rotondi first gained recognition by winning first prize in the International Trumpet Guild's Jazz Competition in 1994. Since that time he has toured and/or recorded with Ray Charles, Lionel Hampton, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Charles Earland, George Coleman and Ray Appleton's Sextet featuring Slide Hampton, Charles MePherson and John Hicks. Jim was also the featured solist at the 1992 Chile International Jazz Festival alongside saxophonist Joe Lovano and pianist Danilo Perez. Jim's second CD as a leader was released this fall on the Criss Cross label following the successful release of his debut CD, Introducing Jim Rotondi, in 1997.
Pianist David Hazeltine has successfully formed his own distinctive style and musical voice out of the accumulated greatness of modern piano tradition. Hazeltine made his professional debut at age 13 and later performed as house pianist at the famed Milwaukee Jazz Gallery, working with such greats as Charles McPherson, Eddie Harris, Sonny Stitt, Pepper Adams and Chet Baker. In addition to leading his own trio (with drum legend Louis Hayes and bassist Peter Washington), Hazeltine's recent credits include work with Freddie Hubbard, Slide Hampton's Jazz Masters Big Band, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, and singer Marlena Shaw. David's most recent release is a collaboration with vibes player Joe Locke, Mutual Admiration Society, on Sharp Nine Records.
Peter Washington is one of the busiest bass players around. He was mentored by the legendary Art Blakey and currently tours with the Tommy Flanagan Trio. Other performance/recording credits include work with Louis Hayes, Javon Jackson, and Wallace Roney, among others.
Drummer Joseph Farnsworth is considered one of today's finest young drummers. Currently working in the Benny Golson Quartet, Joe has also worked with jazz legends George Coleman, Cecil Payne, Junior Cook, and toured with with the Jazztet Reunion Band featuring Art Farmer, Benny Golson and Curtis Fuller. He also recently recorded his first CD as a leader for the Criss Cross label, featuring Cedar Walton and Eddie Henderson. For the past five years, Farnsworth has led the house band at Augie's, one of New York's famed breeding grounds for emerging jazz artists.
One For All - Return Of The Lineup
