Music of my Life

Rudy Rotta is an Italian blues guitarist who lives near Verona. Rotta achieved success in Italy before touring in other European countries. His reputation spread to the United States where he gained great popularity. His music combines a modern style with blues roots and a rocky funk soul character. Some consider him one of the best blues musicians in the world. His current double CD "Me, My Music And My Life" shows his impressive work in celebration of his 40 years in show business. In addition to his best works he also recorded some Italian songs as a bonus.

In his dual role as trumpeter and singer, the perennial Chet Baker was one of the undisputed masters of the jazz ballad, able to reach climaxes of intense feeling and intimacy. This CD compiles Chet Baker’s original versions of many of the songs heard in the recent biopic film based on his life, and reminds us of his superb talents. The unforgettable performances by Odetta and Charles Mingus used on the soundtrack, as well as two amazing versions of the title song, “Born to Be Blue”, sung by Nancy Wilson and Helen Merrill (the latter is baked by another brilliant trumpet, Clifford Brown, on the recording) have also been included.

Before Ruth Brown became an R&B and rock legend in the '50s, she was a jazz, blues, and gospel stylist. She shows that aspect of her talent on The Songs of My Life, a fine set produced by guitarist Rodney Jones, who also did the arrangements and conducted the backing band. While she displays her timing, interpretive skills, and still-impressive delivery and enunciation throughout, Brown also demonstrates on her rendition of Eric Clapton's "Tears In Heaven" that she retains an interest in and awareness of contemporary songs that fit her style. Ruth Brown proves that it's not the song or the lyric but the singer who makes a tune work.