One for All is a New York post-hardbop band consisting of six very talented and motivated musicians. They won their spurs working as sidemen for big names like Lionel Hampton, Art Blakey, Chick Corea, Elvin Jones, George Coleman and Chet Baker. They jumped at the opportunity to join forces, and established a straight-ahead jazz group to brush up the musical legacy. The foundation was laid in 1988 when trumpet player Jim Rotondi and drummer Joseph Farnsworth met tenor sax player Eric Alexander. They formed a group together with bass player Peter Washington. Later they were joined by former Art Blakey Jazz Messenger trombone player Steve Davis, followed by pianist David Hazeltine. In 1997, One for All's first record came out, Too Soon To Tell, on the Sharp Nine Label. A year later, the follow-up Optimism appeared on that label as well. Criss Cross Jazz, which had been keeping its eye on the energetic sextet from an early stage on, signed on for the albums that followed, like The Long Haul. Criss Cross Jazz also put out solo albums by Eric Alexander, Jim Rotondi and Joe Farnsworth (with Cedar Walton and Eddie Henderson).
