Thom Rotella Returns with Soulful New Album Right Time Left

Jazz guitarist Thom Rotella has long been admired for his warm tone, lyrical phrasing, and ability to bridge the worlds of jazz, pop, and studio work. On his upcoming release Right Time Left (out September 26, 2025 on HighNote Records), Rotella offers a collection that’s as soulful as it is sophisticated—a record that balances groove, intimacy, and artistry in equal measure.

Rotella’s career includes collaborations with Norah Jones, Seth MacFarlane, Diane Schuur, and the legendary Stanley Turrentine. He has carved out a reputation as a versatile guitarist who can deliver across genres while always sounding unmistakably himself. With Right Time Left, he returns to the forefront, building on the success of his 2019 Savant release Side Hustle while pushing into fresh creative territory.

The album thrives on the interplay between Rotella and his top-shelf collaborators:

• Wil Blades brings deep groove and sparkle on organ.

• Charles Ruggiero anchors the trio with dynamic, responsive drumming.

• Ernie Watts, a saxophone titan, lends lyrical depth on select tracks.

• Jeremy Pelt, one of today’s most inventive trumpeters, adds radiant brass textures.

• Tierney Sutton, acclaimed jazz vocalist, appears with wordless, ethereal lines that hover like another instrument—haunting and elegant.

Together, this ensemble finds that elusive balance where taste meets feeling, crafting music that’s both refined and inviting.

Whether swinging on standards, stretching on originals, or savoring ballad moments, Right Time Left is about connection—between musicians, between listener and sound, between tradition and modern sensibility. From the blues-soaked swagger of “What Hump?” to the shimmering lyricism of “Shimmer,” Rotella leads with warmth and honesty.

Tracklist

1. This Is for Lou

2. How Sweet It Is

3. In the Garden

4. Willow Weep for Me

5. What Hump?

6. Lazy Afternoon

7. Light It Up

8. Benny Thanks

9. Mr. Malone

10. Ray Brown’s Shoes

11. The Girl from Ipanema

12. It Ain’t What It Ain’t (‘Till It Is)

13. Shimmer

Available September 26, 2025, in CD (Jewel Case) format via HighNote Records, Right Time Left is a must-hear for jazz lovers—an album of substance, swing, and soul that invites repeated listening.