“…I can think of only a handful of modern trumpeters who combine brain and soul, technique and wisdom in a way that matches Roditi’s.” –Neil Tesser, Chicago Reader
Integrating post-bop elements and Brazilian rhythmic concepts into his palette with ease, Grammy-nominee Claudio Roditi plays both the trumpet and the flugelhorn with power and lyricism. This versatility keeps him in demand as a performer, recording artist and teacher. As Zan Stewart, jazz reviewer for the Star-Ledger, observed, “‘Master musician’ is the term that comes to mind when discussing …Claudio Roditi.”
Photo by Daniela Moncher
Born in 1946 in Rio de Janeiro, Roditi began his musical studies at six. By the time he was 12, he had already become a serious jazz listener. In 1966, he was named a finalist at the International Jazz Competition in Vienna, Austria. In Vienna, Roditi met Art Farmer, one of his idols, and the friendship inspired the younger trumpeter to follow a career in jazz. He has since performed and recorded with many jazz greats, including Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Mann, Joe Henderson, Horace Silver, McCoy Tyner, Tito Puente and Paquito D’Rivera.
With 24 critically acclaimed albums to his credit, Claudio Roditi continually develops his playing and compositions through new recording projects. His last release on the Resonance label, Bons Amigos (HCD 2010), features several of his originals (Bossa de Mank, Piccolo Samba and Levitation) framed by seven compositions by Brazilian masters Antonio Carlos Jobim, Johnny Alf, guitarist/composer Toninho Horta, and pianist Eliane Elias. Feautered on the recording are guitarist Romero Lubambo, new-comer drummer/percussionist Mauricio Zottarelli, the superb Nicaraguan pianist Donald Vega, and the fine Italian bassist Marco Panascia. Arrangements by pianist Tamir Hendelman add polish to the entire musical picture.
His previous recording project Brazillance x 4 (HCD 2002) earned him a Grammy nomination in 2009 in the Best Latin Jazz Album category (Resonance). He earned an earlier Grammy Award nomination, in 1995, for his Symphonic Bossa Nova.
Photo by Dale Rothenberg
A lifelong passion for the trumpet gives Claudio Roditi an open spirit for music. This fuels an ongoing search for personal expression and musical perfection.
Claudio Roditi is a long-time faculty member at Litchfield Jazz Camp. This is his first appearance at Litchfield Jazz Festival as a leader. We are honored to present him with Abelita Brandao on piano, Nilson Matta on bass, Robin Baytas on drums, and Albert Rivera on sax.
Artist Website
resonancerecords.org/artist.php?artist=Claudio+Roditi
Front thumbnail image by Daniela Moncher
