Frank Ricotti


Frank Ricotti is an English jazz vibraphonist and percussionist.

Early life and education

Ricotti was born on 31 January 1949, in London, England, into a musical family and took up percussion, following his father who was a drummer. He came to the attention of teacher Bill Ashton who encouraged him to extend his studies. Ashton would embark on a project that eventually became the National Youth Jazz Orchestra. Ricotti concentrated on the vibraphone and developed his talents as a composer and arranger, playing in the NYJO while a teenager and then attending Trinity College of Music between 1967 and 1970.

Career

Ricotti worked with Neil Ardley, Dave Gelly, Graham Collier, Mike Gibbs, Stan Tracey, Harry Beckett, Norma Winstone, Gordon Beck, Hans Zimmer.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Ricotti led his own jazz quartet. A line-up of the band featuring the guitarist Chris Spedding, bassist Chris Laurence and drummer Bryan Spring recorded the album Our Point of View, released in July 1969. In 1971, in partnership with bassist Mike de Albuquerque, he released the album First Wind.
In the 1980s he played with Chris Laurence and John Taylor in the group Paragonne, and played with Beck again in 1984. After this he worked primarily as a studio musician. Ricotti has recorded with artists such as Status Quo, Freddie Mercury, Pet Shop Boys, Swing Out Sister, Art of Noise, The Style Council, Belle and Sebastian, Clannad, Barclay James Harvest, Meat Loaf, Elkie Brooks, Rick Wakeman, Oasis, Tina Turner, Aztec Camera, Thomas Anders, Alphaville and Mark Knopfler.
Between 1984 and 1987 Ricotti wrote the soundtrack music for Yorkshire Television's The Beiderbecke Trilogy, in the style of Bix Beiderbecke. The music was performed by his band, the Frank Ricotti All Stars, and featured Kenny Baker on cornet. A soundtrack album was released in 1988. Later, in June 1993, it peaked at No. 73 in the UK Albums Chart. Ricotti and his band made a cameo appearance in the final series, playing in a jazz club.
In 2007 Ricotti played vibes on Mark Knopfler's album Kill to Get Crimson.

Instruments played

Ricotti is known to play congas, bongos, vibraphone, tambourine, shaker, tubular bells, marimba, glockenspiel, xylophone, snare drum, triangle, timpani, timbales, tabla, sleigh bells, drums, gong and assorted other percussion, including ethnic and Latin.

Discography

As leader

With Amy Winehouse
With Elton John
With Gerry Rafferty
With Madeline Bell
With Murray Head
With Mark Knopfler
With Leo Sayer
With Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé
With Terence Trent D'Arby
With Rosemary Clooney
With Joni Mitchell
With Elkie Brooks
With Thomas Anders
With Geri Halliwell
With Grace Jones
With Charlotte Church
With Oliver Nelson
With Tina Turner
With Debbie Harry
With Amii Stewart
With Status Quo
With Delta Goodrem
With Robbie Williams
With Daryl Hall
With Beverley Knight
With Seal
With Bryan Ferry
With Josh Groban
With Sally Oldfield
With Peter Frampton
With Mika
With Julia Fordham
With Sheena Easton
With Rod Stewart