Frank Ricotti

Frank Ricotti (born 13 January 1949 in London) 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.[1]

Career

Ricotti worked with Neil Ardley (1968–71), Dave Gelly, Graham Collier, Mike Gibbs (1969–72), Stan Tracey (1970), Harry Beckett (1970–72), Norma Winstone (1971), Gordon Beck (1973–74), Hans Zimmer.[2]

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 (as 'Ricotti and Albuquerque').[3]

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,[4] 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.[5] 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.[6]

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.[7]

Discography

As leader

As sideman

With Amy Winehouse

With Elton John

With Gerry Rafferty

With Madeline Bell

  • This is One Girl (Pyre Records, 1976)
  • Madeline (Four Corners, 1993)

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

  • Soul 2 (Reprise Records, 2011)

With Bryan Ferry

With Josh Groban

  • Awake (Reprise Records, 2006)
  • Bridges (Reprise Records, 2018)

With Sally Oldfield

  • Water Bearer (Bronze Records, 1978)
  • Easy (Bronze Records, 1979)
  • Celebration (Bronze Records, 1980)
  • Playing in the Flame (Bronze Records, 1981)

With Peter Frampton

With Mika

With Julia Fordham

  • Swept (Virgin Records, 1991)

With Sheena Easton

With Rod Stewart

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References
  1. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/frank-ricotti-mn0000791561
  2. "Frank Ricotti | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2017-04-26.
  3. "Ricotti* & Albuquerque* - First Wind". Discogs. Retrieved 2017-04-26.
  4. "The Art Of Noise - In No Sense? Nonsense!". Discogs. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  5. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 463. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  6. "Kill To Get Crimson". MarkKnopfler.com. Retrieved 2017-04-26.
  7. "Frank Ricotti - Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  8. "Frank Ricotti Quartet - Our Point Of View". discogs.com. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  9. "Back to Black - Amy Winehouse | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  10. "Ice on Fire - Elton John | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  11. "Leather Jackets - Elton John | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 July 2020.

Other sources
  • Simon Adams, "Frank Ricotti". Grove Jazz online.

Further reading
  • John Chilton, Who's Who of British Jazz. 2004, Continuum International Publishing, ISBN 978-0826472342
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