Frank E. Ricotti (born 31 January 1949) is an English jazz vibraphonist and percussionist.

Early life and education

Frank E. Ricotti was born in St Pancras, London, England; his father was a drummer. Bill Ashton, founder of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO), was an early mentor. As a teenager, Ricotti played vibraphone and learned composition and arranging in the NYJO, and later attended Trinity College of Music between 1967 and 1970.

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), and 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, as Ricotti and Albuquerque. 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.

Discography

As leader

As sideman

With Alphaville With Thomas Anders With Aztec Camera With Madeline Bell With Blood, Sweat & Tears With Bloodstone With Dee Dee Bridgewater With Elkie Brooks With Emma Bunton With Paul Carrack With Mary Chapin Carpenter With Tina Charles With Charlotte Church With Climie Fisher With Rosemary Clooney With Stephen Dale Petit With Roger Daltrey With Kiki Dee With Terence Trent D'Arby With Sheena Easton With Bryan Ferry With Julia Fordham With Peter Frampton With Gareth Gates With Clive Griffin With Delta Goodrem With David Gray With Josh Groban With Daryl Hall With Geri Halliwell With Albert Hammond With Debbie Harry With Murray Head With John Illsley With Yusuf Islam With Elton John With Grace Jones With Joshua Kadison With Nick Kamen With Katrina and the Waves With Beverley Knight With Mark Knopfler With Nick Lachey With Lighthouse Family With Meat Loaf With Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé With Mika With John Miles With Joni Mitchell With Van Morrison With Oliver Nelson With Robbie Nevil With Chris Norman With Sally Oldfield With Pet Shop Boys With Anthony Phillips With Michel Polnareff With Gregory Porter With Gerry Rafferty With Chris Rea With Cliff Richard With Rumer With Leo Sayer With Seal With Status Quo With Amii Stewart With Rod Stewart With The Style Council With Tina Turner With Uriah Heep With Rick Wakeman With Was (Not Was) With Wet Wet Wet With Robbie Williams With Amy Winehouse

Footnotes

General references