Robert Castelli

Member Since: 2009 | Location: Barcelona | Page Views: 2,207

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About Me

3rd generation drummer, but a musician who happens to play drums. Also play guitar & compose. Started playing drums at 8, guitar at 14. Studied theory, piano, guitar and orxhestra percussion as well. Kicked around NYC & surroundig area for 20 odd yrs. playing everything. Gigs as diverse as the Original Chiffons, to Funk, Jazz, Latin, Pop, Musical Theater & anything else (NY!) Debut as a leader “Boom Qrt” 2008. Good reviews in numerous mags & websites in 6 countries. 2nd cd “Live at Porgy & Bess Vienna” also received good reviews, even 1 or 2 with 4 & 5 stars! (Thank you UK Jazz Radio) Playing & promoting “BOOM!” throughout Austria, the UK and now Spain and the EU playing clubs, festivals & giving workshops. ”Vamos” from “Party at One World Plaza” was chosen as “Song of the Day” on AAJ! It's gotten great reviews and airplay in the EU, UK, USA & Canada. ”you feel carried away into the world of Afro-Cuban music, West African rhythms, jazz rock of the 70s and 80s with rhythm par excellence. It is your own fault if you do not move with such a rhythmic design!” Ferdinand Dupius-Panther, Jazz Halo, Dec 2020 Great shows followed in Spain, Austria and England including Jamboree, Jimmy Glass & Clarence Jazz Clubin Spain, Porgy & Bess, Vienna, EFG London Jazz Festival at Oliver's Jazz Bar and Ronnie Scott's Late Show. New release “Resonant Alien-Live at The Black Cat, Belgium” out now and getting good reviews. Will be touring it in 2027 with dates already booked in 2028. https://robertcastelliboom.bandcamp.com/releases https://www.robertcastelli.com Please have a listen and enjoy!

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Robert Castelli

My Jazz Story

I love jazz because it's adventurous. It's always changing, adding new elements and even subtracting some. But "jazz" is creating ART, SPontaneously! I was first exposed to jazz through my father as a child as my dad was a pro drummer. I met so many musicians. Gary Chester, John McLaughlin, Joe Zawinul, and so many more. The best show I ever attended was Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter & Tony Williams at the Village Vanguard. I sat 10-15 feet from Tony Williams! Talk about spontaneously creating Art! The first jazz record I bought was In a Silent Way. My advice to new listeners is to listen to as much music as you can. When people ask me what kind of music I play, my response is always "is there more than one kind?"

My House Concert Story

We had a great time at The Black Cat in Belgium in May. The place was packed and the band was on! Released on Nov 1st! Here's a link to a review of the show https://docs.google.com/document/d/1w4srqk3kbsnYdyMgDH24PNydMWVx2R-oW_kA4N1q1rc/edit?usp=sharing Robert Castelli’s compositions are of a rare high caliber. They are rhythmically very strong but always feature an appealing melody. It is striking how he weaves his drum lines throughout, without dominating the songs. Always exciting, but never flashy. Jos Demol, Jazz Halo Belgium This is Jazz that respects its roots without being confined by them. It embraces the sophistication of Modern Jazz, the energy of Fusion, and the raw excitement of musicians creating something in the moment. The result is a performance that feels alive at every turn: muscular yet nuanced, exploratory yet accessible, and always grounded in the groove. Hellmut Wolf, Wolf Entertainment Germany Killer stuff! Mark Pozzo, Vater Percussion