Rita Marcotulli

b. 1959, Rome, Italy. Playing piano from early childhood, Marcotulli studied classical music at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory before being drawn to Brazilian music. She also began moving onto the fringes of jazz and established a local reputation at first, before becoming well known among contemporary jazz audiences both at home and abroad. This was largely due to playing with musicians such as Chet Baker, Richard Galliano, Jon Christensen, Palle Danielsson, Peter Erskine, Steve Grossman, Joe Henderson, Hélène La Barrière, Joe Lovano, Tony Oxley, Michel Portal, Enrico Rava, Michel Bénita, Aldo Romano and Kenny Wheeler. In 1987 she was nominated for the Best Young Talent award in the Music Jazz Poll and the following year she was a member of Billy Cobham’s band, touring Europe and the USA and appearing on 1989’s Incoming. She spent some time in Sweden, before returning to Italy in the early 90s. In the late 90s, she played the San Remo festival in duo with Pat Metheny and also appeared as a member of a piano trio, with Paul Bley and John Taylor, at the Olympic Theatre of Vicenza. Among other musicians with whom Marcotulli has worked and sometimes recorded are Sal Nistico, Pino Daniele, Andy Sheppard, Charlie Mariano, Marilyn Mazur, Roberto Gatto, Bob Moses, and she has had a long-term musical relationship with Dewey Redman. Marcotulli has claimed the influence of musicians such as Thelonious Monk, Bill Evans and John Coltrane. A highly skilled performer, she chooses to play in a style that derives as much from pop and folk as jazz. In addition to playing in jazz circles, Marcotulli has also composed music for the dance theatre and for films.