Frank Ricotti (born 31 January 1949) is an English jazz vibraphonist and percussionist.
Early life and education
Ricotti was born in 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), 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
Our Point of View (CBS Realm Jazz: 52668, 1969) First Wind (Ricotti & Albuquerque), (with Mike de Albuquerque), (Pegasus: PEG 2, 1971)
As sideman
With Alphaville
Afternoons in Utopia (Atlantic, 1986)
With Thomas Anders
Different (Teldec, 1989)
With Madeline Bell
This is One Girl (Pyre Records, 1976) Madeline (Four Corners, 1993)
With Blood, Sweat & Tears
No Sweat (Columbia, 1973)
With Dee Dee Bridgewater
Dear Ella (Verve, 1997)
With Elkie Brooks
Pearls II (A&M Records, 1982)
With Emma Bunton
Free Me (19, 2004)
With Paul Carrack
One Good Reason (Chrysalis Records, 1987) Blue Views (I.R.S. Records, 1995) These Days (Carrack UK, 2018)
With Mary Chapin Carpenter
Songs from the Movie (Zoe, 2014)
With Charlotte Church
Enchantment (Columbia Records, 2001)
With Rosemary Clooney
Nice to be Around (United Artists Records, 1977)
With Stephen Dale Petit
The Crave (English Records, 2011)
With Roger Daltrey
McVicar (Polydor Records, 1980)
With Terence Trent D'Arby
Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby (Columbia Records, 1987)
With Sheena Easton
Take My Time (EMI, 1981) You Could Have Been with Me (EMI, 1981) Madness, Money & Music (EMI, 1982)
With Bryan Ferry
As Time Goes By (Virgin Records, 1999) Frantic (Virgin Records, 2002) Dylanesque (Virgin Records, 2007) Olympia (Virgin Records, 2010) The Jazz Age (BMG Rights Management, 2012) Avonmore (BMG Rights Management, 2014) Bitter-Sweet (BMG Rights Management, 2018)
With Julia Fordham
Swept (Virgin Records, 1991)
With Peter Frampton
Wind of Change (A&M Records, 1972)
With Gareth Gates
What My Heart Wants to Say (RCA Records, 2002) Go Your Own Way (RCA Records, 2003)
With Clive Griffin
Clive Griffin (Epic Records, 1993)
With Delta Goodrem
Mistaken Identity (Epic Records, 2004)
With David Gray
Life in Slow Motion (Atlantic Records, 2005)
With Josh Groban
Awake (Reprise Records, 2006) Bridges (Reprise Records, 2018)
With Daryl Hall
Soul Alone (Epic, 1993)
With Geri Halliwell
Passion (EMI, 2005)
With Albert Hammond
Albert Louis Hammond (Epic Records, 1978)
With Debbie Harry
Debravation (Sire Records, 1993)
With Murray Head
Nigel Lived (Columbia Records, 1972)
With John Illsley
Glass (Vertigo, 1988)
With Yusuf Islam
King of a Land (Dark Horse, 2023)