He played and recorded with: Bobby Durham, Jimmy Cobb, Benny Golson, Archie Shepp, Albert "Tootie" Heat, Mickey Roker, Paul Jeffrey, Hal Singer, Jesse Davis, Eliot Zigmund, John Kinnison, Joey De Francesco, Michelle Hendrix, Phil Harper, Jerry Weldon, Andy Gravish, Irio de Paula, Jamie Davis, Kayle Gregory, Alex Schulz, Bruce Kats, Joel Holmes, Kayle Pool, Myrna Clayton, Eric Vaughan, Kelvin Sholar, James Thompson, Roy Roberts, Finis Tasby, Carol Sudhalter, Rob Sudduth, Eric Andersen,  Harriet Lewis, Herbie Goins,  Larry Ray, Garrison Fewell,  Tiziana Ghiglioni, Pietro Tonolo, Flavio Boltro, Fabrizio Bosso, Sandro Gibellini, Massimo Faraò, Marcello Tonolo, Antonio Zambrini, Bruno Marini, Alfred Kramer, Vince Vallicelli, Enrico Crivellaro, Pippo Guarnera, Jimmy Villotti, Gianni Cazzola, Carlo Atti, Piero Odorici, Bobo Facchinetti, Massimo Bubola, Helga Plankensteiner, Davide Ghidoni, Emanuele Maniscalco, Simone Guiducci, Nicola Angelucci, Bobby Solo, Antonio Ciacca, Davide Ghidoni, Daniele D'Agaro, Mauro Ottolini, Paolo Mappa, Titti Castrini,  Eugenio Finardi, Cristina Mazza and many other musicians.

 

Carmelo Leotta was born in 1975, and he's a professional musician since 1999, when he resolved to leave off every kind of other odd jobs (he worked as an actor). He started out playing electric bass in blues bands all around Italy, in the biggest Blues festivals of the country. In the while, he bought a double bass and he get down practising on it. He was hired as a side man by famous italian singers as Massimo Bubola and Eugenio Finardi, with whom he had a big spot.

In 2005 he met Bobby Durham and he joined the trio with him and Massimo Faraò until Durham sadly passed away, in 2008. Then he stayed on the high level italian jazz scene, frequently touring with Huge american jazz musician as Archie Sheep, Benny Golson, Jimmy Cobb, Mickey Rocker, Michelle Hendrix and many others.

 In the while he wrote a lot of music and recorded four records as a leader, for small bands as far as for septet and big band.

 About his didactic activity, he assisted Buster Williams and others american bass players during workshops He had always regularly taught in music schools and privately, looking after electric bass, upright bass students and combo classes.

 In 2014 he moved to Berlin, where he actually lives, and was right away involved in many international musical projects. He was hired as musical director in the famous clubs "Badehaus" and "Neueheimat", and performed with many bands in A-Train jazz club, B Flat and all around Germany.

  

  He worked as arranger,  2006 for Alberti Theatre, in Desenzano (BS, Italy),  in 2007 for the municipal theatre of Casal Pusterlengo (PC, Italy) and for the big band “VR Improvisers”, in Verona (Italy), and in 2008 for Unity Music LLC (California, U.S.).

 

 

Discography

 

 

 

 - 2000

 “Toot lohn dun faruye” – Vince Vallicelli, drums. James Thompson, sax and voice. Pietro Taucher, keyboards. Carmelo Leotta, electric bass (Forlitape)

 - 2002

 “Un gatto attraversa la strada” – Carmelo Tartamella, guitar. Sandro Minetto, drums. (Notesparse records)

          “My favourite things” – Kay Foster Jackson; Valerio Abeni, drums. Carmelo Tartamella, guitar. (Panastudio production)

 - 2003

 “Mrs Miller” – Morblus Band (Eccher music)

  “La musa elettrica” – Ruben, voice and guitar. Vince Vallicelli, drums. Pippo Guarnera, Hammond organ (Videoradio)

 - 2004 

 “Segreti Trasparenti” – Massimo Bubola (Eccher music)

 - 2005 

 “Live at Ghedi Jazz Festival” – Bobby Durham, drums. Bruno Marini, baritone sax   (Manifatture Musex)

“Christmas Jazz” – Bobby Durham, drums. Massimo Faraò, piano. (Azzurra music)

 “Swing, swing, swing” – Django’s clan (Cmc)

 - 2006

 “Francesco Desiato quartet” –  Bobo Facchinetti, drums. Massimo Faraò, piano.              Francesco Desiato, saxes and voice. (Azzurra music)

 “Jazz for Ail” – Daniela Abeni, voice. Valerio Abeni, drums. Antonio Principe, piano. Guido Bombardieri, alto sax. Osvaldo Taliani, trombone. (Manifatture Musex)

 “Com un can sot a la lona” - Vince Vallicelli, drums and voice. Pippo Guarnera, Hammond organ (Egea)

“Anatomopatologia dello swing” – Vincenzo Failla, voice. Massimo Faraò, piano. Bobo Facchinetti, drums. (Azzurra music)

 “Barcode” - Bobo Facchinetti, drums. Massimo Faraò, piano. (Azzurra music)

“Bobby Solo Jazz trio” Bobby Solo, voice. Bobby Durham, drums. Massimo                 Faraò, piano  (Azzurra music)

"Christmas best traditional and modern songs" - Bobby Durham, drums, Bobby Solo, voice, Massimo Faraò, piano. (Azzurra Music)

 - 2007

 “Un uomo” - Eugenio Finardi, voice and guitar. Pippo Guarnera, Hammond organ. Vince Vallicelli, drums. Massimo Martellotta, guitar. (Edel)

“Duo”  - William Koppen de Olivera, piano

“La strada del tabacco”  - Django's Clan (TRJ Records)

“Da qui non si vedono le stelle” - Ruben (La matricula)

 - 2007

 “Phases of love” - Sally Night, voice. Bobo Facchinetti, drums. Massimo Faraò, piano. (Azure Records)

“Massimo Faraò and friends” - (Azzurra Music)

 - 2008

“Dreams” William Koppen de Olivera.

“Ancora qui” - Guido Tononi (Music Center)

 “Uncle Bobby” - Jerry Weldon, tenor sax. Joey DeFrancesco, trumpet. Massimo Faraò, piano. Bobo Facchinetti, drums. (Racing Jazz)

 - 2009: 

“Il rogo della vespa”- Ruben.  Carmelo Leotta, bass and strings arrangements. (La matricula)

“Per il mio poco di buono” - Titti Castrini. Paolo Mappa, drums. Mauro Ottolini,  trombone. Daniele D'Agaro, clarinet. Simone Guiducci, guitar. Paolo De Giuli, trompet, Carmelo Leotta, bass and strings arrangements (Penthar music)

 - 2010

“Freeway 2 freedom” - Antonio Ferlito, guitar. Massimo Faraò, piano. Antonio Giordano, tenor sax, Elio Coppola, drums. Antonio imparato, trumpet. Carmelo         Leotta, double bass. (TRP Music)

“After hours at Caffè Cellini” - Antonio Ferlito , guitar. Elio Coppola, drums. 

Carmelo Leotta, double bass. (TRP Music)

“I sing love” - Lara Luppi, vocals. Massimo Faraò, piano.

“Antonio Giordano trio” - Antonio giordano, tenor sax. Massimo Faraò, piano.  (Rosso al tramonto). 

 - 2010

“Piano vs piano” -  George Cables, piano. Massimo Faraò, piano. (Azzurra Music)

“Carmelo and Carol remember the Great Film Music of the Sixties” -  Carol Sudhalter, tenor sax and flute, Rick Stone, guitar. (Geko Records)

 - 2011 

“Live in Cantina Bentivoglio” -  Albert “Tootie” Heath, drums, Jimmy Villotti, guitar.  Massimo Faraò, piano. (CBP)

“Il lavoro più duro” - Ruben (La Matricula)

"I got rhithm" - Elisabetta Manganelli (Racing Jazz)

 - 2012

 “Swoosh” - Albert “Tootie” Heath, drums, Massimo Faraò, piano. (Geko Records)

“Gift” - Massimo Faraò, piano, Mickey Roker, drums (Geko Records)

 - 2013

"Long distance" - Eliot Zigmund, drums. Antonio Zambrini, piano. (ABeat Records)

"Spezzacuori" - Ruben (La matricula)

 - 2014

"La vita alle spalle" - Ruben (La matricula)

"In an ellingtonian mood" - Elisabetta Manganelli

 - 2016 

"Eroine" - Melinée Benamou (Time Zone)

 

Records as a leader:

 

2006 - “Fucinincauta” - Giovanni Oliva, tenor sax and clarinet. Luigi Pitossi, piano. (Manifatture Musex)

2008 - “D'ora in poi” Carmelo Leotta septet: Daniele D'Agaro, tenor sax. Mauro Ottolini, 

trombone. Helga Plankesteiner, alto sax. Bruno Marini, baritone sax. Davide 

Ghidoni, trumpet. Paolo Mappa, drums. Carmelo Leotta, bass, composer and  arrangements. (Vibra Records)

2009 - Pick up the slack” - Antonio Imparato, trumpet. Elio Coppola, drums. Carmelo Leotta, bass, composer and arranger. (Racing jazz)

 

2011 - “Never lie” - Racing Jazz Quintet Massimo Faraò, piano. Antonio Giordano, tenor sax. Giampaolo Casati, trumpet. Enrico Morello, drums. (TRJ records)

 

 

 

Festivals

 

Jazz festivals:

 

 - 2005

Ghedi Jazz Festival 2005: Bobby Durham trio.

Veneto Jazz 2005: “Django's clan”.

 - 2006

Colle Val d'Elsa in Jazz 2006: Fabrizio Bosso quartet.

Monticelli Jazz (Monticelli d'Ongina, PI) 2006: Bobby Durham trio.

Isola Jazz  (Isola Del Cantone, GE) 2006: Harriett Lewis quartet feat. Bobby Durham

Tuscia in Jazz (Ronciglione, VT) 2006: Flavio Boltro quartet.

Tuscia in Jazz (Ronciglione, VT) 2006: Hal Singer quartet.

Tuscia in Jazz (Ronciglione, VT) 2006: John Kinnison quintet.

 - 2007

Isola Jazz  (Isola Del Cantone, GE) 2007: Irio de Paula quartet. Feat. Bobby Durham.

Parona Jazz festival (Verona) 2007: Jimmy Cobb and Jesse Davis quartet
Camogli Jazz festival 2007: Eugenio Finardi band.

Orf Radio Italian Jazz Night (Vienna, Austria) 2007: Massimo Faraò trio.

Jazz Ahead (Brema, Germania) 2007: Annamaria Castelli quartet feat. Kyle Gregory.

 - 2008

Paradiso Jazz, San Lazzaro di Savena (BO) 2008: Archie Sheep quartet.

Roè Volciano Jazz Fest. (Roè Volciano, BS) 2008: “I remember Wes” feat.  Massimo Faraò.

Gallarate Jazz festival 2008: Annamaria Castelli quartet feat. Kyle Gregory.

Arteficio 2008 (Torre del Lago Puccini, LU); Andy Gravish quartet.

 - 2009

Pordenone Jazz festival 2009: Deep Down sextet.

Eddie Lang Jazz festival (Monteroduni, IS) 2009:  Benny Golson quartet feat. George Cables.

Isola Jazz  (Isola Del Cantone, GE) 2009:  Hal Singer quartet

Isola Jazz  (Isola Del Cantone, GE) 2009: Racing Jazz Quintet, as leader.

Veza Jazz festival (Tirana, Albania) 2009: Jerry Weldon quartet.

Veza Jazz festival (Tirana, Albania) 2009: Hal Singer quartet.

Montopoli Jazz (Montopoli, PI)2009: Andy Gravish quartet.

 - 2010

Summer Jazz (Serravalle Scrivia, AL) 2010: Racing Jazz Quintet.

FVG festival (San Quirino, PN) 2010: “Three for Django” feat. Marco Tamburini and Massimo Manzi.

Jazz in Eden (Brescia) 2010: Sandro Gibellini trio.

Seacily Jazz festival (Palermo) 2010: Guitar Summit, feat. Sandro Gibellini e Sergio Munafò.

Vicenza Jazz 2010: Benny Golson quartet.

Seacily 2010 (Palermo):  Benny Golson quartet.

Spezia in Jazz (La Spezia) maggio 2010: Benny Golson quartet.

Isola Jazz  (Isola Del Cantone, GE) 2010:  Benny Golson quartet.

Dozza Jazz (Dozza, MO) 2010: Deep Down sextet feat. Sean Bergin, Bruno Marini, Cristina Mazza, Daniele D'Agaro, U.T. Gandhi.

 - 2011

Summer Jazz 2011 (Serravalle Scrivia): Massimo Faraò trio

Paradiso Jazz, San Lazzaro di Savena (BO) 2011: George Cables, Massimo Faraò, Roberto Gatto.

Festivalenza, Valenza 2011: George Cables, Massimo Faraò, Carmen Intorre

 - 2013

Torino capitale del Jazz OGR 2013: Tiziana Ghiglioni quintet.

 - 2015

Dancing on the strings: Filippo Cosentino quartet

XJazz Berlin 2015: Naked Jazz

Frankreichfest Dusseldorf 2015: Melinèe Benamou

 - 2016

XJazz Berlin 2016: Naked Jazz and Jazzy Berlin

Chansonnacht Musikfestspiele 2016: Melinèe Benaou

Roma day 2016: Matilda Leko trio.

 - 2017

Jazzfestival Steyr 2017: Niogi

 

 

 

 

Other festivals and important concerts:

 

New York Astoria Cultural Center 6-2-2010: Carol Sudhalter trio.

Cantina Bentivoglio (Bologna) 2,3,4-2-2011: Albert “Tootie” Heath 

Torrione (Ferrara) 5-2-2011: Albert “Tootie” Heath 

Alexander Platz (Roma) Marzo 2011: Mickey Roker

Bravo cafè (Bologna) Marzo 2011: Mickey Roker

Torino Jazz Club Marzo 2011: Mickey Roker

Olginate, Sala della Conchiglia 9-11-2011: Eliot Zigmund

Bravo Cafè (Bologna) Ottobre 2011: Michele Hendrix

Laurin Hotel (Bolzano) Ottobre 2011: Michele Hendrix

Baluardo Jazz (Modena) Ottobre 2011: Michele Hendrix

Torino Jazz club Ottobre 2011: Michele Hendrix

Torrione (Ferrara) Ottobre 2007: Jamie Davis quartet.

Laurin Hotel (Bolzano) Ottobre 2007: Jamie Davis quartet.

Torrione (Ferrara) Novembre 2009: Racing Jazz Quintet come leader.

Officina Musicale di Alba (Alba, CN) Ottobre 2008: Jerry Weldon quartet.

La Tenda (Modena) Ottobre 2008: Jerry Weldon quartet.

Isola Jazz (Isola del Cantone, GE) 2010: Coleen McNabb quartet.

Teatro Grande di Brescia 2010: Rodney Bradley Band.

Passirano (BS) Jazz 2006: Jimmy Villotti quartet feat. Piero Odorici.

Cantina Bentivoglio maggio 2010: Benny Golson quartet feat. Jimmy Villotti.

Torino Jazz Club maggio 2010: Benny Golson quartet. 

Pistoia blues 2003: Morblus Band (come bassista elettrico)

Udine Folk Festival 2003: Massimo Bubola 

La Palma Club Roma 2003: Massimo Bubola

Pordenone Blues Festival 2003: Roy Roberts. (come bassista elettrico)

Sud Tirol Jazz festival 2006: Django's clan”.

Monte Porzio Catone Jazz festival 2008: “Django's clan”.

Isola Liri festival (FR) 2003:  Morblus Band (come bassista elettrico)

Capo d'Orlando Blues festival 2003: Morblus Band (come bassista elettrico)

Delta Blues (Rovigo) 2003: Morblus band (come bassista elettrico)

Eddie Lang Jazz Fest (Monteroduni, IS) 2003: Morblus band (come bassista elettrico)

Lofoten Music Fest. (Norvegia) 2005: Egidio Ingala Band

"Musica e oltre" 2014 Auditorium San Barnaba, Brescia (IT)

 

Arrangements: 

 

2008 –  Music LLC di San Francisco (USA), for Jamie Davis.

 

2006 –  Teatro Alberti di Desenzano d.G. (BS), Italy

 

2007 – Septet in Casal Pusterlengo Theate(PC); Realizzazione di concerto tributo a Duke Ellington.

 

2007 - Big band “VR improvisers”; reduction for big band of the rock opera “Jesus Christ Superstar”.

 

2009 – Strings arrangements for “Il rogo della vespa”- Ruben (La matricula), performed by Carlo Cantini.

 

2009 – Strings arrangements for “Per il mio poco di buono”  Titti Castrini, performed by Carlo Cantini.

 

2010 - Strings arrangements for “Il lavoro più duro” - Ruben (La Matricula)

2012 - Strings arrangements for “Cerco la bellezza” - Neve su di lei

2013 - Strings arrangements for "La vita alle spalle" - Ruben

 

 

 

Publications:

 

“D'ora in poi”, music collection by Carmelo Leotta.

Published by Roma Zone di Musica SRL – via Città di Castello, 14. 00191 Roma.

Copyright 2009 by Roma Zone di Musica. 

 

Tv shows:

 

Rai Tre telegiornale 11/2002 w/ Massimo Bubola

Rai tre “Che tempo che fa” 28/4/2007 w/ Eugenio Finardi.

Rai uno “Uno mattina” 10/2011 w/ George Cables

 

Didactical experiences:

 

 

Teaching by public and private schools:

 

             

2001-02, 2002-03: Electric bass teacher by  "Sarabanda", Nave (BS), Italy

2003-04: Electric bass teacher by "Scuola Civica di Riva del Garda" (TN) Italy

2004-05:                 Electric and upright bass teacher by  “L'Ottava”, Brescia. Italy

2005-06, 2006-07: Electric and upright bass teacher by "Scuola Civica di Chiari", Chiari (BS) Italy 

2009-11: Electric and upright bass teacher by "C-F-M",  Brescia. Italy

2013- :  Privat teaching in Berlin.

 

 

Teaching and assistance by international workshops:

 

Assistance to Buster Williams by workshop “We love jazz 2006” (Ronciglione, VT)

Assistance to Buster Williams by workshop “We love jazz 2007” (Soriano del Cimino, VT)

Assistance to Buster Williams by workshop “We love jazz 2008” (Castagnole Pienomte, TO)

Assistance to Buster Williams and Benny Golson by workshop “We love jazz 2009” (Monteroduni, IS)

Assistance to John Webber by workshop “We love jazz 2010” (Isola del cantone, GE)

Combo teaching by Fondazione Brass Group di Palermo, summer 2010

Assistance to JKohn Webber by workshop “We love jazz 2011” (Isola del cantone, GE)

Combo teaching by Fondazione Brass Group di Palermo 2011