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Roberto Tola (born August 5, 1966) is an Italian
jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
guitarist and
composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and def ...
.


Biography

Tola began studying music when he was just six years old. In 1976 studies cello in the Conservatory of Music in Sassari. Four years later continues his studies of Modern and Jazz Guitar and in 1983 established a sextet named Jazzmania. For this band Tola composed and arranged the album ''Preludio'' in 1985. From 1989 Tola was in the Italian Blue Note Orchestra, then from 1991 to 2012 he was the guitarist of the OJS big band (the Sardinia Jazz Orchestra). In 2005 he served as the conductor of the 26-member orchestra for the national competition "Canzonissima 2000". Meantime he collaborates with many others artists and bands, as the conductors
Colin Towns Colin William Towns (born 13 May 1948) is an English composer and keyboardist. He was noted for playing in bands formed by ex-Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan, and later worked extensively in composing soundtracks for film, television and commercial ...
,
Carla Bley Carla Bley (born Lovella May Borg; May 11, 1936 – October 17, 2023) was an American jazz composer, pianist, organist, and bandleader. An important figure in the free jazz movement of the 1960s, she gained acclaim for her jazz opera ''Escalator ...
,
Giorgio Gaslini Giorgio Gaslini (; 22 October 1929 – 29 July 2014) was an Italian jazz pianist, composer and conductor. He began performing aged 13 and recorded with his jazz trio at 16. In the 1950s and 1960s, Gaslini performed with his own quartet. He was ...
, Giancarlo Gazzani,
Bruno Tommaso Bruno Tommaso (born 1946) is an Italian jazz double-bass player and composer, the cousin of fellow double-bass player Giovanni Tommaso. The first president of the Italian Association of Jazz Musicians and a founding member of the Italian Instab ...
, Mario Raja, Marco Tiso and Roberto Pregadio; the famous singer Jill Saward,
Norma Winstone Norma Ann Winstone MBE (born 23 September 1941) is an English jazz singer and lyricist. With a career spanning more than 50 years, she is best known for her contributions to improvised vocal music. Musicians with whom she has worked include ...
,
David Linx David Linx (born 22 March 1965) is a Belgian jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, Euro ...
and the famous Italian jazz singer Gegè Telesforo. The trumpetists Flavio Boltro, Giovanni Amato,
Paolo Fresu Paolo Fresu (; born 10 February 1961) is an Italian jazz trumpet and flugelhorn player, as well as a composer and arranger of music. His unique trumpet sound is recognized as one of the most distinctive in the contemporary jazz scene. Fresu pla ...
, Enrico Rava and magic
Tom Harrell Tom Harrell (born June 16, 1946) is an American jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist, composer, and arranger. Voted Trumpeter of the Year of 2018 by ''Jazz Journalists Association'', Harrell has won awards and grants throughout his career, including mul ...
; the Bassist
Steve Swallow Steve Swallow (born October 4, 1940) is an American jazz bassist and composer, known for his collaborations with Jimmy Giuffre, Gary Burton, and Carla Bley. He was one of the first jazz double bassists to switch entirely to electric bass guitar. ...
, the drummer
Billy Cobham William Emanuel Cobham Jr. (born May 16, 1944) is a Panamanian–American jazz drummer who came to prominence in the late 1960s and early 1970s with trumpeter Miles Davis and then with the Mahavishnu Orchestra. He was inducted into the '' Mode ...
, Saxes
Bob Mintzer Robert Alan Mintzer (born January 27, 1953) is an American jazz saxophonist, composer, arranger, and big band leader. Early life Mintzer was born and raised in a Jewish family in New Rochelle, New York, on January 27, 1953. He attended the Inte ...
(member of
Yellowjackets A yellowjacket is a black-and-yellow vespid wasp. Yellowjacket(s) or Yellow Jacket(s) may also refer to: Places * Yellow Jacket, Colorado, an unincorporated town * Yellow Jacket, Florida, an unincorporated area in Dixie County, Florida Arts, ...
),
Eric Marienthal Eric Marienthal (born December 19, 1957) is a Grammy Award-nominated Los Angeles-based contemporary saxophonist best known for his work in the jazz, jazz fusion, smooth jazz, and pop genres. Early life Eric Marienthal was born on December 19, 1 ...
,
Najee Jerome Najee Rasheed (born November 4, 1957, New York City), known professionally as Najee, is an American jazz saxophonist and flautist. Early life Najee was born in the lower west side of Manhattan in New York City and lived his teenage years ...
, Paul Taylor, Paula Atherton,
Andy Sheppard Andy Sheppard (born 20 January 1957) is a British jazz saxophonist and composer. He has been awarded several prizes at the British Jazz Awards, and has worked with some notable figures in contemporary jazz, including Gil Evans, Carla Bley, ...
, Javier Girotto, Maurizio Gianmarco; the pianist Scott Wilkie, Riccardo Zegna, accordionist and pianist Antonello Salis, accordionist
Richard Galliano Richard Galliano (born 12 December 1950, Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes) is a French accordionist of Italian heritage. Allmusic biography/ref> Biography He was drawn to music at an early age, starting with the accordion at 4, influenced by his father ...
and others else. Has been teaching music, modern and jazz guitar in several Italian music schools for more than 20 years. In 2014 collaborates for the album ''On The Corner'' by the English jazz-funk band
Shakatak Shakatak are an English jazz-funk band founded in 1980 by Bill Sharpe, Nigel Wright, Roger Odell and Keith Winter. An initial white label record, white label release, "Steppin", caught attention by Passion records label owner Les McCutcheon a ...
.in 2016 together with English jazz musicians, as
Mornington Lockett Mornington Edward Lockett (born 19 November 1961) is an English jazz saxophonist. Career Lockett began playing clarinet at the age of 14 while he was a student at Cowes High School, before switching to tenor saxophone. He studied at Dartington ...
, Derek Nash, George Anderson, appears in the album ''Endless Summer'' and also in the single "M is for Manhattan" by the English singer Jill Saward. In May 2017 Tola released his first solo album titled ''Bein' Green''. recorded in Sardinia (Italy), Spain, UK and US. The album features some world-class musicians, including Bob Mintzer,
Najee Jerome Najee Rasheed (born November 4, 1957, New York City), known professionally as Najee, is an American jazz saxophonist and flautist. Early life Najee was born in the lower west side of Manhattan in New York City and lived his teenage years ...
, Bill McGee, Jill Saward, Bill Sharpe and Tim Collins. In September 2017 the album ''Bein' Green'' was awarded with the Silver Medal at the Global Music Awards, in the Jazz Music and Best Album categories. In November 2017 Tola attended the 8th Annual
Hollywood Music in Media Awards The Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA) is an award organization honoring original music (Song and Score) in all forms visual media including film, TV, video games, trailers, commercial advertisements, documentaries, music videos and special p ...
held in The Avalon in Los Angeles, as nominee for the Jazz Category for the outstanding achievement of his single "Sunny Morning" from the album Bein' Green. Again in November 2017, Roberto Tola is the Best Jazz Artist 2017 and his song "Sunny Morning" is the Best Jazz Song of the Year for the Radio Music Awards, a radio network competition conceived and powered by the Indie Music Channel association. In March 2018 Tola was honoured with the Vox Pop Award during the 16th Annual Independent Music Awards at the Lincoln Center in New York, for his song "Funky Party" in the Jazz Instrumental Song Category. The awarded song also features the famous saxophonist Bob Mintzer and keyboardist Bill Sharpe. In April 2018 the Indie Music Channel Awards association honoured Roberto Tola with seven Awards, corresponding to the following categories: the Best Jazz Song with the song "Flying Away", Best Jazz Recording with "Tears for Niro", Best Jazz Instrumentalist for "Funky Party", Best Jazz Producer with "Cabriolet", and also Best Recording of the Year with the song "Tears For Niro" and Best New Male Artist of the Year. In September 2018, the Hollywood Music in Media Awards, the prestigious musical contest, early held in the famous The Avalon in Hollywood, nominated Roberto Tola for the second time (previous one has been in the 2017), with the song Funky Party, in the Jazz Category. In October 2018, the song Lullaby of Christmas (featuring the trumpeter Bill McGee), composed by Roberto Tola and released in December 2017, has been accepted and nominated by the Recording Academy to the 1st Ballot for the 61st GRAMMY AWARDS nomination. In 2019 Roberto Tola got three other new nominations for three different music contests: 17th Independent Music Awards, with his single Lullaby of Christmas (feat. Bill McGee) in the Instrumental Category; 2nd Atlas Elite Entertainment Music Awards with the single Slow Motion (feat. the American singer Darryl F. Walker) in the Jazz Category; One World Music Awards with the CD Album BEIN' GREEN for the Best Jazz Album Meanwhile, the artist continues to compose, record and tour all around the world. 2020 marks the year of the artist's second album entitled ''Colors'', which still sees the participation of internationally renowned musicians such as
Michael Lington Michael Lington (born June 11, 1969) is a Danish-American contemporary saxophonist, songwriter, producer, recording artist and a purveyor of soul and contemporary jazz. Lington has released 11 solo albums and has 25 singles that have charted on ...
, Paula Atherton, Rocco Ventrella, Bill McGee, Darryl Walker, Mando Cordova. The album includes "Slow Motion" and "Lullaby Of Christmas". In 2021, just during the pandemic due to COVID, Roberto Tola produces his third album entitled ''Kon Tiki'', with notable special guests such as the legendary
Billy Cobham William Emanuel Cobham Jr. (born May 16, 1944) is a Panamanian–American jazz drummer who came to prominence in the late 1960s and early 1970s with trumpeter Miles Davis and then with the Mahavishnu Orchestra. He was inducted into the '' Mode ...
, saxophonist
Eric Marienthal Eric Marienthal (born December 19, 1957) is a Grammy Award-nominated Los Angeles-based contemporary saxophonist best known for his work in the jazz, jazz fusion, smooth jazz, and pop genres. Early life Eric Marienthal was born on December 19, 1 ...
, pianist Scott Wilkie and the talented Italian jazz player Andrea Tofanelli. In 2023, the fourth album by Roberto Tola comes to light, entitled ''Under The Leo Sign'', a blend of musical genres ranging from jazz, funk, contemporary jazz to Latin jazz and light rock, in a mix that today it takes the name of Crossover Jazz, of which Roberto Tola is probably one of the greatest representatives. The album was awarded the silver medal at the Global Music Awards in September 2023. 2025 is the year of the fifth album entitled ''Jazz Junction'', an album recorded between Italy, the United States, Argentina and Poland, featuring other international artists such as Giovanni Amato (flugelhorn), Darryl Walker (vocals) and Zorina Andall (vocals and choir). This album also boasts a mix of Jazz, Latin Jazz, Funk and Soul that Roberto Tola is fond of. Just released, the album ''Jazz Junction'' has already garnered multiple nominations in some of the most prestigious music contests worldwide. It received three nominations at the Hollywood Independent Musi Awards, which will take place on July 30, 2025, at the iconic Avalon Hollywood Theatre. The nominations are for three tracks from the album in different categories: Jazz (with the track "Lightness" featuring Darryl Walker on vocals), Latin (with the track "From Rio To São Paulo"), and Holiday (with the Christmas song "Christmas For Sale", featuring Zorina Andall on vocals, which tells the story of unrequited love). ''Jazz Junction'' and several tracks from the project are also nominated for the upcoming Latin Grammy Awards, scheduled for November 13 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. In almost four decades of musical career, he has participated in hundreds of concerts and dozens of festivals in Italy, Europe up to the Far East to China, among which are: Smooth Hot Jazz (Madrid - Spain), Festival "Jazz del Mediterranei"(Valencia - Spain) and Spain Tour 2004, several participations at the "Time in Jazz" International Festival (Berchidda - Italy), multiple participations in the "Writing in Jazz" (Sassari - Italy), Jazz Op (Udine - Italy), Bergamo Jazz Festival (Italy), Vivere Jazz Festival (Fiesole - Italy), participation in various editions of the Nuoro Jazz Seminars (Nuoro - Italy), China Tour 2001 (China), Sant'Anna Arresi Jazz Festival 1996 (Italy), Fiera della Musica (Ferrara - Italy), Estiamo in Piazza Festival (Ozieri - Italy), and many others. Roberto Tola boasts many collaborations with some of the most prestigious international artists of the Music history, including:
Bob Mintzer Robert Alan Mintzer (born January 27, 1953) is an American jazz saxophonist, composer, arranger, and big band leader. Early life Mintzer was born and raised in a Jewish family in New Rochelle, New York, on January 27, 1953. He attended the Inte ...
,
Carla Bley Carla Bley (born Lovella May Borg; May 11, 1936 – October 17, 2023) was an American jazz composer, pianist, organist, and bandleader. An important figure in the free jazz movement of the 1960s, she gained acclaim for her jazz opera ''Escalator ...
,
Tom Harrell Tom Harrell (born June 16, 1946) is an American jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist, composer, and arranger. Voted Trumpeter of the Year of 2018 by ''Jazz Journalists Association'', Harrell has won awards and grants throughout his career, including mul ...
,
Norma Winstone Norma Ann Winstone MBE (born 23 September 1941) is an English jazz singer and lyricist. With a career spanning more than 50 years, she is best known for her contributions to improvised vocal music. Musicians with whom she has worked include ...
,
Steve Swallow Steve Swallow (born October 4, 1940) is an American jazz bassist and composer, known for his collaborations with Jimmy Giuffre, Gary Burton, and Carla Bley. He was one of the first jazz double bassists to switch entirely to electric bass guitar. ...
,
Richard Galliano Richard Galliano (born 12 December 1950, Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes) is a French accordionist of Italian heritage. Allmusic biography/ref> Biography He was drawn to music at an early age, starting with the accordion at 4, influenced by his father ...
, and also Javier Girotto,
Giorgio Gaslini Giorgio Gaslini (; 22 October 1929 – 29 July 2014) was an Italian jazz pianist, composer and conductor. He began performing aged 13 and recorded with his jazz trio at 16. In the 1950s and 1960s, Gaslini performed with his own quartet. He was ...
, Giancarlo Gazzani,
Bruno Tommaso Bruno Tommaso (born 1946) is an Italian jazz double-bass player and composer, the cousin of fellow double-bass player Giovanni Tommaso. The first president of the Italian Association of Jazz Musicians and a founding member of the Italian Instab ...
, Roberto Pregadio, Jill Saward,
David Linx David Linx (born 22 March 1965) is a Belgian jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, Euro ...
, Gegè Telesforo,
Michael Lington Michael Lington (born June 11, 1969) is a Danish-American contemporary saxophonist, songwriter, producer, recording artist and a purveyor of soul and contemporary jazz. Lington has released 11 solo albums and has 25 singles that have charted on ...
, Paul Taylor, Paula Atherton,
Najee Jerome Najee Rasheed (born November 4, 1957, New York City), known professionally as Najee, is an American jazz saxophonist and flautist. Early life Najee was born in the lower west side of Manhattan in New York City and lived his teenage years ...
, Bill Sharpe, Rocco Ventrella,
Andy Sheppard Andy Sheppard (born 20 January 1957) is a British jazz saxophonist and composer. He has been awarded several prizes at the British Jazz Awards, and has worked with some notable figures in contemporary jazz, including Gil Evans, Carla Bley, ...
, Maurizio Gianmarco, Flavio Boltro, Giovanni Amato, Paolo Fresu, Enrico Rava, Antonello Salis and more..


Discography


As leader

* ''Bein' Green'' (RT Music, 2017) * ''Colors'' (RT Music, 2020) * ''Kon Tiki'' (EBM, 2021) * Under The Leo Sign (EBM, 2023) * Jazz Junction (EBM, 2025)


Singles

* ''Lullaby of Christmas'' (RT Music, 2017) * ''Slow Motion'' (RT Music, 2018) * ''Sunny Morning'' (RT Music, 2018) * ''A Christmas Ago'' (EBM, 2021) * ''Tiana'' (EBM, 2021) * ''Says'' (EBM, 2022) * ''Sun Kiss'' (EBM, 2022) * ''Driving to Madrid'' (EBM, 2023) * Natashenka (EBM, 2023) * Bossa Amor (Wave of Love) (EBM, 2023) * The Journey Ahead (EBM, 2024) * Pigiamino (EBM, 2024) * Christmas For Sale (instrumental) (EBM, 2024) * Christmas For Sale (vocal version) (EBM, 2024) * Lightness (EBM, 2025) * From Rio São Paulo (EBM, 2025)


As sideman

* 2014: Shakatak - "On the Corner" (JVC) * 2016: Jill Saward - "M Is For Manhattan" (Secret Records) * 2016: Jill Saward - "''Endless Summer"'' (Secret Records) * 2020: Rocco Ventrella - "Feeling the Breeze" (Delilah Records) * 2023: Bill McGee - "Tree Of Life" (804Jazz Record)


With Orchestra Jazz della Sardegna

* ''Scrivere in Jazz'' (Flex, 1996) * ''Sacred Concert Jazz Te Deum'' (Soul Note, 2002) * ''Blau'' (Wide Sound, 2004) * Il Brutto Anatroccolo, ''Il Manifesto'' (2005) * Il Brutto Anatroccolo, Live at Time in Jazz Festival (Time in Jazz, 2008)


Videos

* 2006: I Am the Walrus - with
Colin Towns Colin William Towns (born 13 May 1948) is an English composer and keyboardist. He was noted for playing in bands formed by ex-Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan, and later worked extensively in composing soundtracks for film, television and commercial ...
'' and OJS (RT Music)'' * 2017: Sunny Morning (RT Music)


Awards and nominations


Bibliography and further reading

* 2002: Time in Jazz - Various Authors (publisher: Taphros) * 2003: Boghes e Sonos - Giacomo Serreli (publisher: Scuola Sarda, 2003 - 870 pages) * 2011: Time After Time - Vincenzo Martorella (publisher: Magnum edizioni, 2011) * 2020 - Vintage - Riccardo Frau (publisher: Alfa Editrice, 2020)


References


External links


Roberto Tola official web site
( robertotola.com )
Robert Tola at AllMusic

Robert Tola at AllAboutJazz



Roberto Tola at Discogs
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tola, Roberto 1966 births Living people Italian male conductors (music) Italian jazz guitarists Italian male composers Italian music educators 21st-century Italian conductors (music) 21st-century Italian male musicians Italian male jazz musicians