Robert Castelli (Drums, Comp)
Tom Müller (Sax)
Peter Strutzenberger (Bass)
Patrick Zambonin (Bass, African Dance)
Mike Scharf (Guitar)
Influences
Life! Jimi Hendrix,Miles Davis,Bach,Beethoven,The Beatles,Monk,John McLaughlin,Chick Corea,Joe Zawinul,Tony Williams,John Tavener,Michel Camilo,King Crimson,Tom Castelli,Andeas Segovia,Mozart,Coltrane,Wayne Shorter,Trilok Gurtu,Dennis Chambers,Sixun,Paco DeLucia,all the Bebop greats,Ornette Coleman,Nitin Sawnwey,The Brecker Bros,Ravel,....anyone who..s ever played with the above......
My Teachers: I..ve been fortunate to study with some trully great ones.
Kim Plainfield,Ed Soph,Gary Chester,Robbie Gonzalez,Tony"Thunder"Smith,Robbie Ameen,Heracio "el negro" Hernandez & Joe Ascione(drums)Frankie Malabe(Drums,Perc), Marc Slifstien,Alex Adrian (Gtr),Jim Barnes(Orch. Perc)
Robert Castelli was born in Ossining, NY. Famous for Peter Falk(Columbo), Sonny Sharrock & Sing Sing Prison! His Grandfather played drums & his Father & 1 Uncle were pros in NYC from the..40s-..80s. First time on stage at 8 yrs old, playing for a visiting African Diplomat. "I played claves". He studied music at SUNY New Paltz, NY, Westchester Conservatory of Music, & Drummers Collective. Specifically Drums/Perc.Marimba, Guitar,Piano & Composition. He has played &/or recorded with well known & up & coming Artists in just about every style (Pop, Rock,Funk,Jazz,Latin,World, Musical Theater etc..)in the USA & Europe, from small clubs to small Stadiums. "I like to learn". His music & playing have been written about in the NY Times online(..99), Cadence magazine(..00), Jazz Halo Belgium(..01), Drums & Percussion De.(..06 & 09), Drums Etc. Canada (..06&..08) Concerto magazine Austria(..08), Jazzwise Magazine London (..08) Drummer Mag UK (Oct,..08)
***** " witty melodies, tough swing & Nasty funk!" Time Out London June ..09
*****" A feast of styles from World Music to tasteful brushwork. 3 stars"...Rhythm mag UK (June ..09)
*****“This isn’t smoothed out Los Angeles funk; this is get-down, get-greasy and get-dirty music that's still delivered with finesse and invention”…….John Kelman Managing Editor allaboutjazz.com, AbstractLogix.com Feb. ..09
*****"Fine arrangements & inspired soloing". Drums & Perc. Germany (Jan. ..09)
*****"Born in New York and now currently residing in Vienna, drummer Castelli showcases his compositions and demonstrates his ability to solidly groove in several styles on Boom Quartet. His compositions tend unsurprisingly to have a rhythmic angle such as the 12/8 African groove of ‘African Dance’ or the funk meets swing of ‘Temporary Insanity’ and his drumming is tasteful and appropriate, while guitarist Mike Scharf distinguishes himself as a soloist". Brent Keefe Drummer Mag UK (Oct...08) 3 Stars: Buy it
*****"This NY-born, Vienna based drummer..s electric quartet plays it funky with a gutsy sax-guitar frontline revving up jazz-funk & more rocky originals".
Selwyn Harris, Jazzwise London August ..08
******"Exciting sounds,... powerful Groove! Castelli has a bright future".
Alfred Krondraf Concerto Magazine Vienna August ..08
******* "Amazing! ...like Weather Report on a good day.." London Saxophonist Gilad Atzmon www.gilad.co.uk January ..06
****** "Drummer Robert Castelli ’s Boom Quartet brings exciting, groovy and funky jazz. The cohesion of this band is exceptional, probably a so called ‘working band’, something that is very rare these days. Castelli is a rhythm machine but one with a lot of refreshing, crispy ideas. There’s great interaction between guitar and sax and the bassist’s could play on the great records from the sixties Stax catalogue. Anyway the three tracks on myspace make me very curious for the new CD. It’s a group that deserves a place on several festivals. I certainly will propose them for the 2010 edition of the Jazz!Brugge festival".
Jos Demol
Jazz’halo & Jazz!Brugge
April 5th, 2008
*********Robert Castelli Boom Quartet:
"I receive lots of unsolicited albums, some placing among the best but most sinking with the rest. Robert Castelli’s Boom Quartet is pleasantly among the few new releases in the former group. In fact, it’s unequivocally one of the finest instrumental CDs to cross my desk in many months. I say this neither because of a superb mix that enhances the clarity of each instrument — drums, guitar, bass and sax— nor because of expert performances, memorable tracks, or sweeping dynamic range. Rather it is the sum of the above when combined with the funk factor. Castelli is a rare drummer who can get a full sound, hold a groove longer than eight measures, and is capable of refined chops—yet seldom draws attention to himself. And rarely have there been such solid grooves, imaginative solos, and lush sonic textures since Steve Kahn’s Eyewitness. The monster guitar timbres in “Blue 13” would have undoubtedly sent a needle on an unexpected bouncing excursion in the days of vinyl. Castelli’s writing, punchy and street funky (sometimes Afro-funky), is matched by his colleagues’ compositions. All have been buffed to a sheen by expert engineering/mastering. When Castelli makes one of his slick transitions from groove to straight ahead swing, as in “Blue 13 & Temporary Insanity", his intent is totally audible and speaker cones are humming with appropriate intensity. Boom Quartet is blessed with snappy compositions that move forward with fluidity, even when negotiating the jolting horn punches in “Temporary Insanity”. To give this album five out of five stars would not be over generous."
T. Bruce Wittet
Editor in Chief, Drums Etc (Canada), Associate Editor, Muzik Etc (Canada), staff writer Modern Drummer magazine (USA), occasional contributor to Down Beat and numerous industry publications. March ..08
Io Robert bro, I'd suggest the Bb, or the A-train for you to play, here in Berlin. Sounds real nice, by the way! And most importantly, congratulations for your second (second right ? or did i miss one ;) baby!!!!
Hi Robert! I really enjoyed playing with you in London. Amazing playing, plus some great tunes. Hope you had a safe trip home. See you next time Mornington
Hi Robert, your italian is perfect! My english is not so good. Thanks for your kind words. I also like your playing and I agree with the words of Amit...I hope to meet you soon. All the best. Antonio
Hi Robert, thanks for your kind words and I must say that I'm really enjoying your playing. (And I wouldn't say this if I didn't mean it!) The forward motion in your playing is superb and natural, and if you didn't know, this forward motion is what Zawinul required of all of his band members, and the cause of most of the fights with him and drummers!!! But you are exemplifying the kind of motion he would have liked. Great to hear your work and I look forward to catching you live. Peace, Amit
