Roberto Tola

Summary

Roberto Tola (born August 5, 1966) is an Italian jazz guitarist and composer.

Roberto Tola
Roberto Tola in Valencia - Spain Tour 2004
Roberto Tola in Valencia - Spain Tour 2004
Background information
Born (1966-08-05) August 5, 1966 (age 57)
Sassari, Italy
GenresJazz, smooth jazz, Jazz fusion, Latin Jazz
Occupation(s)Musician, composer
Instrument(s)Guitar
Years active1983–present
MembersRecording Academy
Websiterobertotola.com

Biography edit

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, Carla Bley, Giorgio Gaslini, Giancarlo Gazzani, Bruno Tommaso, Mario Raja, Marco Tiso and Roberto Pregadio; the famous singer Jill Saward, Norma Winstone, David Linx and the famous Italian jazz singer Gegè Telesforo. The trumpetists Flavio Boltro, Giovanni Amato, Paolo Fresu, Enrico Rava and magic Tom Harrell; the Bassist Steve Swallow, the drummer Billy Cobham, Saxes Bob Mintzer (member of Yellowjackets), Eric Marienthal, Najee, Paul Taylor, Paula Atherton, Andy Sheppard, Javier Girotto, Maurizio Gianmarco; the pianist Scott Wilkie, Riccardo Zegna, accordionist and pianist Antonello Salis, accordionist Richard Galliano 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.

 
Roberto Tola at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards - November 2017 at The Avalon Theatre, Hollywood

in 2016 together with English jazz musicians, as Mornington Lockett, 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.

 
Roberto Tola - 16th Annual Independent Music Awards - New York City, Lincoln Center - March 2018

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, 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,[1] in the Jazz Music and Best Album categories.

In November 2017 Tola attended the 8th Annual Hollywood Music in Media Awards[2] 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,[3] 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[4] 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[5][6] 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,[7] 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,[8] with his single Lullaby of Christmas (feat. Bill McGee) in the Instrumental Category; 2nd Atlas Elite Entertainment Music Awards[9] with the single Slow Motion (feat. the American singer Darryl F. Walker) in the Jazz Category; One World Music Awards[10] 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, 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, saxophonist Eric Marienthal, pianist Scott Wilkie and the talented Italian jazz player Andrea Tofanelli.

In 2023, the new and 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[11] in September 2023.

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, Carla Bley, Tom Harrell, Norma Winstone, Steve Swallow, Richard Galliano, and also Javier Girotto, Giorgio Gaslini, Giancarlo Gazzani, Bruno Tommaso, Roberto Pregadio, Jill Saward, David Linx, Gegè Telesforo, Michael Lington, Paul Taylor, Paula Atherton, Najee, Bill Sharpe, Rocco Ventrella, Andy Sheppard, Maurizio Gianmarco, Flavio Boltro, Giovanni Amato, Paolo Fresu, Enrico Rava, Antonello Salis and more..

 
Roberto Tola with Bob Mintzer Italy Tour 2008

Discography edit

As leader edit

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

Singles edit

  • 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)

As sideman edit

  • 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 edit

  • 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 edit

  • 2006: I Am the Walrus - with Colin Towns and OJS (RT Music)
  • 2017: Sunny Morning (RT Music)

Awards and nominations edit

Year Award Category Nominated Work Result Notes
2017 Global Music Awards [1] Jazz Music Album Bein' Green Silver Medal
2017 Global Music Awards[1] Album Bein' Green Silver Medal
2017 8th Annual Hollywood Music in Media Awards[2] Jazz Sunny Morning Nominated
2017 Radio Music Awards[3] Jazz Sunny Morning Won
2017 Radio Music Awards[3] Jazz Flying Away Won
2018 16th Independent Music Awards[4] Jazz Funky Party Won Vox Pop Award
2018 Indie Music Channel Awards[6] Jazz Song Flying Away Won
2018 Indie Music Channel Awards[6] Jazz Recording Tears For Niro Won
2018 Indie Music Channel Awards[6] Jazz Instrumentalist Funky Party Won
2018 Indie Music Channel Awards[6] Jazz Producer Cabriolet Won
2018 Indie Music Channel Awards[6] Jazz Video Sunny Morning Won Natalia Vlaskina co-winner
2018 Indie Music Channel Awards[6] Best New Male Artist of the Year Won
2018 Indie Music Channel Awards[6] Recording of the Year Tears For Niro
2018 9th Annual Hollywood Music in Media Awards[7] Jazz Funky Party Nominated
2018 Annual TheMothFM Jazz Awards (GMFM -DB Radio Group) Best Overall Artist 2018 Winner
2018 UK Songwriting Contest 2018[12] Jazz/Blues Flying Away Finalist
2018 UK Songwriting Contest 2018[12] Jazz/Blues Funky Party Finalist
2018 UK Songwriting Contest 2018[12] Jazz/Blues Tears For Niro Finalist
2018 UK Songwriting Contest 2018[12] Jazz/Blues With You All The Clouds Go Away Finalist
2018 UK Songwriting Contest 2018[12] Instrumental Flying Away Finalist
2018 UK Songwriting Contest 2018[12] Instrumental Funky Party Finalist
2018 UK Songwriting Contest 2018[12] Instrumental Tears For Niro Finalist
2019 17th Independent Music Awards 2019[13] Instrumental Lullaby of Christmas winner Vox Pop Award
2019 2nd Atlas Elite Entertainment Music Awards[9] Jazz Slow Motion winner
2019 6th One World Music Awards[14] Best Jazz Album Bein' Green 2nd Place
2019 10th Annual Hollywood Music in Media Awards[7] Jazz Slow Motion nominee
2020 18th Annual Independent Music Awards[15] Jazz Slow Motion Winner Vox Pop Award
2020 19th UKSC Music Contest (United Kingdom)[16] Jazz Preludio Semifinal Finalist TBA
2020 19th UKSC Music Contest (United Kingdom)[16] International Composition Preludio Semifinal Finalist TBA
2020 19th UKSC Music Contest (United Kingdom)[16] Instrumental Sandro's Song Finalist Finalist TBA February 2021
2020 19th UKSC Music Contest (United Kingdom)[16] World Music Coco Loco Finalist Finalist TBA February 2021
2020 19th UKSC Music Contest (United Kingdom)[16] Composizione Coco Loco Semifinal Finalist TBA
2020 19th UKSC Music Contest (United Kingdom)[16] Jazz Libeccio Semifinal Finalist TBA
2020 19th UKSC Music Contest (United Kingdom)[16] Composition Libeccio Semifinal Finalist TBA
2020 11th Annual Hollywood Music in Media Awards[17] Jazz Libeccio nominee Winner TBA January 2021
2023 Global Music Awards[11] Crossover Jazz Best Album Under The Leo Sign Silver Medal

Bibliography and further reading edit

  • 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 edit

  1. ^ a b c "Winners-Sept-2017". www.globalmusicawards.com. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
  2. ^ a b "2017 August Genre Nominees". www.hmmawards.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-16. Retrieved 2020-04-14.
  3. ^ a b c "Radio Music Awards". The Radio Music Awards. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
  4. ^ a b "The 16th Independent Music Awards Nominees Announced - Independent Music Awards". Independent Music Awards. 2018-02-13. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
  5. ^ "Indie Music Channel Awards". The Indie Music Channel. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h "imca5botywinners". The Indie Music Channel. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
  7. ^ a b c "2019 MUSIC GENRE NOMINEES". www.hmmawards.com. Retrieved 2020-04-14.
  8. ^ "The 17th Independent Music Awards Nominees". Independent Music Awards. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
  9. ^ a b "Nominees". www.atlaseliteentertainment.com. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  10. ^ "2018 Awards - One World Music". oneworldmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-04-14.
  11. ^ a b "Global Music Awards - Music Competition". www.globalmusicawards.com. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g "2018 Results". Retrieved 2020-04-14.
  13. ^ "THE 17TH INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS WINNERS". Retrieved 2020-04-14.
  14. ^ "OWMR Awards 2019". Retrieved 2020-04-14.
  15. ^ "THE 18TH INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES". Retrieved 2020-04-14.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g "UK Songwriting Contest - Official". UK Songwriting Contest - Official. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  17. ^ "2020 Music Genre Nominees". www.hmmawards.com. Retrieved 2020-12-05.

External links edit

  • Roberto Tola official web site ( robertotola.com )
  • Robert Tola at AllMusic
  • Robert Tola at AllAboutJazz
  • Orchestra Jazz della Sardegna official web site
  • Roberto Tola at Discogs