Steve Moretti performs extensively throughout the country and is among the most sought after young drummers of his generation. Recognized for his high energy and versatility, he has been lauded for his "authoritative command," and hailed as "a driving force," “sparkling,†“explosive†and “impressively sensitive.†Steve has toured with Rosemary Clooney, Toni Tennille of Captain & Tennille, Matt Catingub, Lorna Luft, Michael Feinstein, and has performed with many diverse artists such as Michael McDonald, Darlene Love, Karrin Allyson, Arturo Sandoval, to The Diamonds, The Coasters and The Pointer Sisters. He was fortunate to have performed and recorded with legendary and beloved Rosemary Clooney, touring frequently with her for six years as the drummer for Big Kahuna & The Copa Cat Pack, led by Matt Catingub.
Steve can be heard on five CD releases on the Concord Jazz label: two with Big Kahuna & The Copa Cat Pack (Hawaiian Swing and Shake Those Hula Hips), three with Rosemary Clooney (Grammy® Nominated Sentimental Journey, Grammy® Nominated The Last Concert and Best Of The Concord Years). Television appearances include The NBC Today Show, Oregon Public Broadcasting’s Artbeat, The View, A & E Biography, and the Rosie O'Donnell Show as well as Rosie O'Donnell's Christmas TV Special and CD. He taped a special for PBS, “Swing It†with Rosemary Clooney, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Lionel Hampton in Stuttgart, Germany. He also taped a special for NBC, “An Evening with Scott Hamilton and Friends†featuring Michael Feinstein and Darlene Love in Loveland, Colorado (available on DVD, Concord Records).
One of Steve's latest endeavors is internationally released Jazz Baby (Origin Records), a collection of popular children’s songs set in a swinging big band style with original arrangements by Doug Beavers Rovira. Steve plays drums and is co-producer of this innovative concept featuring singers Matt Catingub and Linda Harmon. He can also be heard on The Ken DeRouchie Band's latest CD, Live At Jimmy Mak's (KDBand), Amelia’s A Long Lovely List Of Repairs (Slowdown Records) and John Kelly's The Stage (Hideway).
Steve has had the opportunity to work with such major jazz artists as Michael Brecker, Mike Stern, Joe Henderson, Pete Christleib, Bill Watrous, Bob Mintzer, Bobby Shew, Conrad Herwig, John Clayton, Louie Bellson, and has formed his own jazz trio, the Steve Moretti Trio with Clay Giberson (piano) and Kevin Deitz (bass). Not exclusively a jazz drummer, Steve is proficient in many styles of music including rock, pop, funk, Brazilian, Latin, and classical music, playing timpani and percussion in the Redlands Symphony for three years and currently appearing on drum set and percussion with symphonies and orchestras around the country. Some of his appearances have included performances with the Atlanta, Cincinnati, New Jersey, and Oregon symphony orchestras. He also is currently touring with popular cabaret entertainers, Amy Armstrong and Freddy Allen and is a member of The Swear, one of Atlanta, Georgia's well-known bands.
Being an active producer, Steve created Morettiman Musicâ„¢, a production company geared to offer new, creative and artistic insight to the production of recorded music as well as making an active contribution to music education by teaching innovative programs, masterclasses, and clinics to prospective students of music at the middle school, high school, and college levels. Steve is also co-founder of SymPop Productionsâ„¢, a unique company that produces new and innovative symphonic pops programs for symphony orchestras across the country. He formed the Moretti Duo with his wife Amy Schwartz Moretti (former concertmaster of the Oregon Symphony and The Florida Orchestra, and now director of the Robert McDuffie Center For Strings at Mercer University), exploring the unique possibilities of a violin and percussion ensemble that showcases the marimba and violin.
His Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance is from the University of Redlands and his Master of Arts in Music Performance is from California State University at Hayward. Honors include Outstanding Musician Awards at the International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences (IAJE), and top individual awards at several jazz festivals including Best Overall Rhythm Section Player at the Reno Jazz Festival. A two-time Grammy® nominee, Steve is endorsed by Pearl Drums, Paiste Cymbals, Aquarian Drum Heads, Audix Microphones, and Vic Firth Sticks.
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