Robert Castelli

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.Marimaba, 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), Drums Etc. Canada (..06&..08) Concerto magazine Austria(..08).******Exciting sounds,... powerful Groove! Castelli has a bright future. Alfred Krondraf Concerto Magazine Vienna******* "Amazing! ...like Weather Report on a good day.." London Saxophonist Gilad Atzmon www.gilad.co.uk****** 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.