top of page

recordings

collaborations

Laurent Mignard Big Band Duke Ellington album cover

2022

Duke's Ladies
W
ith the Duke Orchestra

Roberta took part to this star-studded recording by the renowned parisian Duke Orchestra led by Laurent Mignard in early 2001, at the height of the pandemic. Among the stars contributing to this album is also Roberta's friend , the amazing Natalie Dessay. The challenges of the circumstances were met, and Duke's Ladies was finally released in 2022. A concert at Theatre  du Chatelet in Paris celebrated this accomplishment. Roberta pays homage to one of her idols, Master Ella Fitzgerald, by singing the lovely Billy Strayhorn ballad 'Something to live for', and a spirited scat rendition of 'Cottontail'.

Tre Canzoni per Voce e Orchestra
With the Orchestra Guido d'Arezzo

“Tre Canzoni “ is the 2022 re-issue of a live concert that took place in Milan in 1997. The “Guido d’Arezzo” Chamber Orchestra under the baton of  Antonio Eros Negri performed and recorded a special program, with guest violinist Luca Santaniello. Maestro Negri wrote and orchestrated three extended compositions for Roberta, each one in a distinctive style. Roberta and Antonio Eros Negri collaborated numerous times on a series of concerts featuring Roberta with Maestro Negri’s Euterpe Ensemble in works of Monteverdi, Cavalli and other composers of the Baroque era.  

Antonio Eros Negri Roberta Gambarini album cover original compositions chamber orchestra

2019

Emanuele Cisi Roberta Gambarini tribute to Lester Young recording album cover

2018

No Eyes
W
ith Emanuele Cisi

Released in 2018 for Warner Bros. Italy, “No Eyes” is a tribute to Master Lester Young by Emanuele Cisi, one of Italy’s top jazz saxophonists. The personnel for this recording includes US drummer Greg Hutchinson, bassist Rosario Bonaccorso and pianist Dino Rubino.
Roberta adapts Tom Melzer’s poems to the iconic Lester Young’s 1947 solo on “These Foolish Things” (renamed “No Eyes” in tribute to a famous expression by the saxophonist), sings the ballads “Easy Living” and “Good Bye Pork Pie Hat”, sings her lyric to Cisi’s original “Presidential Dream”, and scats on “Lester Left Town”,and scats on Wayne Shorter’s “Lester Left Town”.

Intenso!
W
ith the Clare Fisher Latin Big Band

In 2016, Roberta took part to the recording of Clare Fisher’s Latin Jazz Big Band, conducted by arranger-composer Brent Fisher. This album, featuring many top musicians in Latin Jazz such as percussionists Sheila E. And Wilfredo Reyes, includes Roberta’s vocals and improvisations on two Clare Fisher classics: “Gaviota’ and “Butterfly Samba”.

Clare Fisher Big Band album cover original music jazz singer

2016

Disney in Jazz Dave Brubeck Roberta Gambarini Alice in Wonderland album cover

2011

Everybody Wants to Be a Cat
Disney Jazz Vol.1

With Dave Brubeck

Dave Brubeck invited Roberta to perform an original arrangement of the classic “Alice in Wonderland” with his trio, in this 2011compilation recording where a number of  artists (among them Roy Hargrove, Esperanza Spalding, Kurt Elling and Dianne Reeves) created jazz versions of beloved songs from the Disney movies. 

Our Delight
W
ith the James Moody and Hank Jones Quartet

In the year 2006, Roberta was invited by her mentors James Moody and Hank Jones to participate as a guest to this amazing recording session, also featuring bassist Todd Coolman and drummer Adam Nussbaum . Roberta performs and improvises on Jimmy Heath’s composition ‘Moody’s Groove’.

album cover James Moody Hank Jones Roberta Gambarini

2006

Elmo Hope Roberta Gambarini lyricist be bop jazz singer

2004

Hope is in the Air
T
he music of Elmo Hope

In 1999, Roberta took part to this tribute to Master pianist and composer Elmo Hope by performing “This Sweet Sorrow” (instrumentally known as “Barfly”), one of Hope’s gorgeous ballads with her own, original lyric. This version was recorded by legendary engineer Rudy Van Gelder at his studio in Englewood, N.J. Roberta is accompanied by a stellar rhythm section, featuring piano Master Ronnie Mathews, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer Kenny Washington. 

16 Men and a Chick Singer Swingin'
With the Dean Pratt Orchestra

Trumpet player Dean Pratt conducts the Pratt Brothers Big Band in this 1999 recording featuring many of the top New York jazz musicians, among them Master pianist Ronnie Mathews . Roberta sings Michael Abene’s charts on Kenny Dorham’s ballad “Fair Weather”and on Tom MacIntosh’s “Cup of Life”, as well as two arrangements written by Rich Shemaria on the standards “Skylark” and “September in the Rain”. 

Dean Pratt Pratt Brothers Big Band Mike Abene album cover big band vocals

2005

bottom of page