recordings
collaborations
2022
Duke's Ladies - with 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.
2019
2018
No Eyes - with 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! - with 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”.
2016
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.
2011
Our Delight - with 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’.
2006
Hope is in the Air - the 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.
2004
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”.
