Raised in New York and rooted in classical music and jazz, Ronnie Buttacavoli
studied trumpet with Carmine Caruso and Murray Karpilovsky, principal trumpet with
the NY Met, before venturing to France where, from 1970 –1980, he anchored the
exceptional funk/fusion band, Bobby Boyd and the Soul Congress, later called Ice on
Fantasy-Prestige.
For the past 18 years, Ronnie has led the horn section of Etta James’ criticallyacclaimed
“Roots Band” as well as being a featured solist on her Grammy winning CD
Mystery Lady. Steely Dan, Bozz Scaggs, Liza Minnelli, Fountains of Wayne, America,
Dave Brubek (“ Young Lions and Old Tigers” ) and Masayoshi Yamazaki (“Transition”)
are only a few of the artists Ronnie has worked with.
“ In Mystery Lady and Time After Time,” writes David Ritz, Etta James’ biographer,
Ronnie Buttacavoli provides the perfect counterpoint to Etta. He augments
her voice with his own sensitivity and delicate approach to melody.”
“ Ronnie,” says Etta James herself, “ always amazes me. One minute he’s hitting those
horn punches like Mike Tyson, and the next minute he’s playing soft and romantic like
early Miles. Fact is, Ronnie plays as beautifully as anyone since the passing of Miles.”
“ Miles, says Buttacavoli, along with Chet Baker, Freddie Hubbard, Blue
Mitchell,Clifford Brown and all the great trumpeters, were each compelling story tellers
with distinct voices. Whether it’s blues or rhythm and blues or straight-ahead jazz, the
voice is what counts. The voice is everything.”
Discography
Performances with Artists :
Etta James and the Roots Band (18 yrs),Fountains of Wayne,Liza Minnelli, Steely Dan, NY
Rock and Soul Revue w/Michael McDonald, Bozz Scaggs, Phoebe Snow and Chuck
Jackson,BozzScaggs(world tour) Aretha Franklin,TheFourTops, The Temptations,Wilson
Pickett, Gloria Gaynor, Jay Black and the Americans,Glenn Miller Orchestra (featured
soloist) Toshiko Akioshi/Lew Tabakin Big Band.
Commercials:
Bacardi “ Tattoo”
Coke “ Nascar-Sexy”
Chase Bank “ Aragon “
General Motors “ Drive By “
AT&T “ True Heroes “
Broadway Shows:
In The Heights,Young Frankenstein,ChorusLine,Curtains,Tarzan,Blly Joel’s Movin’
Out,Hair Spray, Little Shop of Horrors, Boy from Oz, La Cage aux Folles, Spamalot,
Gypsy, City of Angeles,Sweet Charity, Damn Yankees (with Jerry Lewis), Starlite Express,
Kiss of the Spiderwoman, How to Succeed in Business.
Off Broadway:
Little Me (with Martin Short and Faith Prince),Romance in Hard Times by Bill Finn
w/Lillias White,Legends in Concert (Las Vegas Production by John Stuart).
Selected Discography:
Etta James “ Mystery Lady” (Grammy Award)
“ All The Way” RCAVictor
Fountains of Wayne “ Welcome Interstate Managers”
“ Traffic and Weather”
America “ Here and Now “
Masayoshi Yamazaki “ Transition” Polydor
Liza Minnelli “ Liza’s Back “ J-Records
Ed Palermo Big Band “ Take Your Clothes off When You Dance “
(music of Frank Zappa )
Dave Brubek “ Young Lions and Old Tigers”
Jeannie Bryson “ Some Cats Know”
Sound Tracks:
“ Be Kind, Re-Wind” New Line Cinema w/Jack Black ,Danny Glover
“ The Deep End ” Fox Searchlight Pictures, music by Peter Naschel
“ Bee Season” (with Richard Gere) FoxFilms, music by Peter Naschel
“ Killing Zoe” dir.by Roger Avery, music by tomandandy, Milan Entertainment
