Claudio Roditi

by Scott Yanow
A superior if sometimes overlooked trumpeter (the Kenny Dorham of the 1990s), Claudio Roditi is a frequently exciting hard bop-oriented player. He came to the U.S. to study at Berklee (1970-1971) and gigged around the Boston area until moving to New York in 1976. Roditi played with Charlie Rouse and Herbie Mann, and most importantly, in the early 80s, he started working regularly with Paquito DRivera. The reliable trumpeter has been on many straight-ahead recording sessions, in addition to being a member of Dizzy Gillespies United Nation Orchestra. Roditi recorded as a leader for Green Street (an obscure date in 1984), Uptown, Candid, and Reservoir, among other labels