JAZZPROFILES lives in the music 1,572 Jazz Artists fully Profiled! Roberto Gatto
Last updated October 1, 2026
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Roberto Gatto performing, 2012. CC BY-SA 2.0 — Wikimedia Commons — photographer Giannux & Chia — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Roberto_Gatto_2012.jpg
Roberto Gatto's professional career started in 1975, when he was sixteen. He took the drum chair in the Trio di Roma, the house trio at Rome's Music Inn, alongside pianist Danilo Rea and bassist Enzo Pietropaoli, backing the American jazz musicians who came through the city. All three would go on to become defining figures in Italian jazz.
He didn't stay a sideman for long. By 1983, Fare Musica magazine's monthly readers' poll had already named him the best drummer in Italy, a distinction the Musica Jazz poll gave him again in 2007, 2009, and 2010, alongside two Top Jazz "Best Group" wins with Lingomania in 1983 and 1987. In the same period he began teaching, eventually holding the jazz drums chair at Rome's Santa Cecilia Conservatory and spending over a decade on the faculty of the Siena Jazz seminars.
The records that carried his name outside Italy came on the Gala label in the late 1980s. Notes (recorded early 1987) brought in Michael Brecker as a guest on tenor saxophone, alongside a cast including Danilo Rea, Rita Marcotulli, and Enzo Pietropaoli. Its follow-up, Ask, did the same with John Scofield on electric guitar. Both records put an American star in the sideman's chair on an Italian drummer's own date, the reverse of the more familiar arrangement.
Gatto kept working both sides of that equation for the decades that followed. As a leader, his catalog runs from Luna and Jungle Three through Roberto Gatto Plays Rugantino, Traps, Deep, Sixth Sense, and NOW!, up to 2025's Live. As a sideman, his credits include Lee Konitz, Chet Baker, Bob Berg, Tommy Flanagan, Joe Zawinul, Joe Lovano, Phil Woods, and Miroslav Vitous, plus a long-running stretch backing Neapolitan singer Pino Daniele on the road and in the studio. He also recorded repeatedly with Enrico Rava, Paolo Fresu, Franco D'Andrea, Giovanni Tommaso, Rosario Giuliani, and Stefano Bollani over the years, a web of connections that runs through much of modern Italian jazz.
Alongside the drum kit, Gatto composes for film. He co-wrote the score for Nino Manfredi's Nudo di donna with saxophonist Maurizio Giammarco, and scored Mignon è partita with guitarist Battista Lena, already profiled on jazzprofiles.com.
He has stayed active into his late sixties. In 2024 he recorded Something Bluesy and More, a piano trio session led by Franco D'Andrea with bassist Gabriele Evangelista, working through blues, Ellington, and Coltrane repertoire, followed by a 2025 live album on Parco Della Musica Records.
Gatto's playing sits inside the post-bop and modal jazz mainstream but reaches outward: the Gala-era records leaned toward fusion, the Around Zappa and Progressivamente - Omaggio Al Progressive Rock projects put him in direct dialogue with rock repertoire, and his tribute records (Shades Of Chet, Remembering Shelly) show a recurring interest in honoring specific American figures on his own terms rather than simply covering their books. His long-running work with singer Pino Daniele and his film-scoring output both reflect a musician equally comfortable inside a pop or cinematic frame as a straight-ahead jazz one.
- Notes (1986/87, Gala Records) - Recorded January-March 1987 in Rome, with Michael Brecker as guest on tenor saxophone. Landmark record cited as the release that carried his name beyond Italy. Listen · Buy
- Ask (1987, Gala Records) - The follow-up to Notes, with John Scofield as guest on electric guitar. Spotify - Ask Listen · Buy
- Traps (2007, C.A.M. Jazz) - Spotify - Traps Listen · Buy
- The Music Next Door (2008, Emarcy) - Spotify - The Music Next Door Listen · Buy
- NOW! (2017, Abeat Records) - Roberto Gatto Quartet. Spotify - NOW! Listen · Buy
- Something Bluesy and More (2024, Parco Della Musica Records) - Franco D'Andrea Trio, with Gabriele Evangelista and Roberto Gatto. His most recent recording as of this profile. Spotify - Something Bluesy and More Listen · Buy
Roberto Gatto: Full Discography
Compiled via the Discogs API (artist ID 341452).
As Leader / Co-Leader
| Year | Album | Label | Format | Billing | Notes | Listen | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n.d. | Vibes Trio | Via Veneto Jazz | CD | Roberto Gatto | Undated on Discogs. Leader record of the vibraphonist Francesco Lo Cascio, with Giovanni Tommaso and Stefano Di Battista; Gatto is co-billed as drummer. | not found | Amazon search |
| n.d. | The Blessing | Red Record | CD | Roberto Gatto | Undated on Discogs. | Bandcamp | Amazon search |
| 1978 | From Always... ...To Now! | Edipan | Vinyl | Roberto Gatto | Earliest leader credit on Discogs. | not found | Amazon search |
| 1986 | Notes | Gala Records (CDGLP 91008) | Vinyl/CD | Roberto Gatto | Recorded Jan-Mar 1987, Rome. Guest: Michael Brecker (tenor sax). Personnel: Danilo Rea, Massimo Ruscitto (keyboards), Antonio Faraò, Rita Marcotulli, Stefano Sabatini (piano), Enzo Pietropaoli, Francesco Puglisi, Furio Di Castri (bass), Umberto Fiorentino (guitar), Maurizio Giammarco (sax, arranger), Flavio Boltro (trumpet), Danilo Terenzi (trombone), Gegè Telesforo (vocals). Landmark record, cited in the spotlight post. | YouTube | Amazon search |
| 1987 | Moon Pie | YVP Music | Vinyl | Roberto Gatto | not found | Amazon search | |
| 1987 | Ask | Gala Records (GLLP 91015) | Vinyl | Roberto Gatto | Guest: John Scofield (electric guitar). Personnel: Danilo Rea (keyboards, synth), Battista Lena (guitar synth), Enzo Pietropaoli, Massimo Bottini (bass). Roberto Gatto also produced and mixed. Landmark record, cited in the spotlight post. | Spotify | Amazon search |
| 1989 | Luna | Gala Records (GLLP 91026) | Vinyl | Roberto Gatto | Spotify | Amazon search | |
| 1989 | Improvvisi | Gala Records (GLLP 91034) | Vinyl | Roberto Gatto | Spotify | Amazon search | |
| 1989 | Kick Off | Red Record (RR 123225-1) | Vinyl | Roberto Gatto | Spotify | Amazon search | |
| 1990 | La Fiaba Dell'Orso | Splasc(h) Records | LP, Album | Roberto Gatto | not found | Amazon search | |
| 1991 | Confession | Splasc(H) Records | CD, Album | Roberto Gatto | Spotify | Amazon search | |
| 1992 | Airegin | Red Record | CD, Album | Roberto Gatto | not found | Amazon search | |
| 1992 | Jungle Three | Gala Records (CDGLP 91045) | CD | Roberto Gatto | YouTube | Amazon search | |
| 1993 | Il Grande Cocomero - Mignon E' Partita - Verso Sera | RCA Original Cast | CD, Album | Roberto Gatto | Film-score compilation; includes the Mignon è partita score co-written with guitarist Battista Lena, cited in the spotlight post. | Spotify | Amazon search |
| 1994 | Bella | Philology | CD, Album | Roberto Gatto | Spotify, YouTube | Amazon search | |
| 1994 | Eso | Splasc(H) Records | CD, Album | Roberto Gatto, with guitarist Antonio Jasevoli | not found | Amazon search | |
| 1994 | L'Avventura | CGD (4509 97375-2) | CD | Roberto Gatto | not found | Amazon search | |
| 1995 | An Italian Affair | Unit Records | 2xCD, Album | Roberto Gatto | not found | Amazon search | |
| 1995 | Heart Lake | Splasc(h) Records | CD, Album | Roberto Gatto | not found | Amazon search | |
| 1996 | Unknown Flames (Live In Siena) | Splasc(H) Records | 2xCD, Album | Roberto Gatto | Spotify | Amazon search | |
| 1997 | The Box Of Memories | Not On Label (self-released, Mauro Monti) | CD | Roberto Gatto | not found | Amazon search | |
| 1997 | Cammino Personale | Caligola | CD, Album | Roberto Gatto | not found | Amazon search | |
| 1997 | 7# | Rca Victor (7432151096-2) | CD | Roberto Gatto | not found | Amazon search | |
| 1998 | A Tribute To Wes Montgomery | Philology | CD, Album | Roberto Gatto | not found | Amazon search | |
| 1999 | Free Hands | Splasc(h) Records | CD, Album | Roberto Gatto | Spotify | Amazon search | |
| 2000 | Roberto Gatto Plays Rugantino | C.A.M. Jazz | CD, Album | Roberto Gatto | YouTube | Amazon search | |
| 2003 | Baci Rubati - Live At Villa Celimontana | Wide Sound | 2xCD, Album | Roberto Gatto | YouTube | Amazon search | |
| 2003 | A Day In Florence | Philology | CD, Album | Roberto Gatto | not found | Amazon search | |
| 2003 | Casamoderna | Abeat Records | CD, Album | Massimo Nunzi Con Roberto Gatto | Co-billed with Massimo Nunzi (trumpet, arranger), also separately profiled on this project. | not found | Amazon search |
| 2003 | Deep | C.A.M. Jazz | CD | Roberto Gatto Quintet | Spotify | Amazon search | |
| 2005 | Sul Lungotevere | Musica Jazz | CD, Comp | Roberto Gatto | not found | Amazon search | |
| 2006 | Jazzitaliano Live 2006 | Casa Del Jazz | CD, Album | Roberto Gatto | not found | Amazon search | |
| 2006 | Tre Passi Nel Delirio | L'Espresso / La Repubblica | CD, Album | Roberto Gatto | not found | Amazon search | |
| 2006 | Lenny 4 Five | EGEA Music | CD, Album | Roberto Gatto | not found | Amazon search | |
| 2006 | Gershwin & More... Live! | Philology | 2xCD, Album | Roberto Gatto | not found | Amazon search | |
| 2007 | Traps | C.A.M. Jazz | CD | Roberto Gatto (drums), Luca Mannutza (piano), Luca Bulgarelli (double bass), Daniele Tittarelli (alto/soprano saxophone) | Cited in the spotlight post's leader discography list. Discogs credits Tittarelli under a misspelled name variant, "Danielle Tittarelli" (release 1379221), confirmed as the same artist by instrument and label context. | Spotify | Amazon search |
| 2007 | Sea Inside | Itinera | CD, Album | Roberto Gatto | Spotify | Amazon search | |
| 2007 | Milestones - Un Incontro In Jazz | Blue Note (0946-394362-2-4) | CD | Roberto Gatto | Spotify | Amazon search | |
| 2008 | The Music Next Door | Emarcy | CD | Roberto Gatto (drums), Paolo Fresu (trumpet, flugelhorn), Stefano Bollani (piano), Rosario Bonaccorso (bass), Daniele Tittarelli (alto/soprano saxophone) | Spotify | Amazon search | |
| 2008 | Progressivamente - Omaggio Al Progressive Rock | Casa Del Jazz (CdJ3_02) | CD | Roberto Gatto | A progressive-rock tribute record, an unusually direct link between Italian jazz and the progressive-rock influence named in this project's own genre scope. | YouTube | Amazon search |
| 2009 | Jazzitaliano Live 2009 | Casa Del Jazz | CD, Album | Roberto Gatto | not found | Amazon search | |
| 2010 | Remembering Shelly - Live At Alexanderplatz Jazz Club, Roma | Albore Jazz | CD, Album | Roberto Gatto Quintet | Tribute to Shelly Manne. | Spotify | Amazon search |
| 2010 | Remembering Shelly #2 - Live At Alexanderplatz Jazz Club, Roma | Albore Jazz | CD, Album | Roberto Gatto Quintet | Second volume of the above. | Spotify | Amazon search |
| 2011 | Pure Imagination | Albore Jazz | CD, Album | Roberto Gatto | not found | Amazon search | |
| 2011 | Un Incontro In Jazz Con... | Parco Della Musica Records (MPR 028LP) | Vinyl | Roberto Gatto | not found | Amazon search | |
| 2011 | Shades Of Chet | Fonè / Via Veneto Jazz (042) | Vinyl | Roberto Gatto | Chet Baker tribute. | not found | Amazon search |
| 2012 | Replay | Parco Della Musica Records | CD, Album | Roberto Gatto | Spotify | Amazon search | |
| 2014 | Starship For Lovers | Parco Della Musica Records | CD | Roberto Gatto | Credited to perfecTrio: Roberto Gatto (drums, percussion, live electronics), Pierpaolo Ranieri (electric bass, FX), Alfonso Santimone (electric piano, piano, live electronics). | Spotify | Amazon search |
| 2015 | La Musica di Noi | Alice Records | CD, Album | Roberto Gatto (drums); Stefano Di Battista (saxophone); Danilo Rea (piano); Dario Rosciglione (bass) | Quartet date with three long-standing figures of the Roman scene. | Spotify | Amazon search |
| 2015 | Sixth Sense | Parco Della Musica Records | CD | Roberto Gatto Quartet With Avishai Cohen, Francesco Bearzatti And Doug Weiss | Cited in the spotlight post. | YouTube | Amazon search |
| 2015 | Around Zappa | Incipit Records (INC 201) | CD | Roberto Gatto | Spotify | Amazon search | |
| 2016 | Nino! | Casa Del Jazz | CD, Album | Roberto Gatto | not found | Amazon search | |
| 2017 | Chansons! | Via Veneto Jazz | CD, Album | Roberto Gatto | Spotify | Amazon search | |
| 2017 | NOW! | Abeat Records | CD | Roberto Gatto Quartet | Cited in the spotlight post. Trumpeter Alessandro Presti also co-composed "Amastrum" and "Impro Now." | Spotify | Amazon search |
| 2019 | Dear John - Live At Le Due Terre Vinery | C.A.M. Jazz | CD | Roberto Gatto | YouTube | Amazon search | |
| 2021 | My Secret Place | Millesuoni | (digital) | Roberto Gatto Quartet | Trumpeter Alessandro Presti composed "Nebrodi." | Spotify | Amazon search |
| 2022 | Nudo Di Donna (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | Cinema Hotel Studios | 12xFile, FLAC | Roberto Gatto | Film score for Nino Manfredi's Nudo di donna, co-written with Maurizio Giammarco. Cited in the spotlight post. | Spotify | Amazon search |
| 2024 | Something Bluesy and More | Parco Della Musica Records | CD | Franco D'Andrea Trio (Gabriele Evangelista, Roberto Gatto) | Piano trio led by Franco D'Andrea; blues, early jazz, Ellington, Coltrane repertoire. Cited in the spotlight post as Gatto's most recent recording. | Spotify | Amazon search |
| 2025 | Live | Parco Della Musica Records | 2xCD, Album | Roberto Gatto | Most recent release on Discogs as of this build. | not found | Amazon search |
As Sideman / Guest / Compilation Appearance
Discogs "Appearance" role (189 credits) - Gatto contributes to a release led by someone else. Full chronological list from the Discogs API.
| Year | Title | Artist | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| n.d. | Easy To Love | Massimo Urbani | n/a |
| n.d. | Morsures Sauvages | Thierry Gatto, Trio Legato | self-released |
| 1977 | Quello Che Ci Resta | Mimmo Locasciulli | n/a |
| 1979 | Laboratorio Della Quercia | Laboratorio Della Quercia | n/a |
| 1980 | Con Alma | Manuel De Sica Featuring Enrico Pieranunzi / Oscar Valdambrini | Dire |
| 1980 | Hinterland | Claudio Fasoli Jazz Group | Edipan |
| 1980 | Soft Journey | Chet Baker Meets Enrico Pieranunzi | n/a |
| 1981 | Che Ritmo! | Beppe Starnazza E I Vortici | n/a |
| 1981 | Isis | Enrico Pieranunzi Quartet & Quintet, Featuring Art Farmer | n/a |
| 1982 | Teresa De Sio | Teresa De Sio | n/a |
| 1983 | Colours | Bill Smith | Edipan |
| 1983 | GND | GND | n/a |
| 1983 | Ganimede | Eddy Palermo | Edipan |
| 1983 | Jazz Roads | Enrico Pieranunzi | n/a |
| 1983 | Minnie | Minnie Minoprio | Hollywood Records |
| 1983 | Precisione Della Notte | Maurizio Giammarco Quartet | Riviera Records |
| 1984 | Italiani Mambo! | Sergio Caputo | n/a |
| 1984 | Jazz Progression | Oscar Rocchi Quintet | n/a |
| 1984 | Quartet Quintet Sextet | Pietro Tonolo | Splasc(h) Records |
| 1984 | Rio | Jim Porto | n/a |
| 1985 | Sax Today | Various | Red Record, Musica Jazz |
| 1985 | Steppin' Live In Europe | Bob Berg | n/a |
| 1985 | Things | Furio Di Castri | n/a |
| 1986 | Riverberi | Lingomania | n/a |
| 1986 | Un' Altra Galassia | Rita Marcotulli - Pietro Tonolo Quartet | n/a |
| 1986 | Via G.T. | Giovanni Tommaso Quintet | n/a |
| 1987 | Curtis Fuller Meets Roma Jazz Trio | Curtis Fuller Meets Roma Jazz Trio | n/a |
| 1987 | Noi Quattro | Marco Persichetti | Timone Records |
| 1988 | Empty Room | Sal Nistico | n/a |
| 1988 | Grr...Expanders | Lingomania | n/a |
| 1988 | Inside Colors | Umberto Fiorentino | n/a |
| 1988 | My Funny Valentine | Riccardo Mei | Philology |
| 1988 | No More Blue | Roberto Ciotti | n/a |
| 1988 | Play Of Light | Town Street | Clac Records |
| 1988 | To Chet | Giovanni Tommaso Quintet | n/a |
| 1989 | (Adesso Glielo Dico) | Locasciulli | n/a |
| 1989 | Chet On Poetry | Chet Baker | Drums; also features Carla Marcotulli on backing vocals. |
| 1989 | Embraceable You | Phil Woods Meets Big Bang Orchestra | n/a |
| 1989 | Flight Charts And Plans | Reunion | n/a |
| 1989 | Grosso Modo | Paolo Emilio Marrocco | n/a |
| 1989 | Il Poliedro Di Leonardo | Effetto Notte | n/a |
| 1989 | Memories | Stefano Sabatini | n/a |
| 1989 | Piana-Valdambrini Sextet | Piana-Valdambrini Sextet | Penta Flowers |
| 1989 | Rique Pantoja & Chet Baker | Rique Pantoja & Chet Baker | n/a |
| 1990 | Guitar Madness | Guitar Madness | n/a |
| 1990 | Hit The Beast!! | Maria Pia De Vito And Friends | Phrases |
| 1990 | Orange Park | Enzo Pietropaoli | n/a |
| 1990 | What a Day!!! | Enrico Rava | n/a |
| 1991 | Caterpillar | Mina | n/a |
| 1991 | Grazia Di Michele | Grazia Di Michele | n/a |
| 1991 | L'Occasione | Massimiliano Pani | n/a |
| 1991 | Sei Brani Inediti | Franco D'Andrea | Red Record, Musica Jazz |
| 1991 | Volano Le Pagine | Mietta | n/a |
| 1991 | Wonderland | Stefano Sabatini | Splasc(h) Records |
| 1992 | A Jazz Life | Phil Woods | n/a |
| 1992 | Il Bandito Dagli Occhi Azzurri / ...Correva L'Anno Di Grazia 1870 (soundtracks) | Ennio Morricone | n/a |
| 1992 | Live At The Corridoia Jazz Festival | Phil Woods & Space Jazz Trio | Philology |
| 1992 | Piano & Bit | Ernesto Vitolo | RCA Italiana |
| 1992 | Road 'N' Rail | Roberto Ciotti | n/a |
| 1993 | Gegé & The Boparazzi | Gegé | n/a |
| 1993 | In That Dawn Of Music | Enrico Pieranunzi | Musica Jazz, Soul Note |
| 1993 | Jazz Italia | Various | Columbia, Red Record, Sony Music Special Marketing |
| 1993 | Over The Ocean | Giovanni Tommaso Quintet | Red Record. Also features Carla Marcotulli as special-guest vocalist. |
| 1994 | Ellington | Mario Raja Big Bang | Splasc(h) Records |
| 1994 | In Italy | Chet Baker | n/a |
| 1994 | Stars At The International Jazz Festival "Bucharest" '93 | Various | Casa de discuri Stîngă, Eurostar |
| 1995 | Blue Challenge | Carlo Pasceri | Tirreno Gruppo Editoriale |
| 1995 | Errata Corrige | Nicola Stilo | Splasc(h) Records |
| 1995 | Onyx Jazz Club 85/95 | Various | Onyx JazzClub |
| 1995 | Proving Ground | Alberto Tacchini | Modern Times |
| 1995 | Strane Stelle Strane | Giovanni Tommaso Quintet | n/a |
| 1996 | Existence | Gianni Lenoci Trio | Splasc(h) Records |
| 1996 | Mondo Morricone | Ennio Morricone | n/a |
| 1996 | Sheherazade | Ornella Vanoni | n/a |
| 1997 | Banda Sonora | Battista Lena, Banda B. Somma Di Chianciano Terme | Label Bleu |
| 1997 | The Village Fair | Guido Manusardi Sextet | Soul Note |
| 1997 | Triotherapy | Triotherapy | Cafèvoltaire |
| 1998 | Angel | The Paolo Fresu Quartet | n/a |
| 1998 | Carousel | Stefano D'Anna Quartet | Splasc(h) Records |
| 1998 | Gegé And The Boparazzi | Gegé And The Boparazzi | Go Jazz |
| 1998 | The Dream | Nico Morelli Trio | Splasc(h) Records |
| 1998 | The Woman Next Door | Rita Marcotulli | Label Bleu |
| 1999 | Le Note Di San Lorenzo | Mario Piacentini | Splasc(h) Records |
| 1999 | Love Ballads | Maurizio Giammarco | Red Record |
| 1999 | Metamorfosi | The Paolo Fresu Angel Quartet | n/a |
| 1999 | Rospo | Quintorigo | n/a |
| 1999 | Shades Of Chet | Enrico Rava - Paolo Fresu | n/a |
| 1999 | Sing Sing Sing | Roberto Gatto Quintet | Via Veneto Jazz |
| 1999 | Tempo Sensibile | Paolo Pietrangeli | Polydor |
| 2000 | Grazie Italia | Franco Ambrosetti | Enja Records |
| 2000 | La Disciplina Della Terra | Ivano Fossati | n/a |
| 2000 | La Dolce Vita | Tommaso/Rava Quartet | n/a |
| 2000 | Lost In Europe | Danilo Rea | Via Veneto Jazz |
| 2000 | Parole, Parole... | Lanfranco Malaguti | Splasc(h) Records |
| 2000 | Right Time | Franck Avitabile | n/a |
| 2000 | Top Jazz '99 | Various | Musica Jazz |
| 2000 | [Vento] | Barbara Casini, Enrico Rava | Label Bleu |
| 2001 | Abbassa la Tua Radio | Stefano Bollani | Ermitage |
| 2001 | Ortodoxa | Salvatore Bonafede | n/a |
| 2001 | Sorelle Lumière Vol.1/2 | Mina | n/a |
| 2002 | Enrico Pieranunzi Trio & Quartet Vol 7 - One Lone Star | Enrico Pieranunzi | YVP Music |
| 2002 | Kind Of Porgy & Bess | Paolo Fresu | BMG France, RCA Victor, Bluebird |
| 2002 | Koinè | Rita Marcotulli | n/a |
| 2002 | Montréal Diary /A - Plays Miles Davis | Enrico Rava Quintet | Label Bleu |
| 2002 | Renaissance | Enrico Rava | n/a |
| 2003 | Hidden History | Eric Vloeimans | Challenge Jazz |
| 2003 | I've Been Around | Giovanni Tommaso | Musica Jazz |
| 2003 | In Cattività | Quintorigo | Universal |
| 2003 | Jazz Live In Samois (Tribute To Django Reinhardt 1988-1999, 50th Anniversary) | Various | Not On Label |
| 2003 | La Rivincita Di Natale / Il Cuore Altrove | Riz Ortolani | ConcertOne |
| 2003 | Molto MondoMorricone Vol. 3 | Ennio Morricone | n/a |
| 2003 | MondoMorricone | Ennio Morricone | Royal Ear Force, SPV GmbH |
| 2003 | More MondoMorricone Revisited Vol. 2 | Ennio Morricone | n/a |
| 2003 | Top Jazz 2002 | Various | Musica Jazz |
| 2004 | Battisti In Jazz | Various | Sconfini |
| 2004 | Easy Living | Enrico Rava | n/a |
| 2004 | Label Bleu Story Una Maison Del Jazz | Various | Musica Jazz, Label Bleu |
| 2004 | Melodies | Stefano Sabatini | Saint Louis Jazz Collection |
| 2004 | Note Necessarie | Enrico Rava | Minimum Fax |
| 2004 | Passi D'Autore | Pino Daniele Project | n/a |
| 2004 | Play Rava | Phil Woods, Lee Konitz, Enrico Rava 6et, feat. Barbara Casini (vocals) | Philology |
| 2004 | Provvisorio | Paolo Damiani & Alea Ensemble | Splasc(H) Records |
| 2005 | Brincando Entre Amigos | Eddy Palermo | Saint Louis Jazz Collection |
| 2005 | Percfest 2004 | Various | VideoRadio |
| 2005 | Romantica | Danilo Rea Trio | n/a |
| 2005 | Sound & Score | BargaJazz | Philology |
| 2006 | Dischi Volanti | Niccolò Fabi | n/a |
| 2006 | Fado Meridiano | Lillo Quaratino | Alfa Music |
| 2006 | Il Pane, Il Vino E La Visione | Sergio Cammariere | Via Veneto Jazz, Capitol Music |
| 2006 | Lenny 4 Five | Rumble Quintet | Velut Luna |
| 2006 | Non Mi Lasciare Qui | Sergio Cammariere | Via Veneto Jazz, Capitol Music |
| 2007 | The Cam Jazz Collection - Catalog 2007 | Various | CAM |
| 2007 | The Words And The Days | Enrico Rava Quintet | n/a |
| 2008 | I Grandi Concerti - Volume 1 | Various | Regione Siciliana |
| 2008 | Introverso | Danilo Rea | n/a |
| 2008 | Italian Trumpet Summit - A Night In Berchidda 1 | Various | La Nuova Sardegna |
| 2008 | Italian Trumpet Summit - A Night In Berchidda 2 | Various | La Nuova Sardegna |
| 2008 | Le Fresiadi | Paolo Fresu | Time In Jazz |
| 2008 | Omaggio A Domenico Modugno | Uomini In Frac | Casa Del Jazz |
| 2008 | Omaggio A Fabrizio De André | Casa Del Jazz All Stars | n/a |
| 2008 | Top Jazz 2007 | Various | Musica Jazz |
| 2009 | 33 | Trio Di Roma | EmArcy, Universal Music Group |
| 2009 | Jazz Na Hradě | Lew Tabackin Quartet | Multisonic |
| 2009 | Jazzitaliano Live 2009 | Stefano Di Battista | Casa Del Jazz |
| 2009 | Jazzitaliano Live 2009 | Danilo Rea | Casa Del Jazz |
| 2009 | Teresa De Sio - The Universal Music Collection | Teresa De Sio | Universal Music Group |
| 2010 | Afternoon Songs | Silvia Manco | Nuccia |
| 2010 | Canzoni Preludi Notturni | Il Trio IntraTommasoGatto | Alfa Music |
| 2010 | I Cantautori Italiani Gli Anni '70 Vol. 2 | Various | Universal Music Group |
| 2010 | The First One | Nicola Angelucci | Via Veneto Jazz |
| 2010 | V-Flow | Eric Vloeimans | Challenge Jazz |
| 2011 | 1+90 | Marco Rinalduzzi | Urban 49 |
| 2011 | Basilicata Coast To Coast | Rita Marcotulli | Alice Records |
| 2011 | Ennio Morricone Performed By Movies Trio | Movies Trio | n/a |
| 2011 | Time In Jazz - Della Musica E Dei Luoghi - Paolo Fresu, Berchidda E... | Various | Musica Jazz |
| 2011 | Top Jazz 2010 | Various | Musica Jazz |
| 2012 | ...Io Ci Sono - Per Gaber 2003-2013 | Various | n/a |
| 2012 | Cinquant'Anni Suonati - 2 | Paolo Fresu | Gruppo Editoriale L'Espresso |
| 2012 | Dr. Jekill Mr. Hyde | Simona Molinari | n/a |
| 2012 | Seven | Dino Piana & Franco Piana Septet | Alfa Music |
| 2013 | Dalla In Jazz | Various | n/a |
| 2013 | Il Bandito Dagli Occhi Azzurri (soundtrack) | Ennio Morricone | n/a |
| 2013 | The Complete Remastered Recordings On Black Saint & Soul Note | Art Farmer | Soul Note, Black Saint |
| 2013 | Una Piccola Impresa Meridionale | Rita Marcotulli E Rocco Papaleo | Less Is More Produzioni, Sony Music |
| 2014 | Gino Paoli Special | Gino Paoli | Parco Della Musica Records |
| 2015 | Seasons | Dino & Franco Piana Ensemble | Alfa Music Studio |
| 2016 | Ziljabu Nights (Live At Theater Gütersloh) | Miroslav Vitous | Intuition Records |
| 2017 | Lingosphere | Lingomania | Abeat Records |
| 2018 | Massimo Urbani | Massimo Urbani Feat. Ron Burton, Danilo Rea, Luca Flores, Cameron Brown, Furio Di Castri | Red Record, GEDI |
| 2018 | Path | Francesco Maccianti Trio | Abeat Records |
| 2019 | Original Analog Master Tape Jazz | Various | Fonè |
| 2020 | For A Brief Moment | Fabrizio Cucco | Camilla Records |
| 2020 | Love In Translation | Rosario Giuliani | Via Veneto Jazz, Jando Music |
| 2020 | Morricone Segreto | Ennio Morricone | n/a |
| 2020 | Open Spaces | Dino & Franco Piana Ensemble | Alfa Music |
| 2021 | Al Gir Dal Bughi | Dino Piana | Parco Della Musica Records |
| 2021 | Reflections | Dino & Franco Piana Ensemble | Alfa Music |
| 2023 | Sketches of the 20th century | Franco D'Andrea | Parco Della Musica Records |
| 2024 | Dark Allegro | Pierpaolo Ranieri | Tosky Records |
| 2024 | Via G.T. | Giovanni Tommaso | n/a |
| 2025 | In Rome | Thomas Fonnesbæk | n/a |
| 2026 | Tutta Vita Live | Stefano Bollani | Alobar Srlu |
Track-Level Appearances (compilations, samplers)
Discogs "TrackAppearance" role (31 credits) - Gatto appears on one or more individual tracks, not the release as a whole.
| Year | Title | Artist | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Ci Ritorni In Mente Dedicato A Lucio Battisti | Various | n/a |
| 1993 | Jazz Italia | Various | Columbia, Red Record, Sony Music Special Marketing |
| 1995 | Urlo | Various | Tutto |
| 1996 | Cinejazz Volume 2 | Various | RCA |
| 1996 | Drummin' In Italy. Batteristi E Percussionisti In Italia | Various | MUSIDEA, Percussioni |
| 1997 | Suisse Couture | Various | Unit Records |
| 2001 | La Musica Dell'anima 2001 | Various | Associazione Culturale Forum |
| 2001 | Red Records Un Filo Rosso Nel Jazz | Various | n/a |
| 2002 | Me, We (Musica Ed Emozioni Selezionate Da Walter Veltroni) | Various | CGD East West |
| 2003 | I've Been Around | Giovanni Tommaso | Musica Jazz |
| 2003 | Jazz Magazine Vol. 6 | Various | New Sounds 2000 |
| 2003 | Via Veneto Jazz - Ten Years Of Italian Jazz Label 1993-2003 | Various | Via Veneto Jazz |
| 2004 | Battisti In Jazz | Various | Sconfini |
| 2004 | Jazz Magazine Vol. 24 | Various | New Sounds 2000 |
| 2005 | Percfest 2004 | Various | VideoRadio |
| 2006 | JazzItalia | Various | Jazz Forum Records |
| 2006 | The Italian Way | Various | Blue Note |
| 2007 | Piano, Solo | Lele Marchitelli, Luca Flores | Sony BMG Music Entertainment |
| 2008 | Top Jazz 2007 | Various | Musica Jazz |
| 2008 | I ❤ Jazz | Various | EMI |
| 2009 | Cool Tv Breaks | Various | EMI Music Italy |
| 2009 | Jazz For A Summer's Day | Various | Blue Note, EMI |
| 2010 | Blue Note Presents Umbria Jazz 2010 | Various | Blue Note |
| 2010 | Top Jazz 2009 | Various | Musica Jazz |
| 2011 | Top Jazz 2010 | Various | Musica Jazz |
| 2011 | Umbria Jazz 11 | Various | EMI, Blue Note |
| 2012 | Canzoni D'Autore | Various | EMI |
| 2012 | Estate Italiana | Various | EMI |
| 2013 | Dalla In Jazz | Various | n/a |
| 2013 | That's OKeh | Various | n/a |
| 2016 | Umbria Jazz 2016 - The Summer Festival | Various | Warner Music Italy |
Producer / Other Credits
Discogs "Producer" and "Mixed By" roles not already folded into the Leader table above.
| Year | Title | Artist | Role | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Riverberi | Lingomania | Producer | n/a |
| 1988 | Empty Room | Sal Nistico | Producer, Mixed By | n/a |
| 1988 | Inside Colors | Umberto Fiorentino | Producer | n/a |
| 1989 | Memories | Stefano Sabatini | Producer | n/a |
Salvatore Bonafede (piano) - leader of Ortodoxa (2001, Red Record), on which Gatto plays drums alongside Rosario Giuliani and Fabrizio Bosso; Discogs-confirmed. Already profiled on this project.
Roberto Tarenzi (piano) - fellow personnel on Stefano Di Battista's Jazzitaliano Live 2009, Discogs-confirmed. Already profiled on this project.
Pietro Tonolo (tenor/soprano saxophone) - featured alongside Gatto on Tonolo's 1984 studio debut as a leader, Quartet Quintet Sextet.
Maurizio Giammarco (saxophone) - his longest-running bandleader partner: Lingomania's Riverberi (1986) and Grr...Expanders (1988), Phil Woods's Embraceable You (1989), Love Ballads (1999) and the 2022 Nudo Di Donna soundtrack, all Discogs-confirmed.
Massimo Pirone (tuba) - Discogs-confirmed fellow personnel on Gatto's Plays Rugantino (2000, C.A.M. Jazz), on which Pirone plays tuba. Profiled on JazzProfiles.com.
Marco Tamburini (trumpet) - Remembering Shelly (2010, Roberto Gatto Quintet, live at Alexanderplatz Jazz Club, Rome); Discogs-verified.
Danilo Rea / Enzo Pietropaoli - founding bandmates in the Trio di Roma, Gatto's 1975 professional debut at Rome's Music Inn.
Michael Brecker - guest tenor saxophonist on Notes (1986/87).
John Scofield - guest electric guitarist on Ask (1987).
Rita Marcotulli - pianist on Notes (1986/87), alongside a run of later session credits together.
Pino Daniele - long-running member of the Neapolitan singer's touring and recording band.
Maurizio Giammarco / Battista Lena - co-composers on Gatto's film scores for Nudo di donna and Mignon è partita respectively; Lena also recorded five albums with Gatto as a sideman, including Ask (1987) and Il Grande Cocomero - Mignon È Partita - Verso Sera (1993).
Franco D'Andrea - recorded together repeatedly, most recently as the trio behind 2024's Something Bluesy and More.
Alessandro Presti (trumpet) - eight-year working relationship across two Roberto Gatto Quartet albums, NOW! (2017, Abeat Records, where Presti also co-composed two tracks) and My Secret Place (2021, Millesuoni, where Presti composed "Nebrodi").
Matteo Bortone (double bass) - regular bassist in the Roberto Gatto Quartet alongside Presti and pianist Alessandro Lanzoni, on both NOW! (2017) and My Secret Place (2021); Discogs-confirmed.
Alfonso Santimone (piano, keyboards) - the regular keyboardist in Gatto's perfecTrio, on electric piano and live electronics on Starship for Lovers (2014, Parco della Musica Records).
Danilo Terenzi (trombone) - guest trombonist, alongside Michael Brecker and Flavio Boltro, on the track "Pedals" from Notes (1986/87), confirmed at the Discogs track-credit level; profiled separately on this site.
Enrico Rava, Paolo Fresu, Giovanni Tommaso, Rosario Giuliani, Stefano Bollani - additional recurring recording and touring collaborators; full session-level credits in
discography-full.md.Antonio Jasevoli (guitar) - fellow sideman on Paolo Damiani's Eso (1994) and bandmate in Jasevoli's own group Triotherapy (1997, Cafèvoltaire), both confirmed at the Discogs credit level.
Barbara Casini (vocals) - drums on the co-billed [Vento] (2000, with Enrico Rava) and on Play Rava (2004, live at Umbria Jazz Festival 2003). Already profiled separately on this project.
Carla Marcotulli (vocals) - two shared Discogs-verified sessions: drums on Chet Baker's Chet On Poetry (1989, alongside Marcotulli's backing vocals) and on the Giovanni Tommaso Quintet's Over The Ocean (1993, where she is the special guest vocalist).
Cesare Mangiocavallo (drums) - one of Gatto's jazz-drum students, per Mangiocavallo's own biography, independently repeated in 2025 festival-program press; a teaching relationship, not a recording credit. Profiled on JazzProfiles.com.
Daniele Tittarelli (alto/soprano saxophone) - Discogs-confirmed sideman on two Gatto leader dates, Traps (2007, C.A.M. Jazz) and The Music Next Door (2008, Emarcy, alongside Paolo Fresu and Stefano Bollani). Profiled separately on this site.
Dario Rosciglione (bass) - fellow sideman alongside Stefano Di Battista and Danilo Rea on La Musica di Noi (2015), Discogs-confirmed; profiled separately on this site.
Dino Piana (trombone) - three Discogs-confirmed sessions across 32 years, the Piana-Valdambrini Sextet (1989), Reflections (2021), and Al Gir Dal Bughi (2021). Profiled separately on this project.
Fabio Zeppetella (guitar) - recurring partner: Gatto is the drummer, with organist Emmanuel Bex, on Zeppetella's A Tribute to Wes Montgomery (Philology, 1998), No Clue (Brave Art, 2010) and Chansons! (Via Veneto Jazz, 2017); Zeppetella also plays guitar on Gatto's 7# (RCA Victor, 1997).
Fabrizio Sferra (drums) - shares the drum chair with Gatto on Danilo Rea's Introverso (Sferra on tracks 1-1, 1-3, 1-4 and 1-11) and on the 1980 Manuel De Sica LP Con Alma; Discogs-confirmed. Gatto also plays on the later Space Jazz Trio release Live at the Corridoia Jazz Festival (1992). Profiled on JazzProfiles.com.
Federico Pierantoni (trombone) - fellow member of the ensemble on Franco D'Andrea's Sketches of the 20th Century (Parco della Musica Records, 2023), where Gatto is the drummer; Discogs-verified.
Francesco Lo Cascio (vibraphone) - leader of the Vibes Trio on Vibes Trio (Via Veneto Jazz), with Gatto on drums, Giovanni Tommaso on bass and Stefano Di Battista as special guest; Discogs-confirmed.
Francesco Lento (trumpet, flugelhorn) - trumpeter and flugelhorn player on Gatto's Nino! (Casa del Jazz, 2016) and, with Gatto on drums, on Franco D'Andrea's Sketches of the 20th Century (2023); Discogs-confirmed.
Franco Piana (trumpet, flugelhorn) - seven Discogs-confirmed sessions across 41 years: Manuel De Sica's Con Alma (1980), the Piana-Valdambrini Sextet (1989), Seven (2012), Seasons (2015), Open Spaces (2020), Reflections (2021) and Al Gir Dal Bughi (2021). Profiled separately on this project.
Gabriele Comeglio (alto saxophone, arranger, bandleader) - fellow member of the all-star ensemble on Franco Ambrosetti's Grazie Italia (Enja, 2000), with Comeglio on alto saxophone; Discogs-confirmed. Profiled on JazzProfiles.com.
Gabriele Evangelista (double bass) - co-led Replay (2012) with Gatto and Alessandro Lanzoni, and is the bassist in Franco D'Andrea's trio with Gatto on Something Bluesy and More (2024) and Live (2025); also on Dino Piana's Al Gir Dal Bughi (2021).
Gaetano Partipilo (saxophone) - saxophonist on Gatto's Pure Imagination (2011, Albore Jazz), alongside Alessandro Lanzoni, Battista Lena and Dario Deidda; Discogs-confirmed.
Gegè Telesforo (vocals) - sings on Gatto's Notes (1987), and Gatto is the drummer on Telesforo's Gegè And The Boparazzi (Go Jazz, 1993) and on its 1998 "Fever" single; Discogs-confirmed. Profiled on JazzProfiles.com.
Giampaolo Casati (trumpet) - credited with Casati on the Mario Raja Big Bang's Ellington (1994, Splasc(h) Records). Profiled on JazzProfiles.com.
Giancarlo Barigozzi (recording engineer) - credited as recording engineer on La Fiaba Dell'Orso (Splasc(h) Records H 196, 1990), per Discogs.
Giancarlo Schiaffini (trombone, tuba, euphonium) - credited together on Hinterland (1980). Discogs-confirmed.
Gianni Cazzola (drums) - on Oscar Rocchi's Jazz Progression (1984), a record that also credits Gatto on drums; profiled separately on this site.
Gianni Oddi (alto saxophone) - fellow player on Franco D'Andrea's Sketches of the 20th century (2023), on which Gatto plays drums; Discogs-confirmed.
Gianni Lenoci (piano) - Existence (Splasc(h), 1996), a Gianni Lenoci Trio record with Gatto on drums and Augusto Mancinelli on guitar, per Discogs.
Giovanni Falzone (trumpet) - trumpeter on Gatto's Jazzitaliano Live 2009 (Casa del Jazz) and Pure Imagination (Albore Jazz, 2011). Discogs-confirmed. Profiled on JazzProfiles.com.
Guido Manusardi (piano) - leader of the sextet album The Village Fair (Soul Note, 1997), on which Gatto plays drums; Discogs-verified.
Julian Oliver Mazzariello (piano) - on Dino Piana's Al Gir Dal Bughi (2021), on which Gatto plays drums; Discogs-verified.
Lanfranco Malaguti (guitar) - leader of Parole, Parole... (Splasc(h), listed 2000, recorded 1992), on which Gatto plays drums alongside tenor saxophonist Stefano D'Anna and bassist Enzo Pietropaoli; Discogs-confirmed.
Luca Pirozzi (double bass, electric bass) - fellow credited musician on two 1988 sessions, Town Street's Play Of Light and Umberto Fiorentino's Inside Colors (the latter alongside Enzo Pietropaoli); Discogs-confirmed. Profiled separately on this site.
Luca Mannutza (piano) - Discogs-confirmed on Traps (2007) and three Remembering Shelly live recordings from Alexanderplatz Jazz Club, Rome (2010), alongside Luca Bulgarelli.
Max Ionata (saxophone) - Discogs-confirmed alongside Gatto on the three Remembering Shelly live recordings (2010, with Luca Mannutza on piano and Marco Tamburini on trumpet) and on Pure Imagination (2011, Albore Jazz). Profiled on JazzProfiles.com.
Marco Vaggi (bass) - fellow sideman, alongside Franco D'Andrea, on Giannantonio De Vincenzo's La Fiaba Dell'Orso (1990); Discogs-verified.
Massimo Nunzi (trumpet, arranger) - co-billed leader alongside Gatto on Casamoderna (2003, Abeat Records, "Massimo Nunzi Con Roberto Gatto"); Discogs-verified. Profiled on JazzProfiles.com.
Nello Toscano (double bass) - co-billed on Cammino Personale (1997, Caligola), alongside Claudio Cusmano and Stefano Di Battista.
Nicola Angelucci (drums) - Angelucci's own leader debut, The First One (2010), carries Gatto's liner notes; Discogs-confirmed. Profiled on JazzProfiles.com.
Oscar Valdambrini (trumpet) - fellow section member on Manuel De Sica's Con Alma (1980), on which Gatto is one of three credited drummers alongside Franco Piana in the trumpet section; Discogs-confirmed. Profiled on JazzProfiles.com.
Robert Bonisolo (tenor/soprano saxophone) - fellow Discogs-confirmed sideman alongside Gatto on Miroslav Vitous's Ziljabu Nights (Live At Theater Gütersloh) (2016, Intuition Records). Profiled separately on this site.
Roberto Cecchetto (guitar) - Discogs-confirmed fellow personnel on a 2009 Jazzitaliano Live session (with Stefano Di Battista) and Progressivamente - Omaggio Al Progressive Rock (2008). Profiled separately on this site.
Roberto Rossi (trombone) - Pure Imagination (2011) and the Phil Woods Meets Big Bang Orchestra session Embraceable You (1989).
Sandro Gibellini (guitar) - fellow sideman on Pietro Tonolo's Quartet Quintet Sextet (1984) and a fellow member of the Reunion quintet on Flight Charts And Plans (1989). Profiled separately on this site.
Stefano D'Anna (tenor saxophone) - drummer on D'Anna's own Carousel (1998), and a fellow sideman on Lanfranco Malaguti's Parole, Parole... (2000) and Enrico Pieranunzi's In That Dawn of Music (1993); Discogs-confirmed on all three. Profiled on JazzProfiles.com.
