Michele Ramo

MICHÉLE RAMO (pronounced: Me-KEL-ay) is an 8 string nylon fingerstyle jazz guitarist, jazz violinist, jazz mandolinist, composer and educator who specializes in bringing American Swing, Brazilian, Gypsy and Latin rhythms together in his playing, as well as composing and arranging for the guitar. A classical-jazz crossover artist in the truest sense of the word, Ramo has a unique and sought-after ability for blending his classical and jazz worlds into his writing, teaching and performance.

Ramo is a self-taught guitarist whose formal training and higher education is in violin studies. Ramo always maintained his guitar playing alongside the violin and while working in orchestras. He attended guitar master classes in Italy with Aliro Diaz, and in the United States with Carlos Barbosa-Lima, Charlie Byrd, Kenny Burrell, Joe Pass & Baden Powell.

RAMO born on May 5th, 1964, grew up in the small Sicilian village of ‘Costiera’, located on the southwest coast of Sicily near the fishing port of Mazara del Vallo.

He began violin studies at 13 and at the age of seventeen received his first professional contract with the Italian State Symphony opera orchestra “Orchestra Del Teatro Massimo in Palermo. He earned a Master's degree in violin from the music conservatory of Caltanissetta. Ramo toured Europe with the International Mediterranean Youth Orchestra �”“Le Juness Du Mediterranee”. In 1985 he was contracted with “Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana” and worked as Concert Master with “Orchestra Filarmonica Del Tirrreno touring Italy.

After five years in various Italian State Orchestras, Ramo left the orchestra job and moved to the United States in 1987 to pursue his work as a composer and instrumentalist in Jazz.

Ramo’s jazz festival performances include: The North Sea Jazz Festival (Holland), Molde Jazz (Norway), Fano Jazz (Italy) Montreal Jazz, Ottawa Jazz (Canada), Munich, Frankfurt, Berlin, Freiburg (Germany), Paris, Ile Del Re, Souillac, (France), Montreux- Detroit Jazz, Burlington Jazz, Arkansas Jazz (USA), Cork Jazz (Ireland), Barcelona, Madrid (Spain), Republica de Andorra, Athens, Corfu, Corintos, and Patras (Greece).

Ramo has performed/toured or recorded with: Clarinettist Paquito D’Rivera, Violinist Regina Carter, Sax player James Carter, Pianist Arturo O'Farrill, Trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, Drummer Roy Brooks, Bandoneon great Peter Soave, Accordionists Art Van Damme, Eddie Monteiro, Frank Marocco and with guitarists: Bucky Pizzarelli, Mundell Lowe, Howard Alden, Martin Taylor, Al Caiola, Les Paul, Gary Potter, Jorge Morel, Gilbert Biberian, Carlos Barbosa- Lima, Wayne Wright, Gene Bertoncini, Jack Wilkins, Frank Vignola, Jimmy Bruno, Rodney Jones, Patrick Sussois.

Ramo has Recorded 13 Albums as Leader, currently sold out and out of print:

“Tina” 1988; “Essence Of Romance” 1990; “Jealousy” 1992; “Earth & Sun” 1992; “Live At Kerrytown” 1993; “Kiss My Head” 1994.

His new releases as composer/performer are:

“Duets with Friends” (2011) Ramo on 6 & 8 string guitars in duet with: Bucky Pizzarelli-guitar, Mundell Lowe-guitar, Jorge Morel- guitar, Marcus Belgrave-trumpet, Roy Brooks-drums, Guilhermo Franco-drums & Percussion, Larry Nozero-flute & clarinet, Heidi Hepler-voice

“The Song Is You” - Tribute To Lawrence G. Williams (2008) Ramo on 8 String Guitar and Marcus Belgrave - Trumpet. “RAMO Italian Tapestry” (2008) Michele Ramo - Solo 8 String Guitar.

“Oh Lady Be Good” (2006) Michele Ramo - Violin, Bucky Pizzarelli - Guitar and Jerry Bruno - Bass.

“Mick & Mundy” (2005) in duo with jazz guitar legend Mundel Lowe and special guest singer Heidi Hepler on 'Sicily'.

“Ramo” (2004) solo guitar.

“Felicita” (2002) voice and guitar duo with wife/singer Heidi Hepler.

“Full Moon Above New York City” (2002) Jazz Violin with piano, bass & drums.

Ramo Music Publishing released a new Book/CD: “The Music of Michele Ramo” 12 originals arranged fo for Classical and Fingerstyle Jazz Guitar

Mel Bay Publishing published his Book/CD “Tribute to Guitar Masters” for solo Classical and Jazz Guitar.

Ramo and his group have been featured at concert events along with world renowned artists including Yo Yo Ma, James Galway, Ertha Kitt, Barbara Cook, James Levine and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.

Ramo endorses LaBella Strings, MarkBass Acoustic Amps, Bob Benedetto Violins, Gary Zimniki Mandolins and plays his own design/concept '8 String Guitars' “Hei-D MOSTRO”, by R.J. DiCarlo.

Ramo teaches Jazz Guitar at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor