Paul Ricci

Paul Ricci is a New York-born guitarist, arranger, and producer (March 1958) who's built a killer career blending jazz, Latin, Brazilian, African, and fusion vibes after graduating from the New England Conservatory in 1980. He cut his teeth in NYC's hottest jazz spots like the Blue Note, Birdland, and Fat Tuesday's in the '80s and '90s, jamming with legends like Jaki Byard (earning a shoutout in the New York Times), Astrud and Bebel Gilberto, Dom Um Romao, Hugo Fattoruso, and Randy Brecker, plus touring Europe with Harry Belafonte and backing African stars in the African Blue Note band.

His adventures took him deep into Brazil since the '90s, sparking a long collab with singer Mafalda Minnozzi on seven CDs and two DVDs, plus hundreds of gigs across Latin America, TV spots, and film soundtracks. Ricci's dropped gems like the 1997 "Stringsongs," his recent 29-year-in-the-making fusion epic *The Path* with all-stars like Anthony Jackson and Steve Jordan, and the smooth *eMPathia Jazz Duo* project—always chasing that borderless groove from his global travels.