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Charlie Bertini and Al Vizzutti
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| Charlie Bertini began
trumpet lessons at age nine in Cortland, NY (upstate) and was active in
marching band, concert band, orchestra, chorus, and conducting classes.
Eager to work professionally, he started his own dance band in the ninth
grade. At age 19 he joined the Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros Circus and toured
for six years as first trumpeter and later as the musical director. The
circus relocated him to Florida where he began to play a variety of
gigs: Dixieland show clubs, stage shows with nightclub performers like
Al Martino, Mel Torme', and Patti Page, and free-lance engagements at
Walt Disney World and Church Street Station in Orlando, Florida. Orlando
being an attractive workplace, Charlie played for four years at Circus
World Theme Park as first trumpeter and conductor. This prepared him for
a year's tour as musical director for the Ringling Bros & Barnum
& Bailey Circus. In demand as a first-call trumpeter he has backed
up artists such as Burt Bacharach, Henry Mancini, Johnny Mathis, and Ray
Charles. He has played on network TV specials for Walt Disney World,
Ringling Bros Circus, and several PBS music specials. His AppleJazz
cable show from his 1995 AppleJazz concert was nominated for a CableAce
Award for "Best Music Program For 1995". As a recording
artist, Charlie has four solo albums OUT OF SEASON, APPLESASS, JEWELS,
ACID DIXIE (on AppleJazz Records - www.applejazz.com
) and two Christmas albums, CHRISTMAS
COOKIES, and FRESH BATCH (on Arbors Records), which are rapidly becoming
classics in the industry. Charlie has recorded eight albums with Bill
Allred's Classic Jazz Band and has produced twenty-five albums for other
artists, with more in the works. Charlie is also the executive director
of the annual AppleJazz Festival held in upstate NY. He has played in 45
states, Europe, and China. As a teacher and clinician he has led
workshops and lectures at high schools and universities and instructs
periodically at the University of Central Florida and Seminole Community
College. Still based in Orlando, Charlie enjoys a variety of musical
settings and challenges and continues to be one of the most versatile
and respected trumpeters in the industry. |
