Influences and people to listen to

Miles Davis

Blue Mitchell

Chet Baker

Art Farmer

The Sweet Sound of 

Hard Work

Considering Bozeman’s remote location and relatively small population, the town has a deep appreciation for the arts. The town itself includes a professional symphony and opera, as well as many bands that play the music styles of folk, rock, country and funk. Bozeman is also home to the famous Gibson Guitar factory. Jazz, originating far from this western town, doesn’t have the following that it would in a larger city. However, there is a growing interest in the genre. This is one of the reasons that makes the achievements of 16 year-old trumpeter, Luca Rodoni, so extraordinary.

In 2013, Luca was chosen as one of the top 18 youth jazz musicians in the country to be a part of the Jazz Band of America. The members of the group traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana and had the privilege to work and study with some of the greatest jazz musicians and educators in the world as well as perform for audiences of over 2,500 people. The majority of this elite ensemble consisted of high school seniors who currently attend some of the country’s most well known arts high schools. Being selected as a sophomore, from a school isolated from any major jazz scene, is a well-deserved honor for Luca and the community that he comes from.

Starting with piano lessons at a young age, Luca says that his parents never pressured him to practice or play.  Neither of his parents are musicians, but they wanted him and his older brother to have an exposure to the arts, in particular, to music.  As for most kids, practicing the piano wasn’t Luca’s top priority. The trumpet, however, chose Luca when his grandfather, from Switzerland, gave Luca a trumpet for his 9th birthday. This trumpet was his grandfather’s very own trumpet that he played in the 50’s and 60’s.

He started playing the trumpet in school in the 5th grade band program. When he first began, he could produce a good tone and was able to play with power. Luca remembers someone asking him who his favorite trumpet player was, and because he knew of only one trumpet player at the time, he answered “Miles Davis”. After realizing that he wasn’t familiar with any of Miles Davis’ music, he decided he’d better go listen to his recordings.  Since then, Davis has always had a strong influence on Luca’s playing.

By the beginning of his seventh-grade year, following a local summer music camp (Camp Epic), Luca formed his first band, Basement Jazz. After a year with that group, he put together his second band, Syzygy. From there, he, with the graces of Kelly Roberti formed the Luca Rodoni Trio. The trio consisted of jazz veterans, bassist Kelly Roberti and pianist Ann Tappan. Periodically, the trio continues to play in the greater Bozeman area.

Performing, the ultimate experience for a musician, has become one of Luca’s favorite things. He enjoys sharing the stage with whoever he can. Luca plays regularly with the Bridger Mountain Big Band, the Bozeman Youth Jazz Ensemble, Bozeman High School’s Symphony Band and Jazz Band 1, Skavocado and with numerous other professional jazz musicians.

Aside from practicing his trumpet, Luca spends time playing other instruments, learning tunes from the jazz repertoire, transcribing solos from recordings and is always seeking performance opportunities. He also arranges and composes for various groups and teaches trumpet lessons.

In Luca’s own words: “There is so much more to learning music than just practicing your instrument. To become a well-rounded musician, you need to submerge yourself in all different kinds of music and identify what is unique and different about all of the genres.”

Another trait that is key to his success is his ability to work hard. There is no question about his work ethic and the amount of focus that he applies to his art. Aside from what he does musically, he spends time auditioning and applying for national groups and awards, such as the Jazz Band of America, a group that he was, in fact, selected for.

Luca credits all of his music teachers and mentors for the role they all played in his development as a musician. Luca has attended many workshops and festivals such as the prestigious Stanford Jazz Institute. In addition to this, he has had the great honor of working with such prominent musicians as: Jim Rotondi, Brian Lynch, Ernie Hammes, Al Hood and Jack Walrath, as well as many others.

Among Luca’s favorite trumpet players are: Blue Mitchell, Miles Davis, Chet Baker, Art Farmer and Clifford Brown. Modern day trumpeters that Luca draws inspiration from include: Roy Hargrove, Tom Harrell, Jim Rotondi, and Brian Lynch among many others.

After high school, Luca plans on attending a prestigious music school, with emphasis on jazz performance. Aside from having a prominent performing career, he looks forward to teaching and inspiring serious young musicians. In the meantime, be sure to hear this young man play.