Considered one of Italy's most important musicians, composer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist and brass specialist, Mauro Ottolini graduated in Trombone and Trumpet in '93 with honors from the Conservatory of Verona and, a few years later, a degree in Jazz from the Conservatory of Trento. He played for 12 years in the Arena di Verona Orchestra but decided to quit to pursue the music he was most passionate about: jazz. Besides trombone as his main instrument, he delves into the language of all brass instruments, such as sousaphone, trumpet, flugelhorn, bass trumpet and euphonium. In 2012 he won the national critics' award "Top Jazz" as "best Italian jazz musician." He is honored as a composer and arranger, winning awards from critics several times. He participates in various projects with the great jazz trumpeter Enrico Rava, and boasts collaborations with Kenny Wheeler, Dave Douglas, Paolo Fresu, Trilok Gurtu, Stefano Bollani, Jan Garbarek, Franco D'Andrea, Carla Blay, Fabrizio Bosso, Frank Lacy, Steve Swallow, Tony Scott, Han Bennink, Maria Schneider, Gary Valente, Sean Bergin, and with some big names in world black music such as Grace Jones, Amy Stewart, Joe Bowie. He plays, arranges, and composes for big names in Italian music such as Vinicio Capossela, Lucio Dalla, Patty Pravo, Rossana Casale, Alberto Fortis, Gino Paoli, Giuliano Sangiorgi, Negramaro, Subsonica, Daniele Silvestri, Raphael Gualazzi, Gaetano Curreri, Morgan, Renzo Rubino, Malika Ajane, Simona Molinari, Karima, Petra Magoni, Roy Paci, Brunori SAS, and many others.
He has taught at New York University and taught courses at leading academies and institutions, including the Conservatoire Supérieur de Jazz in Paris, one of Europe's leading schools. A very special and stimulating encounter was with trombonist Steve Turre. Thanks to him Mauro learned to play sea shells, which, with talent and madness, led him to realize a rather ambitious project: thus was born the album "Sea Shell" a record and a cartoon that are an act of respect towards the marine universe. This project, produced by the Azzurra Music label, was supported by Greenpeace, Legambiente, Umbria Jazz and other entities.
He has given concerts in China, Brazil, Thailand, Poland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Norway, Spain, Portugal and is regularly featured on the billboards of Italy's most prestigious festivals. He has participated in the recording of more than 300 records, including 30 under his own name.
He was recently appointed Ambassador to Culture in Veneto for UNESCO for his artistic and innovative contributions made to music.
In 2019, as a result of his research work on shells-the "Sea Shell" album-the Malacological Museum of Cupra Marittima dedicated to him the discovery of a new type of shell, naming it "Turritella Ottolinii"
