Roberto Ottaviano, born on December 21, 1957, in Bari, Italy, is a saxophonist. He initially learned drums and flute autodidactically before studying clarinet at the Conservatorio di Musica in Bari. Influenced by Lester Young and John Coltrane, he transitioned to the saxophone and began collaborating with musicians like Evan Parker and Jimmy Giuffre after his studies in Perugia. In the 1980s, inspired by Steve Lacy, he focused on the soprano saxophone. His album, Aspects, was released in 1985. He has collaborated with notable artists such as Dizzy Gillespie and Chet Baker, and performed at major festivals like the Berlin Jazz Festival and the Chicago Jazz Festival. His extensive discography includes albums like The Leap (1987) and Black Spirits Are Here Again (1996). As an educator, he founded the Jazz Music program at his hometown conservatory and coordinated it for nearly forty years. He has also led workshops and masterclasses on a variety of musical topics internationally.
