Robert Castelli is a native of Ossining, New York, USA
Born into a musical family, drummers on his father's side and singers from his mother's side, Robert Castelli has been performing on stage since he was 8 years old. Naturally, his first drum teacher was his father who, along with his uncle, were lifetime members of the AMF Local 802 in New York City.
By high school, having started private lessons as well as classes in music theory, he was playing professionally all over the NY/Tri-State area. He went on to study Theory & Composition, Piano, Guitar, Orchestra Percussion & Drums at the Westchester Conservatory of Music, State University
of NY at New Paltz, and Drummers Collective NYC.
Over the years he has studied with some of the most well known drummers in New York & the world including, Ed Soph, Gary Chester, Kim Plainfield, Tony “Thunder” Smith, Robbie Gonzalez, Robbie Ameen, Horacio el Negro Hernandez, and Joe Ascione.
He has played and recorded with well known & up & coming artists in just about every style (Pop, Rock, Funk, Jazz, Latin, World, Musical Theatre, etc.) from small clubs to small stadiums.
Before relocating to Europe, his playing as a sideman was written about in The NY Times online, Cadence Magazine, Jazz Halo Belgium, and Drums & Percussion Germany. Since moving to Europe and becoming a bandleader, his 3 Boom releases have received critical acclaim from some of the most widely read magazines and websites in the USA, Canada, UK, and Europe.
He's been a regular on European stages since 2003. His band "BOOM!" has performed at some of the most well known, prestigious festivals and clubs including, The Brecon Jazz Festival, EFG London Jazz Festival, I.G. Jazz & Blues Festival, Vienna, Ronnie Scott's, London, Porgy & Bess Vienna, and Clarence Jazz Club, Jimmy Glass and Jamboree in Spain.
After several years in Austria, Robert now lives in Barcelona, Spain.
Robert is also an accomplished guitar player. He started out at 14, learning on his own with songbooks brought home by his father, who at the time worked for G. Shermer's in NYC to supplement his income as a jazz musician. Eventually he went on to study with Mark Slifstien at Westchester Conservatory in White Plains, NY, and privately with ex Berklee guitar teacher Alex Adrian, in Queens, NY.
Founding ‘Trio of Boom’ in 2007, Robert has played with different configurations of 'Boom!' over the years, and continues to explore new musical territories as such.