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Willie Oteri

Flute, Sax, Guitar, sound sculptor, composer, producer.

About Me

“I've always been a multi-instrumentalist, isn't every musician?” says Oteri when questioned about his flute and saxophone work, which has come into focus this last year after a purchase of a new flute in 2016 and a couple of saxes in early 2017. “I played flute in my late teens after stealing my sister's flute, since she was not very interested in it, “I played flute professionally for five or six years in the early part of my career along with guitar, bass and pedal steel, whatever seemed to be needed. Around this same time, I had an old Conn C Melody sax that I played for a little over a year until both the flute and sax needed more work than I could afford at the time.” (see tragedy and time off from music in bio below) When I came back to music after several years off I focused on guitar for a few reasons, one being I was living on a sailboat with not much space and guitar was small enough to use on the boat and compose. I did not think about getting back to flute and sax until I had produced several guitar-based albums but alas, here I am and looking forward to recording and performing anyway I can get it out to you.” Willie will still be playing guitar when called for, but for now.......forward.

Willie Oteri is an anomaly in the music world having survived tragedy and financial hardship that forced him to quit music as a profession in the early part of his career. After nearly ten years away from performing and most of this time not even owning an instrument Oteri came back to music, first part time then full, older, wiser but as eager and excited as anyone to again have a life of music With a small budget he released two well received blues/rock albums in the late ‘90s before moving to Austin Texas where he quickly befriended some of Austin’s top Jazz musicians leading to the 2000 release of Jazz Gunn aka MateMaToot. Wanting to further pursue the freedom of electric Jazz and improvisation Oteri contracted producer Ronan Chris Murphy (King Crimson, Chucho Valdes ) to produce Spiral Out (2003- 2005) a progressive jazz album featuring King Crimson and Zappa alums Tony Levin, Pat Mastelotto and Mike Keneally with the added help of Austin trumpeter Ephraim Owens. This well received DIW (Diskunion Japan) release produced tours in Europe and Japan. Oteri relocated to Italy in 2003 and after spending nearly 4 years in Italy as a base Oteri returned to Austin. Working with Austin trumpeter Dave Laczko Willie released WD-41 (2009) and WD-41+2 Temi Per Cinema (2010) with added musicians Dino J.A, Deane and Scott Amendola. These releases were well received by fans and critics around the world. Temi Per Cinema was a Top 3 Editors pick in Guitar Player Magazine. Recent tours of Germany have produce live recordings which will be release August 27. 2013. More information on this project here: http://news.allaboutjazz.com/news.php?id=104925#.Uey5TY04uKA

Willie Oteri has recorded and performed with: Dino J.A. Deane (John Zorn, Bill Fresell), Scott Amendola, Tony Levin (Peter Gabriel, King Crimson, John Lennon), Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson, XTC), Mike Keneally (Frank Zappa), Jerry Marotta (Peter Gabriel), Stu Hamm (Joe Satriani, SteveVai) Ronan Chris Murphy (producer and musician), Brannen Temple (Sheena Easton, Kevin Paige, Robben Ford, Eric Johnson), Chris Maresh (Eric Johnson, Abra Moore, Mitch Watkins), Mike Malone (Jimmy Smith), Ephraim Owens (Erika Badu), Takaharu Hayakawa, Natsuki Kido, Markus Reuter, Dave Laczko and many more. The breadth of such performing and recording situations is a testament to his musical versatility and talent. In recent years, it is Oteri's role as composer and band leader which has garnered him increasing notoriety coupled with a notable unique style on guitar. Public Relations: Lori Hehr