Mauro Ottolini is considered one of the most important Italian musicians. A composer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist, and brass specialist, he graduated in Trombone and Trumpet in ‘93 with top marks from the Verona Conservatory, and a few years later, earned a degree in jazz from the Trento Conservatory. He played for 12 years in the Arena di Verona orchestra, but then decided to resign to follow the music that impassioned him most... Jazz. In addition to the trombone as his main instrument, he has deepened his command of all brass instruments, such as the sousaphone, trumpet, flugelhorn, bass trumpet, and euphonium. In 2012, he was awarded the national critics' "Top Jazz" prize as "best Italian jazz musician." He has been recognized as a composer and arranger, winning multiple critical accolades. He collaborates on 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, and Franco D'Andrea. He also collaborates with some great names in world black music such as Grace Jones, Gino Vannelli, Emy Stewart, and Joe Bowie. In Italy, too, Ottolini has had the pleasure of collaborating with great names, including Vinicio Capossela and Lucio Dalla. He has taught at New York University and held courses at important schools and conservatories, among them the higher conservatory of jazz in Paris, one of the most important schools in Europe. A very special and stimulating encounter was with the trombonist Steve Turre. Thanks to him, Ottolini learned to play seashells, with talent and madness, so much so that he created an ambitious project, Sea Shell: a record and a cartoon that are both an act of respect for the marine universe and a denunciation of the now unsustainable pollution. This project, produced by the label Azzurra Music, was supported by Greenpeace, Legambiente, Umbria Jazz, and other organizations. For Mauro Ottolini, knowledge and research are the foundation for creating a quality sound and a refined and unique style. He has held concerts in the most important theaters and festivals in the world, including Umbria Jazz, China, Brazil, Poland, Bangkok Jazz Festival (Thailand), Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Norway, Spain, and Portugal, and has collaborated on the recording of over 300 records, 30 of which under his own name. Mauro Ottolini was named Ambassador for Culture in Veneto for UNESCO for his artistic and innovative contribution to music. In 2019, following his research on seashells, "SEA SHELL" - Music for seashells, the discovery of a new species of seashell was dedicated to the Veronese musician, which the Malacological Museum of Cupra Marittima named "Turritella Ottolinii" in his honor.