[1] Bill Ashton, founder of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO), was an early mentor.
[1] As a teenager, Ricotti played vibraphone and learned composition and arranging in the NYJO, and later attended Trinity College of Music between 1967 and 1970.
[3] Ricotti worked with Neil Ardley (1968–71), Dave Gelly, Graham Collier, Mike Gibbs (1969–72), Stan Tracey (1970), Harry Beckett (1970–72), Norma Winstone (1971), Gordon Beck (1973–74), and Hans Zimmer.
Ricotti has recorded with artists such as Status Quo, Freddie Mercury, Pet Shop Boys, Swing Out Sister, Art of Noise,[6] The Style Council, Belle and Sebastian, Clannad, Barclay James Harvest, Meat Loaf, Elkie Brooks, Rick Wakeman, Oasis, Tina Turner, Aztec Camera, Thomas Anders, Alphaville, and Mark Knopfler.
[8] With Alphaville With Thomas Anders With Aztec Camera With Madeline Bell With Blood, Sweat & Tears With Bloodstone With Dee Dee Bridgewater With Elkie Brooks With Emma Bunton With Paul Carrack With Mary Chapin Carpenter With Tina Charles With Charlotte Church With Climie Fisher With Rosemary Clooney With Stephen Dale Petit With Roger Daltrey With Kiki Dee With Terence Trent D'Arby With Sheena Easton With Everything but the Girl With Bryan Ferry With Julia Fordham With Peter Frampton With Gabrielle With Gareth Gates With Clive Griffin With Delta Goodrem With David Gray With Josh Groban With Daryl Hall With Geri Halliwell With Albert Hammond With Debbie Harry With Murray Head With John Illsley With Yusuf Islam With Elton John With Grace Jones With Joshua Kadison With Nick Kamen With Katrina and the Waves With Beverley Knight With Mark Knopfler With Nick Lachey With Lighthouse Family With Meat Loaf With Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé With Mika With John Miles With Joni Mitchell With Van Morrison With Oliver Nelson With Robbie Nevil With Chris Norman With Sally Oldfield With Pet Shop Boys With Anthony Phillips With Michel Polnareff With Gregory Porter With Gerry Rafferty With Chris Rea With Cliff Richard With Rumer With Leo Sayer With Seal With Status Quo With Amii Stewart With Rod Stewart With The Style Council With Tina Turner With Uriah Heep With Rick Wakeman With Was (Not Was) With Wet Wet Wet With Robbie Williams With Amy Winehouse