Ronnie Monsorate

Jazz pianist and music director, Ronnie Monsorate has worked with some of the top names in the world of Hindi film music such as Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Kalyanji-Anandji, R. D. Burman, Bappi Lahiri, Jatin Lalit, Anu Malik and more. However, he is best known for his work as music director for the award-winning Konkani musical drama Nachom-ia Kumpasar (2015), which pays tribute to the forgotten musicians of Goa, who played jazz in the Bombay nightclubs in the 60s and 70s, and also significantly contributed to Hindi film music.
Ronnie Monsorate comes from a well-known musical family. Between 1940 and 1950, his father Peter Monsorate worked for popular musicians such as Ken Mac, Hal Green, Teddy Weatherford, and Lavina D'Costa among others. Peter was self-taught, absorbing the techniques of New Orleans jazz musicians. His five sons are the second generation of jazz musicians. While Joe and Bosco play trumpet and flugelhorn, Blasco plays trombone, Rex plays drums and Ronnie, the piano. After returning from school, the boys would practice for two hours at the time specified by their father. Peter and his troupe, violinist Joe Menezes, trombone player Anibal Crasto, drums player Leslie Godinho and Chic Chocolate used to visit their house and play till the wee hours. 'Sound of Surprise' talent contest at the Bombay Musicians Association conducted on the feast of St. Cecilia in November used to be a hectic activity for the budding musicians, who went on to make music their profession.
Ronnie Monsorate, at just 19 years of age, used to play piano at Venice, which was a musical hub. Participating in jazz shows, Ronnie has played for five-star hotels from 1972 to 1985 including venues such as Delhi’s Oberoi Inter Continental, Kathmandu’s Oberoi Soltee, Delhi’s Maurya Sheraton and Akbar hotel, Mumbai’s Holiday Inn and Sea Rock. 
In the year 1985, Ronnie made his debut in the film industry. He worked with top music directors such as Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Kalyanji-Anandji, R. D. Burman, Bappi Lahiri, and other big names. With Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar, he has toured London for shows. He has participated in shows with Asha Bhoslein the USA, and with Bappi Lahiri in the USA, England, Fiji island and Holland. He has also participated in 17 shows along with Usha Uthup in South Africa, and 18 shows with Himesh Reshammiya in the USA, London and Mauritius. 
Monsorate has worked full time as a music programmer for music directors such as Anu Malik, Nadeem Shravan, Jatin Lalit, Ismail Darbar, Sajid Wajid, Himesh Reshammiya, and others. He synthesizes music and presents it as live music. Ronnie has provided background music to Hindi films such as Vikram Bhatt’s Fareb (1996), Mahesh Bhatt’s Dastak (1996), Ravi Rai’s Dil Kitna Nadan Hai (1997), and the TV serial Apne Jaise Types (1996-1997). 
He has played with top jazz musicians such as the US-based trumpeters Clark Terry at a workshop in Delhi, and Maynard Ferguson at a concert in Mumbai, saxophonist Ryao Kyao from Portugal for Jazz India, guitarist Yukka Kun of Finland for Jazz India, the Foot Tapper Big Band at the Jazz Yatra, and also represented India at the Macau Jazz Festival in Macau. In the year 2011, between May 13 to 15, he participated in Amsterdam’s Amersfoot Jazz Festival. 
Ronnie Monsorate has also produced several music albums such Shuttle Trip Jazz Originals- C.B.S., Going Wild Hindi Pop Originals-CBS (Artist Shweta Shetty), Pixxem – HMV (Artist Succrine), Hello Lorna – HMV (Artist Lorna and Seby), Amchem Lorna – HMV (Artist Lorna and Anthony San), Lambada In Goa – CBS (Instrumental) and Encore - Cresendo BMG (Valladares Sisters). His sacred music albums include Christmas Joy-CBS, O Bless The Lord, Break Into Song, Miracles (All Pauline Sisters), Jazz With Jesus, You Are My Peace, Unto Him Be Glory, A Perfect Harmony, Simplicity Zan Music (Instrumental), Happiness Zan Music, and Notes For The Poor (Mothers Musical Roses). 

Instrumental in the return of the famous Goan singer Lorna, he also toiled to bestow the Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement award to late musician Anthony Gonsalves. 
Ronnie Monsorate has been awarded for the recreation of music for the Konkani film Nachom-ia Kumpasar (Let’s dance to the rhythm) with the Best Film Music Original Score Award (Global International Awards, California 2015), Best Film Music Original Score Award (Milan Festival, Italy 2015) and Best Music at the Dadasaheb Phalke Film Festival in 2016.