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Sal La Rocca

Sal LA ROCCA discovers jazz in the early 80's and switches to double bass which he intensively explores on his own, taking as a model Paul CHAMBERS...

About Me

- Double Bass Player / Composer

Sal LA ROCCA is one of Belgium’s most in-demand double bassists. He has played alongside Toots THIELEMANS, Philip CATHERINE, Steve GROSSMAN, Lee KONITZ… After a stint with rock playing guitar, at age 23, he discovers jazz in the early 80′s and switches to double bass which he intensively explores on his own, taking as a model Paul CHAMBERS.

Sal has released two albums under his own name, such as Latinea (2003) and It Could Be The End (2012) with : Lorenzo DI MAIO (guitar), Pascal MOHY (piano) and Hans van OOSTERHOUT (drums) featuring : Jacques SCHWARZ-BART* (tenor sax) on the IGLOO label

Ex-Member of Vaya Con Dios feat. Dani KLEIN, Pascal MOHY trio, Denise KING + Olivier HUTMAN trio (Fr. & Be), Phil ABRAHAM quartet, Laurent DOUMONT & The Soul Counsellors, Bop & Soul Sextet…

- Musicians With Whom Sal Played: John Ruocco, Gianni Basso, Harold Land, Jack Van Poll, Kris Defoort, Ali Ryerson, Paolo Radoni, John Engels, Michel Herr, Guy Cabay, Andre Ceccarelli, Ch. Hirson, Bert Joris, Jiggs Wigham,Steve Grossman, Nico Menci, Dave Turner, Michel Graillier,David Linx,Sheila Jordan,Deborah Brown, Mark Murphy,Sangoma Everest, Salvatore Bonafede, Lee Konitz, Ada Rovatti, Gordon Beck, Sangoma Everest, Anne Ducros, Olivier Hutman, Roni Ben-Hur Bob Moover, Stanley Jordan, Randy Brecker, Bob Franceschini, Richie Beirach, Scott Hamilton, Didier Lockwood, Tony Lakatos, Bobby Durham, Steve Williams, Dani Klein, Denise King, Jacques Schwarz-Bart, William Lecomte, Pierrick Pedron, Batiste Trotignon, Stepane Belmondo.

My Jazz Story

The relationship with the public is very important to me, I sometimes dream of a music that everyone likes, a kind of elixir that would make everyone agree. Utopia of course! When I compose a piece, I try to put myself in the auditor’s place as much as possible. What is not always easy with I Modern Jazz, it requires a lot of attention and humility.

My House Concert Story

I remember a tour in Corsica in 1994 with Lee Konitz, a very charming gentleman. On the first day of the tour, in a car behind him, he asked me to give him the seat belt that was within his reach, and I said, “Lee, you can take the belt by yourself ?” He laughed a lot…and treated me like his son throughout the tour.