Updated: February 16, 2024
Born: August 20, 1961
Sal La Rocca is originally from Seraing, Belgium, near LIEGE.
He was first a Rock guitarist, but switched to the bass as his instrument of choice after hearing (for the first time) music by several jazz greats. After switching, he taught himself how to play by the age of 23. Over time, he become one of the most "in demand" double bassists in Belgium and in the European theater.
Starting in the mid 80's, Sal has toured and performed with a wide array of musicians on the European continent. The 90's saw him expanding his presence with world tours. His list of celebrity musicians he performed with continued to grow, adding well known names like Lee Konitz, Philippe Catherine and Toots Thielemans to his musical resume. During his career, Sal has recorded on numerous albums.
In 2003, he released his first album "Latinea", included musicians Bruno Castellucci, Peter Hertmans, Kris Goessens and Jacques Pirotton. Around this time, Sal became the official bassist of singer Anne Ducros, playing, recording and touring with her group for several years. He added several jazz greats to his resume, including trumpeter Randy Brecker and pianists Thierry Eliez, Enrico Pieranunzi, Jacky Terrasson and Rene Urtreger.
In 2006, RTB TV Live Recording with : Steve Houben (a.sax), Richie Beirach (p) and Martijn Vink (drs). Live @ Palais Des Congrès – Jazz à Liège Festival. - S.Houben/R.Beirach 4tet
In 2007, he became the bassist for pop rock group Vaya Con Dios. Sal participated in both a European and world tour with the group.
In 2010, he was bassist for the Steve Grossman Quintet (Two Tenors Quintet feat Joe Lovano) performing at the Dinant Jazz Night Festival. The group featured Steve Grossman, Nico Menci, Alvin Queen, Joe Lovano and Sal.
In 2011, he joined the Gregory Houben Quintet, which was comprised of Gregory Houben (trumpet), Pierrick Pedron (alto sax) and Sal La Rocca (bass). Sal met American singer Denise King through French pianist Olivier Hutman. They formed a trio that performed in what is referred to as the Benelux States (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg) and France.
In 2013, Sal released his second album "It Could Be The End" (featuring a number of original compositions) through Igloo Records. The group was comprised of Lorenzo Di Maio, Pascal Mohy, Hans van Oosterhout and Jacques Schwarz-Bart.
New Album 2018 "SHIFTED" - Sal La Rocca’s new album breathes groove and freedom. His modern jazz with captivating sounds is tinged with avant-gardism. Walloon and Flemish, Belgian and Italian, his group is defined by a multiple identity. The project explores a certain duality. First, by the presence of Flemish and Walloon musicians; then, by the apparent opposition between avant-gardism and tradition. Jeroen and Lieven open doors to unexpected sounds and colors. Sal and Pascal are more anchored in the tradition, while remaining permeable to other sounds. This alliance offers open music, with surprising tones, groove background that recall the hard-bop of the 60s.
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Live From Brussels: Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Sal La Rocca, Igor Gehenot, Diederniko Kummsels & Makas
![Read "Live From Brussels: Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Sal La Rocca, Igor Gehenot, Diederniko Kummsels & Makas" reviewed by Martin Longley](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/a_small/9dc4f986efabc7283424906121c8fabe.jpg)
by Martin Longley
Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège Bozar January 9, 2019 Much of this evening's programme featured compositions that are probably of interest to jazzers, particularly with the presence of George Gershwin and Leonard Bernstein, although Aaron Copland and Samuel Barber will doubtless have more crossover appeal than most composers. There was even a rock'n'roll frisson to this night, as acts such as ELP, Tom Waits and Alice Cooper have successfully mauled this raw matter. There ...
read moreSal La Rocca: SHIFTED
![Read "SHIFTED" reviewed by James Fleming](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/e3349634cb56de29c4ae31a8c827eac5.jpg)
by James Fleming
The saxophone lines snake out of the speakers, rustling the airwaves like a breeze through firs or singing with all the lyricism of the finest vocalist. The double bass's hardwood lays a strong foundation. The electricity of the Wurlitzer piano growls atop that age-old sound, like a lightning storm rolling over treetops. Sal La Rocca's Shifted melds the gentleness of a forest with all the freedom of its animals. The sounds can roam uninhibited and wild. But they all play ...
read moreTake Five With Sal La Rocca
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by Sal La Rocca
Meet Sal La Rocca: Sal La Rocca discovered jazz in the early '80s, and switched to double-bass, which he intensively explored on his own, taking Paul Chambers as a model. Instrument(s): Doubl-bass, electric bass, guitar. Teachers and/or influences? Paul Chambers, Sam Jones, Charles Mingus, Scott LaFaro. I knew I wanted to be a musician when... when i was 12 years old. Your sound and ...
read moreArticles Across the Web
...or were mentioned in an All About Jazz article.
- Interview with Sal La Rocca: The music is constantly linked to your soul
- Selection Of The Month/DragonJazz
- Sal La Rocca, Shifted/JazzAround Mag
- Indispensable / Jean-Marie Hacquier © Jazz Hot n°686, hiver 2018-2019
- Terramondo: destins croisés
- Sal La Rocca "SHIFTED" - SFR : Jazz Magazine
- Entretien Sal La Rocca
- Jacques Pelzer Jazz Club, Liège: Sal La Rocca Quartet feat. Stéphane Belmondo
- Sal La Rocca – It Could Be The End – Interview
- Sal La Rocca It Could Be the End - Citizen Jazz mag
- Accueillons les député(e)s du jazz (I)
- Arras Jazz Festival: Sal La Rocca...
All About Jazz Top 10 Tracks: February 2021
![All About Jazz Top 10 Tracks: February 2021](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/e3349634cb56de29c4ae31a8c827eac5.jpg)
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All About Jazz
All About Jazz features a free song every day spanning all genres of jazz, and of the 28 tracks featured in February, these ten represent our personal favorites. We also included the top ten reader favorites as indicated by total listens. Musicians and record labels can submit full length MP3s for consideration here. Enjoy! TOP TRACKS RAGGA Sal La Rocca From: Shifted 06:10 No Roots Valentina Marino From: Quarantine Covers ...
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SLR 5|Joker
Sal La Rocca never ceases to surprise us. After the hit album "Shifted", the Sicilian-born double bass player returns with a new and profoundly different project. There is a quintet version of a brand new line-up with Maayan Smith on tenor sax and Noam Israeli on drums. Two Israeli musicians newly arrived in Brussels, whom Sal met during a jam, and whose ardor and energy quickly seduced. On the piano, it is the incomparable Igor Gehenot whose percussive sound tinged with Caribbean tones gives a warm and welcoming music. Phil Abraham, who collaborated on Sal’s latest album, enters the band with beautiful textures highlighting the compositions of Sal La Rocca. These sound groovy, resolutely optimistic. They make you think of the sea, the beach, make you want to dance, hug, laugh ... It feels great at the time when these few words are written ... (Jazz Station BE)
Ron Carter
bassEddie Gomez
bassSam Jones
bass, acousticScott LaFaro
bassCharles Mingus
bass, acousticGeorge Mraz
bassJohn Patitucci
bassPaul Chambers
bass, acousticContact
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CONTACT BOOKING (BE)
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Official Agent : Christine Verdussen (SAMSA)
Christine Verdussen is active in the Brussels publishing world (SAMSA). She also collaborated for many years with the conductor and musician Dominique Jonckheere (1954-2018), both for jazz and rock projects (Bach to rock, Beatles, etc.) and for philharmonic projects (La Musique storytelling, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms) or chamber music. She knows the musical networks where she has made many friendships, which leads her to devote herself to the promotion, distribution, in particular of jazz, classical or mixed musicians.
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