The V.I.P. Club

A native of the South of Italy, Rocco Ventrella grew up in Bari, and began playing saxophone at age fourteen, inspired by some jazz records his father had given to him... and that music hit home! ...fast forward to 1998... Rocco begins his love affair with Smooth Jazz music and starts to record some tracks to explore this new musical style. In 2005, Rocco recorded, arranged and produced the CD "Tribute To Grover Washington, Jr." in memory of the late, great saxophone player. This remarkable CD originally contained only three tracks: "Winelight", "Let It Flow", "Make Me A Memory", ("Mr. Grover" and "Come Morning" were added in 2006) but it was instrumental in making Rocco a household name on Smooth Jazz stations across the Internet! Ventrella continued to create new recordings featuring his own compositions, including the soulful and haunting "I Receive Your Love". The Tribute CD and "I Receive Your Love" brought Rocco to the attention of American producer Bruce Nazarian (Anita Baker, Millie Scott, The Automatix), and an international alliance was born! The product of that collaboration, a new CD called "Give Me The Groove" is a unique global collaboration, joining together Rocco Ventrella from Italy, his longtime friend Renato Falaschi from France, and producer/multiinstrumentalist Bruce Nazarian from the USA in a smooth, yet funky showcase for Rocco's performing and writing talents. After hearing an early copy of the CD, Jimi King, Smooth Jazz Programme Director of www.SKY.fm named "Soulful Strut" as his Number One Smooth Jazz Track of 2006 in the year-end countdown, and placed two additional Rocco tracks in the top 25 including "Alleria", and Rocco's soulful reworking of "Feel Like Makin' Love". Since its official release, this CD has taken internet radio by storm! "Give Me The Groove" CD obtained quotes from George Duke, Dave Koz, Bob James, Chris Standring. November 2007 Rocco has been Pre-Nominated for the 50° Grammy Award Contemporary Jazz Best Album 2007. The musical integrity, artistry, heart and soul of saxophonist Rocco Ventrella can soon be heard on the album "Give Me The Groove" - his first official solo recording in quite a while - "I've been so busy fulfilling commitments to play or record for other artists or broadcast clients, and recording a solo album never entered my mind until recently. Over the past few years, the desire to express myself entirily within my own my personal musical universe has inflamed into a burning passion...”. January/February 2008 Rocco has been invited to give a clinic/concert at Berklee College of Boston obtaining considerable merits from Woodwind chair Bill Pierce. In this time in Boston, Rocco played with great artists of Boston area like Sergio Bellotti, Spajazzy,Tino D'Agostino, Frank Wilkins(WeJazzUp, Stevie Wonder, Al Jarreau),Tim Ingles, Andre Hayward(Joshua Redman Ensemble, Joe Lovano). These days Rocco touring continuosly and giving Master Classes. “I love being able to work with young students and help them improve.There’s no better feeling than to help a player achieve their goal.”We believe Rocco Ventrella to be a contemporary jazz artist of the new generation who is without equal! Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.