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Sal La Rocca

sal la rocca sal la rocca

Bass Player ⎜Composer

© Roger Vantilt

About Sal La Rocca

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 like : Steve Houben, Jacques Pelzer, Michel Graillier, John Thomas, Toots Thielemans, Philip Catherine, Harold Land, Steve Grossman, Sal Nistico, Lee Konitz, Dani Kein featuring Vaya Con Dios (2006-14)…

As leader

Sal La Rocca has released three albums under his own name…

LATINEA (2003), IT COULD BE THE END  (2012) on Igloo Rec. And SHIFTED (2018) Which is a collaboration of two Belgian labels : Igloo Records & el Negocito Records. In the meantime, he recorded an album (also released on vinyl) in co-production with Dani Klein : DANI SINGS BILLIES (2015) an Boogie Productions sprl & Bass-Alive scri, Exclusively Lincenced To Sony Music Entertainment (BE) NV/SA.

As sideman

Sal has recorded on many different albums and labels such as…

Dreyfus-Records, Nocturne-Records, Plus Loin Music Records, Sony-BMG-Music-Entertainment, Seventh String Music Records, Big wave Records, Coco Records (Austria), Music On Vinyl B.V. Records, Gats Production, Orfena Music Records, GAM Records, Integral Jazz, MET-X Moving Music, Central Station Music, B.Sharp Records, In+Out Records, Quetzal-Records, Verve-Records, Warner Jazz, Igloo-Records, el Negocito Records, W.E.R.F. records, A-Records, Pygmalion-Records, Columbia…More detailed information on Discogs / Artist Page.

About album releases

Album details, as leader & co-leader

LATINEA – Igloo-Rec. (2003)

Already a recognised sideman, Sal La Rocca has brought together a few long-standing friends in a surprising quintet : the S. La Rocca Quintet, featuring Bruno Castellucci (drs), Jacques Pirotton (guit.), Peter Hertmans (guit.) and Kris Goessens (pn). Sal offers us new original compositions that are both colourful and generous, dipping us in an environment in which jazz is king. – Igloo-Records

IT COULD BE THE END – Igloo-Rec. (2012)

“A singular album that sounds like a plural and that can be conjugated in the past, present and future; a contemporary jazz record that reads like a travel book.” At each stop, we get a song to hum and high-level soloists to follow in their harmonic and rhythmic excursions. With : Lorenzo Di Maio (guit.), Pascal Mohy (piano), Hans Van Oosterhout (drums) featuring Jacques Schwartz-Bart (t. sax). – J.P. S. (maison Du Jazz à Liège).

DANI SINGS BILLIE – Sony Music (2015)

For the upcoming album Dani K. has selected her feel-good favorites from the valuable repertoire of the legendary Billie Holiday. With Sal La Rocca (bass), William Lecomte (piano) and Tim De Jonghe (trumpet) “Dani sings Billie”. All songs recorded mixed & produced @ studio “Elle” Bxls (BE) in may-july 2015 by Pascal Snoeck, Dani Klein & S. La Rocca. – AAJ

SHIFTED – Igloo & el Negocito Rec. (2018)

Sal’s new album breathes groove & freedom. His modern jazz with captivating sounds is tinged with avant-gardism. Walloon and Flemish, Belgian & Italian, his group is defined by a multiple identity. With : Jeroen van Herzeele (tenor & soprano sax), Pascal Mohy (piano) & Lieven Venken (drums) featuring Phil Abraham (trombone – only on track 6 & 7). – Igoo Records/Album

Video Playlist of SLR 5 New Band EX 

For The Next Album Release “JOKER”​

We All Need A Joker

(At Least Once In Our Live)