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Rocco Ventrella

Rocco Ventrella has been “Artist Of The Year 2015” nominated on JazzTrax,com and invited to perform at Catalina JazzTrax Festival by Art Good. 


Ventrella received a Grammy Awards Pre-Nomination for Contemporary Jazz Best Album 2007 cd “Give Me The Groove”. 

On the 2005 Ventrella recorded, arranged and produced the “Tribute To Grover Washington,Jr.” CD in memory of the late, great saxophone player. This remarkable recording originally contained 
just five tracks: “Winelight”, “Let It Flow”, “Make Me a Memory”, “Mr. Grover” (original by Ventrella) and “Come Morning”. However, it was “Winelight” that made Rocco a household name on Smooth Jazz stations across the Internet.”Winelight” track was selected by Jimi King(Sky.fm) as one of “The BestOf 2005,” along with other 14 tracks. 

Ventrella continued to create new recordings featuring his own compositions, including the soulful and haunting “I Receive Your Love”. The “Tribute To Grover” and “I Receive Your Love” CDs brought Ventrella to the attention of American producer Bruce Nazarian (he played the synclavier on the “Giving you the best that I got” Anita Baker's CD, Millie Scott, The Automatix), and an international alliance was born. 
Ventrella's “Give Me The Groove” CD, produced by Bruce Nazarian and recorded with the collaboration of his friend pianist Renato Falaschi scored Top 20 smooth jazz radio stations with 5 tracks of the CD: Soulful Strut, Winelight, Alleria, 

On The Night and Give Me The Groove. 

Ventrella also received positive reviews from Dave Koz, George Duke, Everette Harp, Marion Meadows, Chris Standring and more. Also “Soulful Strut” track placed #1 in Jimi King's prestigious 2006 year-end countdown. 

“Sweet Temptation” new single released on March 2012 and placed #46 on Top 100 of 2012 Groove Jazz Music.com. 

On January 2013 released “Sweet Temptation” whole CD featuring a nice and interesting version of “Summertime(G.Gershwin)featuring Everette Harp on saxophone. Also Paul Brown and Nils on guitars and Gerry Brown and Sergio Bellotti on drums are other featured artists. 


Rocco Ventrella was born in Bari, Italy and began playing saxophone at age of twelve. 

Rocco Ventrella appeared in selected jazz festivals include the “James Brown Festival” in Georgia; the “1° Annual Smooth Jazz Festival” in Austria; the “The Cube Smooth Jazz Festival” plus with 
Brian Culbertson in Austria; the 
“Augsburg Smooth Jazz Festival” plus with Gerald Albright , Paul Brown, Jessy J. in Germany; the “Mallorca Smooth Jazz Festival 2013” plus with Rick Braun; the “Algarve Smooth Jazz Festival” in Algarve(Portugal)2018. 

Also, Rocco shared stages with most respected artists such as Peter White, Marion Meadows, Candy Dulfer, Mindi Abair, Jessy J., Brian Culbertson, Nick Colionne, Jackiem Joyner, Nils, Paul Brown, Gerald Albright, Otto Williams, 
Jonathan Fritzen, Eric Darius, Brian 
Simpson, Rick Braun, Marc Antoine, 
Michael Lington, Dave Koz and more. 

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Take Five With...

Take Five with Rocco Ventrella

Read "Take Five with Rocco Ventrella" reviewed by AAJ Staff


Meet Rocco Ventrella: Rocco Ventrella was Jazztrax's “Artist Of The Year" in 2015 and received a Grammy Awards Pre-Nomination for Contemporary Jazz Best Album for his 2007 release Give Me The Groove. In 2005, Ventrella recorded, arranged, and produced the Tribute To Grover Washington, Jr. album in memory of the late, great saxophonist. This remarkable recording originally contained just five tracks: “Winelight," “Let It Flow," “Make Me a Memory," “Mr. Grover" (original by Ventrella) and “Come Morning." However, it was ...

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Festival

Rocco Ventrella at 1st Annual Smooth Jazz Festival

Rocco Ventrella at 1st Annual Smooth Jazz Festival

Source: All About Jazz


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Recording

Rocco Ventrella Releases "Give Me the Groove"

Rocco Ventrella Releases "Give Me the Groove"

Source: Cheryl Hughey Promotions

A native of the South of Italy, Rocco Ventrella grew up in Bari, on the Adriatic coast. Rocco began playing saxophone at age fourteen, inspired by jazz records his father had given him; for over twenty years, Rocco honed his chops by playing with the Big Band “J.S.O." of his hometown Bari where he appeared with an impressive list of artists such as: Lee Konitz, Eddie “Lockjaw" Davis, Benny Bailey, Chet Baker, Ernie Wilkins, Art Farmer, Tony Scott, Dizzy Gillespie, ...

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Recording

Rocco Ventrella CD: Tribute to Grover Washington, Jr.

Rocco Ventrella CD: Tribute to Grover Washington, Jr.

Source: All About Jazz

Featured Artist: Rocco Ventrella CD Title: Tribute to Grover Washington, Jr. Year: 2005 Record Label: Roven Productions Style: Contemporary Jazz Musicians: Rocco Ventrella (alto saxophone), Vito Di Modugno, (bass), Alex Milella (guitar), Gino Palmisano (keyboard, piano programming), Saverio Petruzzellis (drums) Review: Few jazz musicians have epitomized the sound of contemporary jazz as did the late Grover Washington, Jr. Considered by many to be the savior of modern-day jazz because of his ability to cross the lines between R&B, popular and ...

Primary Instrument

Saxophone

Location

Bari

Willing to teach

Intermediate to advanced

Clinic/Workshop Information

January 2008 Clinic at Berklee College of Boston, MA. 

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Reflections

Delilah Records
2021

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Colors

Delilah Records
2019

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Keep In Touch

Delilah Records
2018

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Another Time

Delilah Records
2015

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Sweet Temptation

Innervision Records
2013

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Secret Agent

RV Music
2010

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On The Road

From: Reflections
By Rocco Ventrella

Stay Close To Me

From: Another Time
By Rocco Ventrella

Secret Agent

From: Secret Agent - single
By Rocco Ventrella

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