Rocco Ventrella, Instrumental and Smooth jazz Artist

Rocco Ventrella music is smooth, soulful, and easy for listeners to appreciate and enjoy.  In 1998 this soulful saxophonist and Italian native fell in love with smooth jazz, and began to explore the new music style by recording some promotional tracks.   His breakthrough in this genre came in 2005 when he recorded, arranged and produced the CD “Tribute to Grover Washington, Jr.” paying tribute to the late, great jazz saxophonist.   

Born in Bari, Italy

Genre: Smooth Jazz

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

“One can only smile and enjoy when hearing the music of Rocco Ventrella.  The joy of his music that exudes from his soul is undeniable.  His passion for smooth jazz is so obvious with every note he plays”.

After performing in over 20 different countries and playing for hundreds of others records artists for many years, Ventrella discovered the great saxophone player Grover Washington, Jr. in the mid-90s. Ventrella was captured by the sound and the groove of Grover!

In 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 Best Of 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.

Biographical information courtesy of Rocco Ventrella; for more reading see link below

http://www.roccoventrella.com/biography.html