Rocco Ventrella's Page

What's in YOUR CD player? What those "in the know" are spinning in their CD players this month: "Sensuality' by Rocco Ventrella from the CD Give Me The Groove. With a chilled out groove that oozes sex and playing from Rocco that's as tight as tight can be this one really gets the job done." - Denis Poole Both Smooth Jazz reviewer Denis Poole and "JDCD" DJ Jeff Daniels are spinning "Give Me The Groove" in their CD players this month at: www.smoothvibes.com
Denis Poole reviews Rocco's CD
"In ‘Give Me The Groove’ Rocco Ventrella has created a superb example of
smooth jazz music that is the perfect antidote to a stressful day."

Noted Smooth Jazz reviewer Denis Poole offers his insights on
"Give Me The Groove" at his website: www.smoothjazztherapy.com

Thanks, Denis!

Smooth-Jazz.de blogs Rocco's CD
Smooth-Jazz.de Webmaster "hbh" blogged about "Give Me The Groove"
http://smooth-jazz.de/WordPress/?p=33
and posted an in-depth review on it as well

http://www.smooth-jazz.de/starportrait/Ventrella/givemethegroove.htm

Many thanks to Hans for his support

JazzReview.com reviews Rocco's CD

"A really perceptive R&B/jazz venture that I can easily see becoming a staple..."
Reviewer Ronald Jackson gives high marks to "Give Me The Groove"
http://www.jazzreview.com/cd/review-18694.html

We're "Hot Tracks" at City Sounds Radio
CitySoundsFeature

Give Me the Groove featured in Hot Tracks at City Sounds Radio
Their NEW web address http://www.citysounds.com
Thanks again to Dick Fairchild, Program Director at City Sounds Radio

Rocco scores #1 on SKY.FM Top 25 Tracks of 2006!
"SOULFUL STRUT" is the NUMBER ONE Smooth Jazz Track of 2006 on SKY.FM!
"Alleria" is #6, "Feel Like Makin' Love" is #14 in the Top 25!!

THREE of the tracks from Rocco's new CD "Give Me The Groove" have been named into the
Top 25 Smooth Jazz Tracks of 2006 by Jimi King on the SKY.FM Smooth Jazz year-end wrapup show!

(see the list: http://forums.sky.fm/showthread.php?t=28117)
(click on "MUSIC" in the Menu bar to hear our new CD!)


Ronald Jackson - JazzReview.com (2007)

Featured Artist: Rocco Ventrella


http://www.jazzreview.com/cd/review-18694.html


CD Title: Give Me the Groove

Year: 2007

Record Label: Smooth Sounds Music

Style: Smooth Jazz

Musicians:

Rocco Ventrella (saxophones, bass, drums, keyboards, programming), Bruce Nazarian (Producer, bass, "Georgino" solo guitar, drums, keyboards, programming), Renato Falaschi (organ, Rhodes, piano, synth)

Review:

In my opinion, when performing covers of highly popular pieces, interpretation is one of the most powerful tools to help ensure success. Italian sax man Rocco Ventrella, hailing from Bari in southern Italy, injects his artistic character into Give Me the Groove in such a way as to clearly demonstrate that his interpretations are anything but the same ol’ hash offered by others with less insight.

This is Ventrella’s first full-length CD. Before this, he recorded a “mini-CD” dedicated to the late, great Grover Washington, Jr. If this project is any indication, we could be in for a fun ride for some time to come. Clearly, Ventrella is in touch with what works as he steps through these covers with confidence and insight.

Kicking it off in lively/funky fashion with one of everyone’s favorites “Soulful Strut,” he follows with a slow, sultry, and clear sax-laden working of the Italian “Alleria.” Very enticing and sweet indeed. In fact, it could be my favorite piece on the album, although he offers many others that warm the heart or stir the soul.

Ventrella’s sax is quite captivating and always well-placed. He’s accompanied on this project by the easy, gliding keys of fellow collaborator Renato Falaschi and session guitarist Bruce Nazarian. Already top shelf stuff, this is one of those CDs that just gets better as you rewind and replay. A really perceptive R&B/jazz venture that I can easily see becoming a staple in the field of covers. You don’t even have to listen to Ventrella’s version of “Feel Like Making Love,” “On the Night,” the classic “Winelight” or the funky sax and bass on “Sensuality” at track 8 to understand what you have here.

His personality and feel are evident in each and every undertaking. An album full of good ol’ “soothing” that’s great for whatever ails you (in my case, that would be the lack of quality work from many in the business today!). Remember the name Rocco Ventrella. I predict that you’ll see it again and again.

Tracks: Soulful Strut, Alleria, Where Is the Love, Come Morning, Feel Like Makin' Love, Winelight, On the Night, Sensuality, Give Me the Groove, A Night in Tunisia, I Receive Your Love

Artist's Website: http://www.RoccoVentrella.com

Reviewed by: Ronald Jackson
Copyright© 2007 JazzReview.com®. All Rights Reserved.

Peter Bohi - Smooth Jazz Vibes (18 Oct 2005) PDF Print E-mail

Rocco Ventrella grew up in Bari in the southern part of Italy. After music Conservatory, Rocco participated in various clinics with famous jazz musicians like David Liebman, Michael Brecker, Bob Mintzer, Eric Marienthal. In additional, he began to play in small jazz groups appearing in numerous jazz clubs and at the same time started to study piano and began to work in the studios "Crescendo" and "Sorriso" (ex C&M) of Bari. Since 1983, Rocco played in the Big Band "J.S.O." of P. Lepore of Bari where he has appeared with an impressive and long list of world renowned jazz artists.

By 1998, Rocco began to love Smooth Jazz music, with the latest fruit of this love being the promotional CD "Tribute To Grover Washington, Jr.", a great tribute to one of his idols. Rocco was kind enough to send me a copy of this CD containing three of Grover's most beloved and classic compositions: "Winelight", "Let It Flow" and "Make Me A Memory," which all were originally recorded back in 1980 on Grover Washington, Jr.'s "Winelight" album. 'Winelight' is a record which definitely has touched the hearts of many smooth jazz lovers around the world.

Rocco Ventrella gives the songs a new twist with updated contemporary grooves but still manages to retain the spirit of the original. In the beginning he reluctantly and respectfully approaches the songs but increasingly starts to bring his personality and improvisation to "the mix", generating quite a bit of heat before the songs are gracefully brought to an end.

I am looking forward to hearing more from this ongoing project in the future. All of these songs have been added to the playlist of SwissGroove.ch and they definitely are radio friendly, groovy, spirited and do justice to Grover's legacy. Rocco Ventrella is a great sax player and a nice person to boot so let's hope that more finished work will be available soon so the world can hear this music.

Peter Bohi - Smooth Jazz Vibes (18 Oct 2005)

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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 classical music with appeal and ease, Grover's popularity was very wide spread. As one of America's greatest exports, he carried the gospel according to jazz to practically every corner of the globe. His influence on other saxophonists including Gerald Albright, Najee, George Howard, Kenny "G" and Richard Elliot are widely known; however, there are other musicians who may not be at the top of the list impacted by Grover's unique presence. Enter saxophonist Rocco Ventrella, a musician who has felt Grover's influence from as far away as the continent of Europe, more specifically in Italy. In fact, Rocco may well become one of contemporary jazz's finest imports into the United States with the release of Introducing...Tribute to Grover Washington, Jr. Although this CD only contains three tracks, it is one of the most important new recordings I have heard to date. It also goes the distance in elevating the consciousness of Grover Washington's impeccable talent. Grover Washington, Jr. passed away in 2003. His departure from this planet shocked the world over as they recognized the true measure of his abilities would never be fully realized. Before his death and even thereafter, numerous musicians attempted to duplicate the passionate embrace of music created by this very unique individual. In hindsight, I believe Rocco Ventrella has come a long way in capturing the essence of Grover's sound. The tonal quality of his music is pure Washington, but the creative approach is all Ventrella's.
As stated earlier, there are only three-tracks on Introducing...Tribute to Grover Washington, Jr. With that being expressed, it might also be stated that Rocco Ventrella has actually done an outstanding job with Grover's most recognized cuts. They include "Winelight," "Let It Flow" and "Make Me A Memory," all of which reflect Rocco's high regard for Grover. What is just as apparent, is Ventrella's display of musical range, which also makes for a "sound activated spiritual energy tribute" to the "Father of Contemporary Jazz." Rocco Ventrella's testament to Grover Washington, Jr. gets five stars by my estimation. His music is original and his choice of musicians creates an under tow of musical harmony that makes the CD even more compelling. All of the combined elements contained in this release will overwhelm the harshest of critics and at the end of it all, most will agree that this tribute to Grover Washington, Jr. is one that will surely stand the test of further scrutiny. Prior to receiving information pertaining to Rocco Ventrella, I did not have a clue about the infectious nature of his sound. If the true nature of what Rocco has been able to accomplish with the release of Introducing...Tribute To Grover Washington, Jr. is this dynamic in approach, then his influence will be heart felt and equally embraced by Grover Washington's devoted fan base. This recording left a vacuum with the release of only three tracks, which is a very big tease in my opinion. Rocco left in me an intense urge to replay this CD over and over again, as I anxiously await the next installment from this highly evolved saxophonist. Tracks: Winelight, Let It Flow, Make Me A Memory.

Sheldon T. Nunn - Jazzreview.com (18 Oct 2005)