SLR 5|Joker

Sal La Rocca never ceases to surprise us. After the hit album "Shifted", the Sicilian-born double bass player returns with a new and profoundly different project. There is a quintet version of a brand new line-up with Maayan Smith on tenor sax and Noam Israeli on drums. Two Israeli musicians newly arrived in Brussels, whom Sal met during a jam, and whose ardor and energy quickly seduced. On the piano, it is the incomparable Igor Gehenot whose percussive sound tinged with Caribbean tones gives a warm and welcoming music. Phil Abraham, who collaborated on Sal’s latest album, enters the band with beautiful textures highlighting the compositions of Sal La Rocca. These sound groovy, resolutely optimistic. They make you think of the sea, the beach, make you want to dance, hug, laugh ... It feels great at the time when these few words are written ... (Jazz Station BE)

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SLR 5|Joker

Sal La Rocca never ceases to surprise us. After the hit album "Shifted", the Sicilian-born double bass player returns with a new and profoundly different project. There is a quintet version of a brand new line-up with Maayan Smith on tenor sax and Noam Israeli on drums. Two Israeli musicians newly arrived in Brussels, whom Sal met during a jam, and whose ardor and energy quickly seduced. On the piano, it is the incomparable Igor Gehenot whose percussive sound tinged with Caribbean tones gives a warm and welcoming music. Phil Abraham, who collaborated on Sal’s latest album, enters the band with beautiful textures highlighting the compositions of Sal La Rocca. These sound groovy, resolutely optimistic. They make you think of the sea, the beach, make you want to dance, hug, laugh ... It feels great at the time when these few words are written ... (Jazz Station BE)

London Evening Standard

“Northern Europe boasts many excellent players, so it’s no surprise to find a quintet this good from the buttoned-up city of Brussels. It’s led by a resonant double bassist, a gifted composer who has a distinctive and hypermodern touch. Two Belgians, guitarist Lorenzo di Maio and pianist Pascal Mohy, contribute elegant solos, but the star turn is really Jacques Schwartz-Bart, a world-class tenorist from Guadeloupe who has toured with US trumpeter Roy Hargrove a few years back. His serpentine lines are always a pleasure to follow but it’s La Rocca’s simple-sounding yet artfully harmonised themes that make this album special. The only standard here is Crescent, a John Coltrane lament that inspires solos worthy of its composer.” JACK MASSARIK (London Evening Standard) - CDs of the week: It Could Be the End (Igloo)

"Sal La Rocca, an emblematic figure of the Belgian bass for twenty years, high rock, courted by all the jazz greats through Belgium (Lee Konitz, Steve Grossman and many others)..." Etienne Payen - - It Could Be The End -
 

 "I was already aware of Sal’s remarkable talent on bass. I also got to enjoy his qualities as a human being during our conversations. But this recording session was the opportunity for me to discover the composer and exceptional leader that he is. He has his own style of writing and chose musicians capable of following his vision on these recordings. The experience was a pure joy for me. It’s one of the records I’m most proud of." Jacques Schwarz-Bart Jacques Schwarz-Bart - Igloo-records

"Nine original La Rocca compositions give the players full scope to take rewarding harmonic and rhythmic excursions, blending a rock energy with jazz improvisation, yet La Rocca’s roots are still very much from Paul Chambers and Ray Brown." Discovery Records - Discovery catalogue available for Sal La Rocca

UK Jazz Radio

“Sal La Rocca is one of Belgium's most well respected and sort after bassist. He says he owes his style to Paul Chambers and Ray Brown; not a bad thing, but listening to this CD Sal has a much edgier and varied palette set of chops plus some special composing skills. With Sal on this CD is Pascal Mohy: Piano, Jacques Schwarz-Bart: Sax, Lorenzo Di Miao: Guitar and Hans Van Oosterhout: Drums. I like Sal#s composing; it give the other musicians some great moments to work on and show what they can do without being over stated. On the Igloo Label this is well deserved 5 star album” Brian Soundy - UK Jazz Radio

Discovery catalogue

"This is the second album on the Belgian Ilgoo label by highly respected double bass player Sal La Rocca - with special guest Jacques Schwarz-Bart on saxophone - plus : Lorenzo Di Maio, guitar, Pascal Mohy, piano, and Hans Van Oosterhout, drums." Discovery Records - Discovery catalogue available for Sal La Rocca

“Non, ce disque de contrebassiste leader ne ressemble à aucun autre disque de contrebassiste leader. Rien à voir avec ceux de Charles Mingus, Charlie Haden ou Dave Holland, pour ne parler que d’eux. Sérésien de 50 ans, Salvatore La Rocca a un parcours intense dans le jazz en Belgique, ce qui lui permet de s’exprimer ici comme il l’entend, c’est-à-dire de façon libérée, spontanée. Sa relecture puissante de "Crescent" (John Coltrane), avec le saxophoniste Jacques Schwarz-Bart très en verve, n’est qu’un indice. Tout le reste est écrit de sa plume chantante, ouvrant à des climats entre jazz et rock, entretenus par guitare et piano électriques. Mais le swing reste en embuscade et, avec lui, l’envie de claquer des doigts.” Lalibre.be

"Sal La Rocca, an emblematic figure of the Belgian bass for twenty years, high rock, courted by all the jazz greats through Belgium (Lee Konitz, Steve Grossman and many others)..." Etienne Payen - - It Could Be The End -

“It Could Be the End est le deuxième album en leader de Sal La Rocca, le premier datant de 2003. Entre-temps, le contrebassiste a enregistré avec tous ceux qui comptent sur la scène belge, c’est dire si le musicien est apprécié. En leader, il témoigne de grandes qualités de compositeurs et d’une propension à mettre en avant ses musiciens : au piano Pascal Mohy, guitare Lorenzo Di Maio à la batterie Hans van Oosterhout et surtout au sax-ténor le vibrant Jacques Schwarz-Bart. Les compositions chaleureuses et enlevées mettent en avant un vrai jazzman plus que le contrebassiste. À recommander.” J-P.G.Igloo/AMG - Event Overload

“Sal La Rocca, is one of the talented bassists and the most popular of the Belgian jazz scene. He played with Toots Thielemans, Philip Catherine, Nathalie Loriers, Anne Ducros, Jacques Pelzer, Lee Konitz, Steve Houben, Steve Grossman and many more. For this second album, It Could Be The End, Sal La Rocca has surrounded himself with "sizes" Belgian and international, including Jacques-Scharwz Bart (NY, Paris) and Hans Van Oosterhout (NL), who ally themselves with subtlety and intelligence in this ambitious project.” Flagey, FM Brussel

"An album that comes singular and the plural is conjugated in the present, past and future, a contemporary jazz album in the form of travel with every step, a song to hum and top-level soloists to follow in their wanderings harmonic and rhythmic. To be fair, a record signed by a bassist-leader often looks like two drops of water to another disk signed by a bassist-leader: as a heavy hand on the status of coach - spotlight on bassist, all mine themes, all the first chorus, the coda ... This second album of Sal La Rocca cleverly avoids the trap: the universe only compositional (except Crescent) is the exclusive work of the leader, for the rest, the balance is impeccable and each musician grew out of the adventure. It Could Be The End? Not at all answered the echo!" JPS, Maison du Jazz Jean-Paul Schroeder - Igloo-Records


"The unique sound of Thielemans’ instrument is simultaneously pleasing to the ear and yet evocative of days gone by. Track one also prominently displays the talents of one of four rhythm sections in Vol.1. - For this number he’s joined by Nathalie Loriers on piano, SAL LA ROCCA on bass, and Bruno Castellucci on drums — they each get noteworthy solos. I thought SAL LA ROCCA was going to steal the show for a moment with an attention-getting solo on bass". FCEtier - Music Review: Toots Thielemans — The Live Takes Vol.

"Sal La Rocca is someone who has played a lot with my father, who also appears in "Après un rêve" and after the album of Pascal Mohy. It can make all the sauces because it's an exceptional musician. He brings a lot of stability, musical: it's very nice. I must also say that, humanly, is a very interesting person." - G.Houben Claude LOXHAY - G.Houben/Jazzaround

“It Could Be The End: louchant parfois vers la fusion quand la guitare électrique du jeune Lorenzo Di Maio prend le dessus comme sur Insomnia. Mais cela reste quand même résolument jazz avec des textures acoustiques arborescentes sur lesquelles s’épanouissent les solistes. Et puis, on compte aussi dans le répertoire une ballade apaisée (Stand Point) qui met en évidence le jeu de contrebasse du leader. Sinon, la grande vedette de cet album est sans conteste le saxophoniste guadeloupéen Jacques Schwarz-Bart qui délivre au ténor un discours musclé à la sonorité pleine où l‘on retrouve en filigrane les influences de Coltrane (dont est repris le fameux Crescent) et celles, ardentes, de Charles Loyd. Ecoutez-le louvoyer tout du long sur Season Heat et vous constaterez par vous-même que la comparaison n’est pas forcée...(more)” Dragon Jazz - Sal La Rocca : It Could Be The End (Igloo IGL 230), 2012

“Son bandana, son petit air de corsaire et sa petite barbichette sont connus aux quatre coins du monde, et font de Sal La Rocca une référence comme contrebassiste au sein de la planète jazz. Il aime cet instrument car il lui permet de parler en même temps, de s’exprimer, de rugir, de rougir et qui sait de jouir aussi. Bavard, présent ,engagé, il nous a reçu chez lui pour parler de son dernier album, de son monde à lui et de lui dans le monde. Une belle rencontre avec un mec, bâti comme un roc, amoureux du jazz, de la musique, de sa femme et comme tous les grands : de la Vie.” Etienne Payen - Sal la Rocca, sans demi-mesure !

“Sal La Rocca - It Could Be The End - Interview *(french) - Début de l’année, Sal La Rocca, l’un des contrebassistes belges les plus demandés sur la scène jazz, sortait son deuxième album personnel chez Igloo. Après «Latinea» en 2003, voici «It Could Be The End», titre énigmatique qui, plutôt qu’une fin, pourrait être le début d’une belle aventure. L’album est lumineux et extrêmement bien balancé. Un véritable disque de jazz actuel, qui mêle le passé et le présent et dans lequel Sal, entouré de Hans Van Oosterhout (dm), Lorenzo Di Maio (eg), Pascal Mohy (p) et Jacques Schwarz-Bart (ts), donne le meilleur de lui-même. Il y a du swing, du groove, de la force et de la tendresse. Allez écouter le sensuel "Bluemondo", l'envoutant "Lazy Lion" et les solides "Osuna" et "It Could Be The End"... Autant dire qu’on a hâte de voir tout ce beau monde sur scène. En attendant, je me suis retrouvé un dimanche après-midi face à ce musicien "entier", aux idées” Jacques Prouvost - Sal La Rocca - It Could Be The End - Interview

“Quand un styliste du calibre de Sal La Rocca joue derrière un géant comme Lee : osmose assurée. Comme Castelucci, Sal est belge. Il est né à Liège. Steve Grossman, Jacques Pelzer, Steve Houben, ont jeté le dévolu sur son accompagnement soyeux. Dans son dernier disque, It Could be the End, à paraître à la fin de l'été sur le label IGLOO (distribué par Socadisc), Sal devient leader. Il compose. Il a recruté le saxophoniste coltranien et guadeloupéen en pleine ascension, Jacques Schwarz-Bart. Très bon batteur au générique (Hans Van Oosterhout). Le quintet déploie les thèmes avec maestria et jubilation. On n'hésite pas à céder à la formule rebattue de "très bon disque de jazz contemporain". Lorenzi Di Maio époustoufle à la guitare. A l'arrivée : irrépressible joie intellectuelle. Et plaisir de gosse.” Bruno Pfeiffer - Accueillons les député(e)s du jazz

“(Fr) - "On connaissait Sal La Rocca le solide contrebassiste. On connaissait moins le compositeur. Ce dernier montre toute sa force et sa subtilité dans cet album, où il a tout composé, sauf une reprise de Coltrane. D'excellentes mélodies sur lesquelles Jacques Schwarz-Bart (sax), Lorenzo Di Maio (guitare) et Pascal Mohy (piano) improvisent avec superbe. Sal et Hans van Ossterhout (drums) assurent une rythmique impeccable. Un album très réussi, à l'accent funky et funny". - (En) - "We knew Sal La Rocca on double bass sound. Less was known composer. The latter shows its strength and subtlety in this album, where he composed all but one of Coltrane recovery. Excellent melodies on which Jacques Schwarz-Bart (sax), Lorenzo Di Maio (guitar) and Pascal Mohy (piano) improvise with superb. Sal and Hans van Ossterhout (drums) provide an impeccable rhythm. A very successful album, the funky and funny accent".” Mad.lesoir.be (J.-C. V.) - It Could Be The End

“It Could Be The End - Sal La Rocca (DS) Mis en ligne le 07/03/2012 Non, ce disque de contrebassiste leader ne ressemble à aucun autre disque de contrebassiste leader. Rien à voir avec ceux de Charles Mingus, Charlie Haden ou Dave Holland, pour ne parler que d’eux. Sérésien de 50 ans, Salvatore La Rocca a un parcours intense dans le jazz en Belgique, ce qui lui permet de s’exprimer ici comme il l’entend, c’est-à-dire de façon libérée, spontanée. Sa relecture puissante de "Crescent" (John Coltrane), avec le saxophoniste Jacques Schwarz-Bart très en verve, n’est qu’un indice. Tout le reste est écrit de sa plume chantante, ouvrant à des climats entre jazz et rock, entretenus par guitare et piano électriques. Mais le swing reste en embuscade et, avec lui, l’envie de claquer des doigts. 1 CD Igloo, Sowarex. ” Lalibre.be (D.S.) - It Could Be The End - Sal La Rocca

“Sal la Rocca band Sal La Rocca, most of our bass pirate, undertakes a quest for some years as passionate as it was unexpected. A quest that we discover a very different musician's image sideman bop partner Steve Grossman, Jacques Pelzer and Bob Mover. Mindful perhaps of his distant rock tinged debut, Sal La Rocca surrounds himself for his own projects, guitarists with an approach to the instrument that combines energy and rock sounds, and jazz improvisations. It has just been released a second album IGLOO Records in 5tet, entitled "It Could Be The End", where we find sizes of Belgian and international, including Jacques-Scharwz Bart (NY, Paris) and Hans Van Oosterhout (NL) , who ally themselves with subtlety and intelligence in this ambitious project.” La Louvière Metrope Culture - Carte blanche to Igloo - jazz

“Latinea -Sal La Rocca Already a recognised sideman, Sal La Rocca has brought together a few long-standing friends in a surprising quintet: the Sal La Rocca quintet, featuring Bruno Castellucci, Jacques Pirotton, Peter Hertmans and Kris Goessens. The fruit of this encounter is the first album "Latinea". Sal La Rocca offers us new original compositions that are both colourful and generous, dipping us in an environment in which jazz is king. From his wide experience, Sal gave the record a cohesive group sound. Each musician finds room enough to express himself, with the various voices combining in a surprising result. ” Igloo-records

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