User:Saxsmooth23/sandbox/Rocco Ventrella

Rocco Ventrella (born January 23, 1961) is a contemporary jazz saxophonist, composer and producer. Ventrella born in Bari, Italy. He started playing saxophone at age of 13 and after 2 years he switched to the clarinet studying at Conservatory of Music of his city.

After finished the Conservatory, Ventrella switched to the saxophone and starts to play jazz music at a local big band. On the 1989 Ventrella is part of band of a famous italian singer Fred Bongusto until 1992.

His debut solo album, Give Me The Groove was released in 2007 produced by Bruce Nazarian Ventrella has been Grammy Award Pre-Nominee.

The second album 'Sweet Temptation'(2012) features saxophonist Everette Harp, guitarists Paul Brown and Nils, drummer Gerry Brown.

His third album 'Another Time'(2015) features singers Kenya Hathaway and Ilaria De Robertis. The single Stay Close To me added on the Billboard Indicator Smooth Jazz Chart, Smoothjazz.com Chart, Radiowavemonitor.com Chart and on CD Baby.com in "Bestsellers" in Smooth Jazz.

Ventrella has performed in different countries including USA, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom.

In 2015 his single "Stay Close To Me" hit #38 on Groove Jazz Music Top 100 Of 2015.