Sky.FM Smooth Jazz
@ the Pizza Express Jazz Club, London
25 February 2009

Featuring: Jaared & Oli Silk, Rocco Ventrella & Renato Falaschi, Bruce Nazarian, Frank Felix & Greg Grainger

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Jareed biography

Born Jaared Arosemena in Washington, DC on January 20, 1967, raised in Bedford, VA. Jaared began studying the saxophone at the age of seven. He suffered from childhood asthma and took up the saxophone in order to strengthen his lungs.

Though David Sanborn would become Jaared’s primary influence, other saxophone legends such as Grover Washington, Jr., Boots Randolph and Ace Cannon to the Lester Young-minded tenor man Stan Getz would also have an influence on him.

Jaared, a native of the Washington, DC area, did his share of straight jobs for years while pursuing his passion, and built a huge following in the D.C. region with his eight-piece “Jaared Arosemena All-Star Group.” With this group, or later as a solo performer, Jaared opened for numerous artists such as Bobby Caldwell, Fattburger, Spyro Gyra, Norman Brown and Oleta Adams. In addition, he has co-headlined with Boney James, Joe Sample, Alfonso Blackwell, Craig T. Cooper, Chuck Loeb, The “Heads Up Superband” (featuring Kenny Blake, Joe McBride and Gerald Veasley), Slim Man, Brian Culbertson and the late George Howard. He has also had the honour of sharing the stage with legendary performers Wilson Pickett and Stevie Wonder.

Jaared was touring with Maysa Leak in 1995 when he realised it was time to devote himself to a solo career. He began working on demo recordings and created a video of his performance of “Hey Jude” at a local club date, which later made the semi-finals on BET on Jazz’s “Jazz Discovery” show in 1998. This video and a subsequent demo with a handful of cover tunes caught the attention of Marcus Johnson, who was about to launch Marimelj Entertainment.

Jaared has toured (and continues to tour) extensively with guitarist Peter White, who met the saxophonist at an awards show after admiring his powerful performance.

“I’m really a people person, and I have really enjoyed being able to perform for people in so many different places, especially when they’re enjoying my own material. One of my favourite sayings someone once told me is, ‘A bad day playing music is better than a good day in the office.’ I love making music and feel fortunate to be able to pursue the one thing I believe God put me here to do.”

Rocco ventrella

Rocco Ventrella began playing the clarinet at age 14. He attended the Conservatory of Music in his hometown of Bari, Italy. By the age of 18, Ventrella had already played with the Symphonic Orchestra of the Petruzzelli’s Theatre of Bari, which included artists such as Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Josè Carreras, Katia Ricciarelli.

It was only after graduating when Ventrella began to study the saxophone. At this point he would be fortunate enough to participate in workshops with David Liebman, Michael Brecker, Eric Marienthal and Lee Konitz.

From 1985 - 2005, Ventrella was part of the alto saxophone section of a Big Band located in Bari. Here we would perform with artists such as Dizzie Gillespie, Tony Scott, Eddie Davis, Lee Konitz, Chet Baker, Art Farmer, Lilian Terry, Bob Mintzer, Paolo Fresu, Tullio De Piscopo, Ernie Wilkins, Dusko Goykovic, Enrico Pieranunzi, Giorgio Gaslini and Bob Mintzer to name a few. He would also find time to play as sideman with Joy Garrison, Crystal White, Orlando Johnson, Spajazzy and Steve Hunt.

1989 – 1992 would see Ventrella perform with Italian singer Fred Bongusto. This collaboration would bring Ventrella to Brasil, Argentina, Venezuela and Australia. He also appeared on many national television Shows such as RAI 1, RAI 2, CANALE 5 and RETE 4.

In 2005, Ventrella recorded, arranged and produced the CD “Tribute To Grover Washington”. This CD would be instrumental in making Ventrella a household name on Smooth Jazz stations across the Internet. Ventrella continued to create new recordings featuring his own compositions, including the soulful and haunting “I Receive Your Love”. In May May 2006, Ventrella participated in the James Brown Festival in Augusta, GA.

Rocco Ventrella’s official debut “Give Me The Groove” was release in February 2007 to rave reviews and critical acclaim.

Ventrella continues touring and giving Master Classes;

“I love being able to work with young students and help them improve. There’s no better feeling than to help a player achieve their goal.”