EAT & JAZZ: Sal La Rocca New4tet

Sal La Rocca

Sal La Rocca is a jazz double bassist and composer based in Belgium. A key figure on the European jazz scene, he has collaborated with renowned artists such as Steve Houben, Toots Thielemans, Nathalie Loriers, Bruno Castellucci, Éric Legnini, and Phil Abraham. He regularly performs at prestigious venues and festivals. As a bandleader, he develops a personal musical universe rooted in post-bop jazz—modern, edgy, and groovy.

Elly Brouckmans

A young saxophonist from the northern part of the country, Elly Brouckmans was born in 1998 and trained in alto and baritone saxophone at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. She is gaining increasing recognition on the Belgian jazz scene. She has shared the stage with Gwilym Simcock, Camille Bertault, Tutu Puoane, and Dré Pallemaerts in jazz clubs and festivals in Belgium and internationally.

Edoardo Cimino

A young guitarist of Italian origin, he obtained a bachelor’s degree in jazz guitar from the Conservatorio Giacomo Puccini (Italy) and a master’s degree from the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. He was a finalist in the Maastricht Jazz Award and Dinant Jazz Jeune Talent competition. He has already performed extensively as a soloist and bandleader at international jazz festivals and jazz clubs.

Umberto Odone

Born in 1993, he began playing drums at the age of six. Already in high demand on stages across the country and beyond, he earned the Batteria Maxxima diploma at the Accademia del Suono in Milan, where he studied with renowned jazz drummer Maxx Furian. He then obtained his bachelor’s degree in jazz drums with top honors (110/110) in Brescia (Italy). In 2017, he moved to Maastricht (Netherlands) for an Erasmus program at the Maastricht Conservatory. In September 2018, he relocated to Belgium to pursue a master’s degree at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. In June 2020, he graduated with a master’s degree in jazz drums with high distinction after studying with Stéphane Galland. In July 2021, he participated in the Dinant Jazz Festival Young Talent competition.