After a stint with rock playing guitar, at age 23, Salvatore LA ROCCA discovers jazz in the early 80's and switches to double bass which he intensively explores on his own, taking as a model Paul CHAMBERS. Thereafter he is regularly seen aside Jacques PELZER. Establishing himself as a bass player, a position rather empty at that time in Liège, he plays with the musicians of the region: Robert JEANNE, Robert GRAHAME, Steve HOUBEN, Pierre VAIANA... It is aside Jacques PELZER that he meets and plays with Jon EARDLEY. In 1986, he works with French pianist Michel GRAILLIER and American drummer Leo MITCHELL. Steve GROSSMAN hires him, together with Georges BROWN (drs), in 1987, for a tour in the Benelux and south of France, to appear in the major Festivals. In 1988, he is hired for a 6 weeks tour in Singapore as a member of the Steve HOUBEN band, with Jacques PIROTTON and Rick HOLLANDER to play at the "jazz club" there. That same year he tours Germany with John THOMAS (guitar), Marcus BECKER (piano) and Jan de HAAS.

Sal is invited to replace Riccardo DEL FRA within an international quintet with Ack VAN ROOYEN (tp), at the Montreux festival playing with the Mikesch VAN GRUMMER (p) quintet, Christopher HIRSON (s.sax), Gerd BREUER (drs).

In 1990, he plays with Sal NISTICO (t.sax), Jacques PELZER (a.sax) and Mal WALDRON (p) at Gouvy jazz festival.

In 1991, member of "Raffaela RENZULLI (voc.) Ensemble" with Charlie MARIANO (a.sax).

Participates in Festival International of Lafayette in 1993 with Steve HOUBEN (a.sax,fl.), Diederick WISSELS (p) and Rick HOLLANDER (drs). It is with this quartet that he recorded a CD.

1994, tours with Pierre VAIANA (s.sax), Salvatore BONAFEDE (p) and Dré PALLEMAERTS (drs) as well as with Harold LAND (t.sax), Mike DEL FERRO (p) and Hans VAN OOSTERHOUT (drs).
Participated in the Liège festival with Dave TURNER (a.sax), Vic VOGEL (p) and Félix SIMTAINE (drs), their appearance was recorded by Belgian television.

1995, concerts in France and Belgium with Lee KONITZ (a.sax), Jeanfrançois PRINS (gt) and Bruno CASTELLUCCI (drs), and a live CD.
Participation in the Montréal Festival with the trio of Nathalie LORIERS (p).

'96, a week tour in Syria and Jordan, with Nathalie LORIERS Trio at the occasion of the 1st Euro-Arab jazz festival "Jazz Caravan '96", followed with a tour, with Lee KONITZ, JF PRINS Trio and Judy NIEMACK (voc.) in Corsica.
He joins the Bruno CASTELLUCCI Stringtet with Erwin VANN (t.sax), Michel HERR or Eric LEGNINI (p) and a string quartet. (1 CD)
He is a member of Franck VAGANÉE - Mike DEL FERRO Quartet with numerous tours around Europe and a CD album.
He joined the trio of pianist Erik VERMEULEN,
and did concerts with Brazilian songwriter Marito CORREA (voc.,gt).

'97 With Nathalie LORIERS Trio in Quebec, with Philip CATHERINE as guest,
with Ivan PADUART (p) Quartet, guest Toots THIELEMANS
and another tour in the Near East with "Ode for Joe".

1999, live CD with Toots Thielemans (Palais des Congres)

2000, Irland, Romania, Benelux.... tour with Toots Thielemans "quartet"

2001, CD recording with Anne Ducros (voc.) "quintet" with Gordon Beck (p) - Didier Lockwood (v., tp.) - Bruno Castellucci (drs)

2002-2003, Benelux tour with : Steve Houben (a.s.) / Gordon Beck (p)

2003 :
Few concerts with Philip Catherine "trio"
International tour with : Anne Ducros "quartet"
CD rec. "Close your eyes" Anne Ducros + guest
On tour with Nathalie Loriers "trio" (Japan , Brazil…)
As a leader, Sal LA ROCCA presents his own quintet, of which a first album came out in 2003, titled "Latinea".

2004, Emirate Tour with : Stanley Jordan (gt) "trio" - Bobby Durham (drs)

2005 :
CD recording with Anne Ducros "PIANO, piano" / Personnel : Chick Corea - Jacky Terrasson - Enrico Pieranunzi - René Urtréger... + Guest : Bob Franceschini (t.sax)
On tour with : Anne Ducros "quartet" : Olivier Hutman (p), H. Van Oosterhout (drs) + guests : Randy Brecker (tp) - Bob Franceschini (t.sax) - Stanley Jordan (gt), etc.
Italy tour with Philip Catherine / Nathalie Loriers "quartet"
And with Philip Catherine "trio" (Tunis, Bulgaria, France, Germany…)

2006, "Jazz à Liège" with Steve Houben "trio" + Richie Beirach (p), (recorded by Belgian TV).
He is now a member of VAYA CON DIOS (band) with Dani KLEIN, and a live DVD.

2007, International Tour with V.C.D....(Russia, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, ect.)
CD recording with Olivier HUTMAN quartet : Olivier HUTMAN (p), Jacques SCHWARZ-BART (t.sax), Hans Van OOSTERHOUT (drs).
CD recording "AprÈs un rÈve" with : Julie MOSSAY/Grégory HOUBEN

Other musicians with whom Salvatore played :
John RUOCCO, Gianni BASSO, Harold LAND, Jack VAN POLL, Kris DEFOORT, Ali RYERSON, Paolo RADONI, Félix SIMTAINE, John ENGELS, Philip CATHERINE, Michel HERR, Guy CABAY, André CECCARELLI, Mourad BENHAMOU, David LINX, Deborah BROWN, Sheila JORDAN, Mark MURPHY, Steve GROSSMAN, Ch. HIRSON, Bert JORIS, Jiggs WIGHAM, Dave TURNER, Michel GRAILLIER, Salvatore BONAFEDE, Stéphane BELMONDO, Lee KONITZ, Gordon BECK, Anne DUCROS, Olivier HUTMAN, Stanley JORDAN, Randy BRECKER, Bob FRANCESCHINI, Richie BEIRACH, Scott HAMILTON, Didier LOCKWOOD, Tony LAKATOS, Bobby DURHAM, Dani KLEIN, Jacques SCHWARZ-BART, William LECOMTE, Emanuele CISI...