“ As soon as he took his bass in his hands, the energy in the whole room completely switched to positive and powerful music. His attitude towards every single note he played the first day I heard him play blew me away.

Since then, I have had the opportunity to make music with him and every time he plays by himself or with others, his passion and immense talent become contagious to whoever is around him.

He does not just play the bass: with his instrument he plays, sings, dances and paints beautiful pictures. Rocco is a true artist and he has been an inspiration to me and many others. ”

Tino D'Agostino
Teacher at Berklee College of Music
Andrea Bocelli
Mike Stern

“ Rocco is an incredibly talented producer and bassist, but above all... a musician. His appreciation and respect for not only current music, but also the centuries of tradition gives him an incredible understanding of any genre or project he is attacking. When producing my songs, even if we think the song is over or we have all the pieces of the puzzle connected, Rocco will find a way to make it even more musical, to make the song sound more magical. ”

Crape
Recording artist
10+ million streams across platforms

“ While Rocco is an outstanding acoustic bassist, he is a generational talent on electric bass...Berkeley High School’s jazz education program is one of the best in the nation, and the list our many top professional alumni includes Joshua Redman, Ambrose Akinmusire, Benny Green, Dayna Stephens, Peter Apfelbaum, Craig Handy, Steven Bernstein, Hitomi Oba, Paul Hanson, Billy Buss, and Elena Pinderhughes, in addition to countless others. In the not very distant future, that list will also include songwriter and bassist Rocco Rizzi. ”
above excerpts from Sarah's letter of recommendation
Sarah Cline
Director of world-renowned award-winning Berkeley High Jazz Ensemble

“ Rocco has that rare combination of raw talent and a fierce work ethic—he's an up-and-coming young artist and fluent bassist whose musical ideas reveal sophistication beyond his years. ”

Lisa Mezzacappa
Upright Bassist, Composer, Educator

“ Rocco has already at a young age proven himself to be a mature and well rounded bassist and composer. He has a great attitude more than willing to be a team player, always eager and ready to explore something new. ”

Frank Martin
Pianist, Producer, Songwriter
Sting
Stevie Wonder
Whitney Houston
Herbie Hancock

“ Rocco always studied hard in pursuit of musical excellence. While he is a formidable bassist today who is proficient on both the upright and electric bass, his musicianship blossomed in unexpected ways when he began to pursue songwriting and producing.

I believe one of Rocco's secrets for success is his ability to contribute positively to any professional situation he might find himself in. He has the kind of mind that is abundant with ideas, naturally curious and compassionate, always enriching his musical environment with positive energy. There are many young musicians abundant with talent in the world today. But there are less who bring talent, creativity and a reliable work ethic into a harmonious balance. Rocco Rizzi is one of those rare gems capable of doing just that.

It has been a joy and a privilege to be his teacher and without hesitation I gladly give him my highest recommendations. ”
above excerpts from Kai's letter of recommendation
Kai Eckhardt
Electric Bassist
John McLaughlin Trio
Wayne Shorter
Zakir Hussain
Billy Cobham

“ What I believe truly sets Rocco apart from other great musicians is how good of a listener he is. Taking inspiration from music ranging in genre, era, and mood, he is able to incorporate elements which uniquely shape his sound and playing...

His keen observational skills allow him to quickly dissect his fellow players’ tastes and tendencies, and assimilate while tastefully adding his own unique flares to the music. Despite being relatively new to music production, I have seen Rocco quickly master the craft. With limited tools, he is able to create high quality, unreplicable music, showcasing ingenuity and resourcefulness.

Though Rocco prides himself in being primarily a bassist, his instrumental skills extend far beyond the four strings. When he picks up a guitar, he is a natural, using skills that he’s developed as a bassist, which give him a unique, nimble playing style which many guitarists struggle to imitate. On keys, he exhibits fluid playing which he has proven can function well in many styles.

...He has deep admiration for everybody he listens to and plays with, regardless of their status or acclaim. Gifted, delightful, and inspiring, Rocco, and his unwavering dedication to music, make him someone worth keeping in close contact with, as his journey promises to be nothing short of extraordinary. ”

Julian Currier
Billboard-charting Producer, Songwriter, Artist
Midwxst
Rich Amiri
Summrs
Autumn!

“ Rocco is truly a refreshing person to create with. His mind is a wealth of ideas and his bass skills make him a super valuable presence in any musical setting. ”

Dexter Suhn
Artist, Guitarist, Producer
SZA

“ I played with Rocco extensively during the Berklee Aspire Program and let me tell you, if there’s one thing that he is, it’s professional. In every instance that we played together, he showed up prepared and ready to get work done. He truly approaches every single one of his commitments with the same amount of responsibility and prowess. Not to mention Rocco is also extremely proficient at bass in all genres and styles of music. Being a drummer, a bassist’s ability to lock in with the rhythm section is very important to me and Rocco certainly does not disappoint. Rocco’s ability to play the perfect role in every situation along with the pure amount of passion and energy he brings to all scenarios makes him one of the best bassists I’ve ever played with. From my experiences, Rocco has always been a pleasure to be around in both musical and non-musical contexts. To this day I still wonder if there’s anything he can’t do! ”

Caden Lagman
Berklee Aspire Jazz Fusion AllStar Drummer
David's House Band