Lorenzo La Roc is a native New York electric violinist, composer, and arranger. He began playing the violin at the age of eight, and though he was classically trained, he now plays a diverse gamut of styles, including jazz, rock and Latin music. He attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Performing Arts, and also studied at the Julliard School of Music under the tutelage of Mary Jane Metcalf, the Guitar Study Center in New York City and at the Creative Music Studios in Woodstock.
After several years working with Sheila E., he began touring with the Latin band, Orchestra Illusion, of Kim records, as well as performing with his own band, Masterpiece, comprised of local New York musicians. For Lorenzo, it was a wonderful and challenging opportunity to perform and showcase his original compositions and arrangements, as well as to play traditional jazz and rock tunes with a talented group of artists.
Lorenzo uses his signature trademark, a custom made five-string plexiglass electric violin made in New York City by a brilliant violinmaker, Tucker Barrett. The intensity and passion with which Lorenzo plays his instrument expresses not only his musical versatility, but also his deep love and commitment for what he does. He hopes to bring the electric violin to a popular audience and to touch the hearts of his listeners.
Lorenzo is involved in a number of exciting projects, he is currently writing the score for an independent film to be released this summer called Leaving the Garden. Lorenzo has established a non-profit organization called Jazz For Kids. The objective of Jazz For Kids is to give musical instruments and scholarships, towards the study of those instruments, to children of families that would otherwise be unable to afford such benefits. Jazz For Kids also sponsors musicians that perform in both public and private schools. In the near future, children will also listen, view, and learn about Jazz techniques, artists, and legends on the Jazz For Kids interactive web site at www.jazzforkids.org. Lorenzo is in the process of finishing his second CD as a solo artist. The musicians that Lorenzo has worked with over the years include Tito Puente, George Duke, Buddy Miles, Jaco Pastoris, Pete Escovedo, Ray Barretto, Richard Kermode, Pablo Tellez, Ray Obiero, Mike Carabello, and Nestor Torres. He hopes that the website will facilitate his dream of sharing his music with the world
