Aldo Romano Just Jazz CD

Aldo Romano has long proven himself an innovative leader and the 2007 sessions that make up Just Jazz are no exception. Romano is not one to take a lot of solos himself, preferring to showcase his bandmates while adding color behind them. His pianoless quartet consists of clarinetist Mauro Negri, who played on Romano's earlier Dreyfus CD État de Fait, old friend Henri Texier on bass, and the much younger Géraldine Laurent, a gifted French saxophonist whose star is rising. Most of the release focuses on Romano's captivating originals, highlighted by the emotional "Cité-Soleil" (French for "Sun City"), named for the wretched shanty town in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. "Township" is an infectious African-flavored chant, with Laurent's vocal-like alto recalling Eric Dolphy, and Negri's electronically altered clarinet adding seasoning. "Chick Webb," named for the famous swing drummer, has a fun twist in that the bassist is the featured soloist. Romano's love for Ornette Coleman's work is well known, so it shouldn't be surprising to hear the dissonance within the drummer's "Libero!!" ("Free!!")." His powerful interpretation of Fats Waller's maudlin "Black and Blue" and lighthearted take of Scott Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag" round out this diverse, rewarding CD. ~ Ken Dryden

Liner Note Author: Pascal Anquetil.

Recording information: 02/25/2007-02/27/2007.

Personnel: Aldo Romano (drums, drum); Mauro Negri (clarinet); Géraldine Laurent (saxophone); Henri Texier (double bass).

Audio Mixer: Rene Ameline .

JazzTimes (p.79) - "Staying discretely in the background nearly throughout, Romano interweaves the sounds of alto sax and clarinet in a fashion that recalls the pianoless post-BIRTH OF THE COOL quartets of the '50s..."