In 1989 renowned Italian
pianist Franco D'Andrea formed a trio with Dutch bassist Hein van de Geyn and
fellow Italian drummer Aldo Romano, releasing this album 'Volte' on the
now defunct French Owl Records label. The trio came together in Ferber Studio
based in Paris for two days in March laying down nine tracks. It is an energetic
album dotted with five of Franco's own compositions, three from Aldo Romano,
one contribution from Hein Van de Geyn and topped off with a cover of a
Beatle's number 'Norwegian Wood'. In all, it is an enjoyable and captivating album
presenting a solid piece of entertainment for over an hour. This rip is from a
Japanese reissue; for any Italian jazz enthusiast, a welcomed addition to their
collections.
Owl Records, OWL052CD, 1989 Recorded 21st, 22nd March,
1989 at Ferber Studio, Paris, France
Musicians: Franco D'Andrea - Piano Hein van de Geyn - Double
Bass Aldo Romano - Drums
Tracks: 1. Two Colors {Franco
D'Andrea} (6:53) 2. Marta {Franco D'Andrea}
(9:35) 3. On John's Guitar {Aldo
Romano} (8:25) 4. Volte {Franco D'Andrea}
(6:45) 5. Strike Again {Hein van de
Geyn} (6:25) 6. The Begining Years {Franco
D'Andrea} (6:10) 7. Clouds And Rain {Aldo
Romano} (6:10) 8. Norwegian Wood {Paul
McCartney, John Lennon} (8:25) 9. Il Camino {Aldo Romano} (5:35)
Total Time: 63:56
Credits: Producer - François Lemaire,
Jean-Jacques Pussiau Recording, Mixing - Laurent
Peyron Cover, Concept, Art Direction
- Bernard Amiard Photography - Mephisto Studio
Beppe Aliprandi, outside 'The
Continent' is a truly underrated Italian saxophonist. For this date he joins
forces with an ensemble of other well-recognisable European and Italian jazz
musicians, putting together a quartet that includes vibist Karl Berger, bassist
Piero Leveratto and drummer Aldo Romano. The quartet delve into twelve of
Beppe's own compositions that showcase his unique abilities as a proficient
reedman. He handles his alto and tenor saxophones with equal dexterity and to
his credit also his prowess on an Indian wood flute. At times his tone on alto
very much mirrors Ornette Coleman’s sound, reminiscent of his Atlantic years. Overall,
a great introduction to a wonderful musician and his music, enjoy!
Splasc(h) Records, CDH 470.2,
1996 Recorded 26th-27th June, 1995
at Mu-Rec Studio, Milan, Italy
Musicians: Beppe Aliprandi - Alto Sax, Tenor
Sax, Indian Wood Flute Karl Berger - Vibraphone,
Piano Piero Leveratto - Bass Aldo Romano - Drums
Tracks: 01. May Be Tomorrow #2 (3:19) 02. Blue Flowers (7:58) 03. Basso Continuo (5:22) 04. Long Ago (3:40) 05. Inno (7:30) 06. Cave 54 (5:02) 07. Today's Gospel (5:40) 08. Youareall (6:48) 09. May Be Tomorrow #1 (3:16) 10. Waiting (5:22) 11. My Way To India (6:12) 12. Song For My Ideal (4:09)
All compositions by Beppe
Aliprandi
Total Time: 64:22
Credits: Producer - Giorgio Mortarino,
Peppo Spagnoli Sound Engineer - Paolo
Falascone Cover Art - Beppe Aliprandi Liner Notes - Franco Fayenz Liner Notes [English Text] -
Pete Kercher
Italian-born drummer Aldo
Romano is a respected European jazz musician who has played with many
avant-garde and contemporary jazz stars. Living in France from his early teens,
his music usually is a mix of Italian emotionalism and French sentimentality, influenced
by world leading avant-garde jazz artists of the 60s and 70s. "Because
Of Bechet" is quite a radical step in his musical career - this album
is a tribute to American jazz sax/clarinet star Sidney Bechet. Full of tunes
and straightforward jazz compositions, this album isn't just a nostalgic
retrospective. Aldo also uses sampling and electronic rhythms plus organ as
well as more traditional instruments to give this music, which is deeply rooted
in jazz from the 20-30s, a new interpretation. With French charm and almost
dance-able beats this album is an easily accessible and modern reading of a
traditional jazz legacy. ~ snobb, jazzmusicarchives.com.
EmArcy Records, 017 275-2, 2002 Recorded 31st August-4th
September, 2001 at Studio Le Château, Paris, France
Chante is an exemplary
cultivation of Aldo Romano's jardín of romantic songs. His poignant intimacy of
feelings is genuinely conveyed in this stylish set of emotional songs replete
with rhythmic waves, passionate lyrics, and beautiful music. With superb
accompaniment from Nelson Veras on acoustic guitar, Rémi Vignolo on double
bass, André "Dee" Ceccarelli on drums, Francesco Bearzatti on tenor
saxophone and clarinet, Flavio Boltro on trumpet, and Baptiste Trotignon on
piano, the pleasure you will derive from Romano's poetic expressions is
priceless. Whether you're enjoying the quiet, joie aimer of Cole Porter's
"So in Love" with a special person or at your leisure in a
dignified daydream by the "L' Étang" on a sunny carefree day,
you're sure to yield to the romantic allurement of Aldo Romano's wonderful voice.
Chante's seduction is in the taste and swagger of Romano's delivery,
arrangements, and song selection. "A St Germain Des Prés,"
sung in French, brings you close to a lover in a Parisian café. "The
End of a Love Affair," which is sung in accented English, drips with
forlorn charm, while "Lo Qui Tu Li" is a slow-burning love
affair featuring supermodel Carla Bruni. Their flawless pairing offers
listeners an imaginative setting that brings to mind a champagne sunset sail
for two. With extra spice from the accompanying string ensemble, this song is
the centerpiece of the recording. The ultra-romantic "Sans Un Mot"
is a ballad that is tinged with the easy-to-cozy-up-to saxophonics of Francesco
Bearzatti. Here, Romano's voice is an irresistible art form that beckons you to
curl up on a canopied bed with cocktail in hand. It resonates with sex appeal
and is as unique as two lovers. "Estate" further seals Aldo's
diverse set of influences in a charming envelope of passionate musical
innovation. A beautiful piano solo by Baptiste Trotignon keeps the song soft
and calm in a mosaic of idyllic improvisations. ~ by Paula Edelstein, AMG.
Dreyfus Jazz, 346050366862,
2005 Recorded May-June 2005 at
Studio Ferber, Paris, France
Musicians: Aldo Romano - Vocals,
Arranger (#1) Flavio Boltro - Trumpet Francesco Bearzatti - Tenor
Saxophone, Clarinet, Arranger (#2,10) Baptiste Trotignon - Piano Nelson Veras - Guitar, Guitar
[Acoustic] Rémi Vignolo - Bass, Contrabass André Ceccarelli - Drums Carla Bruni - Vocals (#3) Rita Marcotulli - Arranger
(#1)
Orchestra: Jean Claude Petit - Arranger,
Conductor
Strings: Alain Kouznetzoff, Carol
Saint Michel, Christophe Guiot, Marie-Hélène Clausse, Yves Melon, Véronique Guay,
Thierry Huchin, Karine Ato, Armand Nuvolone, Yué Zhang, Laurent Philipp,
Hélène Blazy, Paul Rouger, Karen Khochafian, Marc Desmons, Natacha
Tchitch, Daniel Vagner, Noelle Santos, Jean-Michel Lenert, Fanny Coupé, Matthieu Rogué,
Nathalie Gaudemer, Philippe Feret, Emma Savouret, Emmanuel Gaugué, Clémentine
Meyer, Gwénaelle Feret
Woodwinds: Marc Chantereau,
Jean-François Verdier, Bruno Martinez, Anne Regnier, Jean-François Duquenois,
Frédéric Chatoux, Frédéric Hochain, Stéphane Limonaire
Tracks: 01. Les Enfants S'Ennuient Le
Dimanche {Charles Trenet} (4:52) 02. A St Germain Des Prés
{Léo Ferré} (4:02) 03. Io Qui Tu Li {Nicky
Nicolaï, Aldo Romano} (5:18) 04. Avec Les Anges
{Marguerite Monnot, Alexandre Breffort} (2:53) 05. The End Of A Love Affair {Edward
Redding} (4:13) 06. Sans Un Mot {Yves Simon,
Aldo Romano} (4:35) 07. La Valse Des Lilas {Eddy
Marnay, Michel Legrand, Eddy Barclay} (4:48) 08. Les Papillons De Nuit
{Claude Nougaro, Aldo Romano} (3:45) 09. Estate {Bruno Brighetti,
Bruno Martino} (4:19) 10. Rue De Douai {Claude
Nougaro, Aldo Romano} (4:06) 11. L' Étang {Paul Misraki}
(4:26) 12. So In Love {Cole Porter}
(3:58) 13. Les Clowns {Gianni
Esposito} (3:58)
Total Time: 55:18
Credits: Producer - Aldo Romano,
Francis Dreyfus Executive Producer- Christian
Pégand Arranger, Director -
Jean-Claude Petit Sound Engineer - René Ameline Assistant - Laurent Binder Assistant, Mastering
Assistant - Benjamin Joubert Photography - Sonia Sieff
An interesting early session
by the master drummer and composer Aldo Romano. For this album he is joined by
a power-house of well-known and emerging Italian talent including trumpeter
Paolo Fresu, saxophonist Stefano Di Battista, pianist Franco D'Andrea, keyboardist
Jean-Michel Pilc, bassists Furio Di Castri and Michel Benita along with
harmonica player Oliver Ker Ourio. All the composition are penned by Aldo
Romano and as the album title 'Prosodie' infers they are structured around
melody and rhythm of the sounds of a poem; rules concerning these characters of
sounds. Further implying rules fixing the relationship between words and music
of the song and hence the intonation and rate specific to a language. So,
certainly an in-depth exploration of music, sounds and poetry, treated
beautifully by a continental who’s who of fine jazz artists and musicians.
Verve Records, 526 854 - 2, 1995 Digitally recorded
8th,9th,10th January, 1995 at Studio Gimmick, Yerres, France
Musicians: Aldo Romano - Drums Paolo Fresu - Trumpet,
Flugelhorn (#1,2,4-9,11) Stefano Di Battista - Alto
& Soprano Saxophones (#1-7,9) Franco D'Andrea - Piano
(#1,2,5,8,9,11) Jean-Michel Pilc - Fender
Rhodes, Electric Piano, Piano, Whistle Michel Benita - Bass Furio Di Castri - Bass
(#1,2,5,7-11) Oliver Ker Ourio - Harmonica
Tracks: 01. Silenzio (6:27) 02. Kadie B. (5:03) 03. Dida [Poem] (2:20) 04. Folk Off (4:34) 05. Oracion (4:05) 06. La Samba Des Prophètes
(5:11) 07. A Richman Is A Poor Man
With Money (4:37) 08. On John's Guitar (6:26) 09. Nat Eyes (6:08) 10, Il Silenzio [Poem] (1:16) 11. Abstraction Lyrique
(8:14)
All Compositions by Aldo
Romano
Total Time: 54:24
Credits: Producer - Aldo Romano Digitally mixed in 20 bits on Nagra IV D.
Here we have a splendid concert
by the Aldo Romano Quartet comprised of some of the best jazz musicians
coming out of Europe. Drummer Aldo Romano has over many decades continued to
composed and assemble an amazing array of bands showcasing his music. Many
musicians have come into their own as a result of his expressive appeal through
his love of jazz. This quartet is no exception, whereby he is joined by Italian
virtuoso clarinetist Mauro Negri, the exciting French saxophonist Géraldine
Laurent and bassist Henri Texier. Essentially, this band appears on Aldo's
"Just Jazz" album released on Dreyfus Jazz (2008) with many of the
tunes included here. The majority of the tunes for this date are penned by Aldo
with the exception of two "Black And Blue" and "Maple
Leaf Rag". The group as a whole presents an excellent program that
truly verifies the soaring individual talents of all players, enjoy!
Mezzo Live Recorded during 2008 at Jazz
à Porquerolles, Parc National de Port-Cros, France
Musicians: Aldo Romano - Drums Géraldine Laurent - Saxophone Mauro Negri - Clarinet Henri Texier - Double Bass
Tracks: 1. Blue Bamboo Blue (Aldo
Romano) 2. Cité Soleil (Aldo Romano) 3. Chick Webb (Aldo Romano) 4. Handle With Care (Aldo
Romano) 5. Black And Blue (Andy
Razaf, Fats Waller, Harry Brooks) 6. Maple Leaf Rag (Scott
Joplin) 7. Lontananza (Aldo Romano)
At the helm of an
Italian-French quartet composed of Fabrizio Bosso, Géraldine Laurent and Henri
Texier, Aldo Romano pays homage to the figure of Don Cherry with the twelve
tracks of Complete Communion, an impromptu project that later became stable and
today a record for Dreyfus. It is a journey of great impact through the
artistic journey of the American trumpeter - who passed away fifteen years ago
- where several of his compositions are investigated, completed by some
passages signed by Ornette Coleman and a single original title. At the heart of
the proposed music is the great harmony between the members of the group - each
with remarkable technical and expressive qualities -, the desire to elevate the
music towards moments of absolute value and the desire to remember a musician
who has a good slice of jazz was decisive. The album does not present - as one
might have imagined - great moments of avant-garde tension and improvisation,
while a sufficiently linear mainstream prevails. Modern record in being so tied
to tradition, but sparkling and proactive in its decisive pace, which never
loses the thread of the narrative discourse. Music with smooth outlines, but
with points of interest within, such as the leader's inexorable and elegant
drumming, the precision of sound developed by Bosso and the flexibility of
Géraldine Laurent's interventions. An excellent opportunity, therefore, for
those who want to frame the figure of Don Cherry differently, as well as for
those - albeit out of time - who want to get closer to this essential icon. ~
by AAJI Staff, AAJ.
Pianist Michel Petrucciani,
who during the early part of his career was heavily influenced by Bill Evans,
gradually developed his own sound. By 1991 he was using Adam Holzman on
synthesizer with his quintet (which on this date also includes bassist Anthony
Jackson, drummer Omar Hakim and percussionist Steve Thornton) to play colors
behind his piano. In addition, Petrucciani was backed by funky rhythms and
emphasized his own original compositions. Rather than selling out to blatant
commercialism, Petrucciani had actually found his own voice within the
"contemporary" setting. The music on his CD is of consistently high
quality (despite a few too many fadeouts). Highlights include "Miles
Davis' Licks" (a blues that utilizes some of Davis' late-period nursery
rhyme melodies), the intense "Brazilian Suite #3," a playful jam on
"Laws of Physics" and the Keith Jarrett-ish "P'tit Louis."
Actually, all 11 of Michel Petrucciani's originals are worth hearing and,
despite the brief playing time (39 minutes) of this CD, it is recommended. ~ by
Scott Yanow, AMG.
Blue Note, CDP 7 95480 2,
1991 Recorded [Basic tracks and
Overdubs] at Clinton Recording Studios, New York
Musicians: Michel Petrucciani - Piano
[Steinway], Synthesizer, Arranger Adam Holzman - Synthesizer,
Programming [Synthesizer], Co-Arranger Anthony Jackson - Bass Omar Hakim - Drums
(#1-4,6-9,11) Aldo Romano - Drums (#5) Steve Thornton - Percussion
Tracks: 01. September Second {Michel
Petrucciani} (4:45) 02. Home {Michel Petrucciani}
(5:29) 03. P'tit Louis {Michel
Petrucciani} (4:35) 04. Miles Davis' Licks
{Michel Petrucciani} (4:29) 05. Rachid {Michel
Petrucciani} (3:26) 06. Brazilian Suite #3
{Michel Petrucciani} (2:34) 07. Play School {Michel
Petrucciani} (3:05) 08. Contradictions {Michel
Petrucciani} (3:00) 09. Laws Of Physics {Adam
Holzman} (4:47) 10. Piango, Pay The Man
{Michel Petrucciani} (1:54) 11. Like That {Michel
Petrucciani} (1:41)
Total Time: 39:45
Credits: Producer - Eric Kressmann,
Michel Petrucciani Engineer - Tom Swift Recording [Assistant] - Joe
Martin, Neil Dignon Mixing [Assistant] - David
Merrill Mastering - Jose Rodriques Photography [Back] - Carol
Friedman Photography [Cover] - John
Fenton Art Direction - Carol
Friedman Design - Patrick Roques
Drummer
septuagenarian Aldo Romano has extensive flight hours, both as an
instrumentalist and composer. Besides having played with many jazz musicians
across generations, he has also served as a mentor on a number of albums
involving musicians from the next generation, something that is equivalent to
Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers. Regarding genre, Aldo is not tied to a
single perspective; from straight-ahead to avant-garde he played without
exception, including with Steve Lacy in the politically flavored The Sun
(Emanem Records, 2012), to the release of Inner Smile for the Dreyfus Jazz
label (2011). Now he is back through the New Blood quartet with the alto
saxophonist Baptiste Herbin, pianist Alessandro Lanzoni and contrabassist
Michel Benita launching Plays "The Connection" under the auspices of
Dreyfus Jazz. Together with the three colleagues, Aldo brought ten post-bop
numbers which started with the fast pace of "Who Killed Cock Robin"
then swung a swing in "Wigglin'" as well as blasts of Parkerian virtuosic
saxophone by Baptiste while playing the bebop acceleration "Music
Forever." Followed by an insertion of the free improvised phrase
"Theme For Sister Salvation," the four of them swayed again in a
minor pace of "Jim Dunn's Dilemma" decorated with Baptiste's
extensive solo while the drummer and pianist Alessandro demonstrated his skill
when he performed "O.D. (Overdose)" as well as a piano composition
without the accompaniment of "Conception." Complementing the
high-tension action, the ballad number "Murmur" is presented sweetly
in the format of a conventional trio piano as well as elegantly played by Aldo,
Alessandro and Michel who play very smoothly. Likewise, the finish of
"Ballade For Jackie" which seems to be for the saxophone legend
Jackie McLean, was stated by Baptiste Herbin's soft gusts that closed the
meeting. ~ Thomas Y. Anggoro, wartajazz.com.
[Translated from Indonesian]
Dreyfus Jazz, FDM 4605036984,
2013 Recorded 28th-29th May, 2012,
Paris, France
Musicians: Aldo Romano - Drums Baptiste Herbin - Alto
Saxophone Alessandro Lanzoni - Piano,
Solo (#9) Michel Benita - Double Bass
Tracks: 01. Who Killed Cock Robin
{Freddie Redd} (3:54) 02. Wigglin' {Freddie Redd}
(4:34) 03. Music Forever {Freddie
Redd} (3:58) 04. Time To Smile {Freddie
Redd} (4:12) 05. Theme For Sister
Salvation {Freddie Redd} (3:02) 06. Jim Dunn's Dilemma
{Freddie Redd} (2:58) 07. O.D. [Overdose] {Freddie
Redd} (3:04) 08. Murmur {Aldo Romano}
(5:41) 09. Conception {George
Shearing} (2:40) 10. Ballade For Jackie
{Baptiste Herbin} (4:29)
Total Time: 38:32
A new album for the drummer Aldo Romano, who, at 70, multiplies his
collaborations. This new formation is particularly like him, he who likes
nothing so much as playing with the new generation of jazz (the saxophonist
Baptiste Herbin: 25 years old! Or the young Italian pianist Alessandro Lanzoni,
best young soloist at the international Martial Solal competition in 2010) and
sure values: Michel Benita on the double bass. In 1959, the "Living
Theater", a New York experimental theater troupe created Jack Gelber's
play "The Connection". It's a room within the room; producer Jim Dunn
and screenwriter Jaybird want to show the bottom of the lives of hard drug
addicts. It's a closed session in a slum rented by a madman, there are four or
five lost and a jazz quartet playing while waiting for the dealer
"Cowboy". The play, which will be the subject of a film directed by
Shirley Clarke in 1961, will be shot in New York, London, Los Angeles, Italy,
Germany, Scandinavia, with the Living Theater and a jazz quartet led by pianist
Freddie Redd and Jackie McLean on alto sax. The music was recorded by the
"Blue Note" brand in 1960. Today, with "New Blood", Aldo
Romano takes up the music of Freddie Redd out of respect for the heavy price
paid by the jazzmen of that time, who died drugged in the general indifference
of a society that has understood nothing about their music. ~ disquesdreyfus.com.
[Translated from French]
The Palatine Hill is not only
one of the hills of Rome but also a very direct train that united Rome in
Paris: inaugurated in 1969 (it was recently suppressed) it took about fifteen
hours to unite the two European capitals. The Palatine thus becomes a symbol to
relate the music, and the sensibility, of Aldo Romano and Paolo Fresu, both
Italian by birth but French by adoption. The group that takes this name
materializes in 1996 and is completed by the double bass player Michel Benita
and trombonist Glenn Ferris on the trombone. Active until 2001, this piano-less
quartet with a decidedly engaging timbre mix, has recorded three records:
"Palatino" (Label Bleu, 1996), "Tempo" (Label Bleu, 1998)
and "Palatino Chap. 3 "(Universal, 2001): in his music you can hear
Davis' echoes, afro splinters, melodic cues and above all the West Coast
environments typical of the dialogues between Chet Baker and Bob Brookmeyer
seem to re-emerge. More recently, in May 2011, quartet was filmed on the stage
of the Maize de la Culture in Grenoble and the result was reproduced on a
double cd from the title "Back In Town" (Naïve, 2011).
Label Bleu, LBLC 6585, 1996 Recorded 1st-2nd
June, 1995 At Studio de La Maison De La Culture D'Amiens
Musicians: Paolo Fresu - Trumpet Glenn Ferris - Trombone Michel Benita - Double Bass Aldo Romano - Drums
Tracks: 01. Dawn {Aldo Romano} (5:32) 02. Aléas {Michel Benita}
(3:50) 03. Calabrian Nights {Glenn
Ferris} (7:16) 04. Variazone Tre [Tema Di
Mirpy] {Aldo Romano} (5:46) 05. Animal Love {Glenn
Ferris} (7:07) 06. Interlude {Michel Benita}
(3:37) 07. Trunca E Peltunta {Paolo
Fresu} (4:41) 08. Glenn's Walk {Aldo
Romano} (5:00) 09. 20 Small Cigars {Frank
Zappa} (4:17) 10. Lulu Is Back In Town
{Harry Warren} (5:17)
Total Time: 52:23
Credits: Executive-Producer - Michel
Orier Engineer - Philippe Teissier
Du Cros Engineer [Assistant] - Pierre
Guinot Editing - Jean-Pierre Bouquet Design - Christophe Rémy Photography - Patrick Burban
