Aldo Romano Quartet - Jazz À Porquerolles (2008)

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) 

Total Time: 52:37

Aldo Romano - Complete Communion To Don Cherry (2010)

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. 

Dreyfus Jazz, FDM 46050369662, 2010
Recorded 22nd & 23rd February, 2010 

Musicians:
Aldo Romano - Drums
Fabrizio Bosso - Trumpet
Géraldine Laurent - Saxophone
Henri Texier - Bass 

Tracklist:
01. Remembrance {Don Cherry} (5:25)
02. Elephantasy {Don Cherry} (5:18)
03. Music Man {Don Cherry} (4:20)
04. Spring Is Here {Don Cherry} (4:24)
05. Jayne {Ornette Coleman} (4:01)
06. Complete Communion {Don Cherry} (3:17)
07. Don Song {Don Cherry} (2:17)
08. The Blessing {Ornette Coleman} (5:02)
09. Mother Of The Veil {Ornette Coleman} (3:47)
10. Gush !! {Aldo Romano} (2:42)
11. Art Deco {Don Cherry} (4:05)
12. When Will The Blues Leave {Ornette Coleman} (4:12) 

Total Time: 48:50 

Credits:
Producer - Aldo Romano, Francis Dreyfus
Recording Engineer - Jeff Ginouvès
Recording Assistant - Cécile Coutelier
Mixing & Mastering Engineer - René Ameline
Mixing Assistant - Guillaume Dujardin
Mastering Assistant - Benjamin Joubert
Photos - Jean-Baptiste Millot
Artwork - Suite 303
Liner Notes - Philippe Carles