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
“Just Jazz”, Solo Jazz, esto es lo que contiene el ultimo cedé firmado por el batería francés Aldo Romano. Solo Jazz y del bueno, con una formación un tanto atípica.
Aldo Romano y Henry Texier al contrabajo forman una sección rítmica sobre la que se mueven Geraldine Laurent a los saxos y Mauro Negri al clarinete, y todos juntos, a pesar de lo heterodoxo de la propuesta, lo hacen francamente bien.
El Jazz en todas sus formas invade el disco; desde el tranquilo y bello que impregna temas como “Cite Soleil”, “Handle with Care” o “Lontananza”, hasta el más “free” como son los casos de “Spring Tide” o “Libero”.
Pero hay más; pues también está el blues con el tema dedicado a Roy; y ya puestos ¿por qué no va a aparecer el swing? Y eso lo soluciona Aldo Romano firmando “Chick Webb”. Y si te habías quedado con ganas y quieres una ración de clasicismo ahí está “Black and Blue” de Brooks/Waller/Razaf. Aún nos queda el afro free de “Township” y para el final dejan el ragtime “Maple Leaf Rag” de Scott Joplin como colofón a un bello disco de “Just Jazz”, Solo Jazz, que te deja un buen sabor de boca. - distritojazz.com
Tracks
01. Cité Soleil
02. Prego!
03. Spring Tide
04. Handle With Care
05. Blues For Roy
06. Chick Webb
07. Libero !!
08. Black And Blue (Harry Brooks/Andy Razaf/Fats Waller)
09. Dany K.
10. Township
11. Lontananza
12. Maple Leaf Rag (Scott Joplin)
ALDO ROMANO drums
GERALDINE LAURENT saxophone
HENRI TEXIER double bass
MAURO NEGRI clarinet
Music composed by Aldo romano, except (8) by Brooks/Razaf/Waller and (12) by Scott Joplin
Recorded At Studios Ferber
Dreyfus Jazz – FDM 46050 369202 (France)