Roma Trio - L'Appuntamento

Styles: Contemporary Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:51
Size: 152,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:35)  1. My Favorite Things
(6:27)  2. Will You Still Be Mine?
(7:53)  3. Estate
(7:45)  4. Stablemates
(5:04)  5. Song For Hara
(4:22)  6. Cherokee
(6:13)  7. Tune Up
(5:32)  8. Come Prima
(5:51)  9. Easy To Love
(7:22) 10. Invitation
(5:42) 11. L'Appuntamento

Following the trios led by Stefano Bollani and Giovanni Guidi, Roma Trio is another splended piano trio from Italy that debuted from Venus Records. The trio consists of pianist Luca Mannutza (b. 1968), bassist Gianluca Renzi (b. 1975) and drummer Nicola Angelucci (b. 1979). They are all up and coming artists who have collectively played with Paolo Fresu, Steve Grossman, Fabrizio Bosso, Marc Johnson and Giovanni Mirabassi.  L'Appuntamento is their first new release in four years, following the 2008 album The Four Seasons. In this collection of American and Italian "standards", the trio dazzles the listener with their passionate lyricism and joyous swing.

Personnel:  Luca Mannutza (piano);  Gianluca Renzi (bass);  Nicola Angelucci (bass).

L'Appuntamento

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Roma Trio - Ciao Ciao Bambina

Styles: Contemporary jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:07
Size: 152,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:00)  1. All Of You
(4:23)  2. Solar
(6:21)  3. Amarsi Un Po'
(8:34)  4. Anche Un Uomo
(7:51)  5. Moon And Sand
(6:00)  6. Just One Of Yhose Things
(6:57)  7. Torna A Surrient
(2:35)  8. Maramao Oerche Sei Morto
(6:01)  9. Ciao Ciao Bambina
(5:10) 10. That's All
(7:11) 11. Celestina's Waltz

Youthful and adventurous Roma Trio, led by pianist Luca Mannutza, released its thrilling debut CD Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing (TKCV-35401) from Venus Records ago in June 2007. It became an instant hit with its unique, thrilling and lyrical sound. At hand we have their strong sophomore release, Ciao Ciao Bambina. The group retains its unique mixture of tradition-oriented lyricism and forward-looking, progressive concepts. After a relatively straight-ahead rendition of "All Of You," the trio launches into a surprising version of "Solar" with fragmented rhythm figures and fiery solos. This album also includes the trio's unique treatments of Italian popular songs and traditional melodies. The Italian jazz scene is really hot right now, and this trio is one of the top groups in the country. Recommended!

Personnel:  Luca Mannutza (piano);  Gianluca Renzi (bass);  Nicola Angelucci (drums)

Ciao Ciao Bambina

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Roma Trio - Love Is A Many Splendored Thing

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:05
Size: 137.6 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[5:11] 1. Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing
[4:35] 2. If I Should Lose You
[8:59] 3. Whisper Not
[4:42] 4. Airegin
[5:22] 5. On Green Dolphin Street
[4:36] 6. I Love You Porgy
[5:28] 7. Tea For Two
[6:46] 8. Claudia's Nightmare
[7:42] 9. Message In A Bottle
[6:44] 10. Everything I Love

Venus owner and producer Tetsuo Hara is known for recruiting various American jazz musicians for record dates during his regular trips to New York City, but he is also spending time in Europe, where he recruited the Roma Trio for this excellent CD. Unless they gain exposure in the U.S. through appearing on American recordings or performing in New York City, European jazz musicians have a tough time getting recognized in the West. But Hara has long since learned the preferences of the Japanese jazz market, which readily seems to absorb bands he has introduced through his label. Pianist Luca Mannutza, bassist Gianluca Renzi, and drummer Nicola Angelucci tackle a program that includes typical standards, a few overlooked chestnuts, time-tested jazz favorites, and more. The often banal "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" is an unusual choice for an opener, but the Roma Trio don't play it strictly as a slow ballad, nor do they take that approach with the popular "If I Should Lose You," preferring to set up the tune and then launch into rapid-fire bop. "On Green Dolphin Street" is often played by jazz groups with little thought, but the addition of Renzi's infectious vamp provides a novel approach. The pianist's adaptation of Sonny Rollins' "Airegin" takes it a bit from the usual path, blending Brazilian rhythms and classical nuances.Angelucci contributed "Claudia's Nightmare," which sets up as a moody Latin ballad, only to detour frequently into brisk bop. One surprise is the ease with which rocker Sting's "Message in a Bottle" is transformed by the trio into an interesting jazz vehicle. It seems likely that the Roma Trio will gain a foothold in the Japanese jazz market with this potent CD, though they deserve greater exposure worldwide. ~Ken Dryden

Love Is A Many Splendored Thing

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