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