Mark Morganelli has never provided innovative or groundbreaking albums, but the East Coast trumpeter/flügelhornist has definitely provided solid, enjoyable ones. Morganelli's forte is hard bop and very inside post-bop -- that's what he does best, and the lyrical yet swinging improviser continues to move in that direction on My Romance (which was recorded at various concerts in July 2002). Joined by tenor sax titan Houston Person, guitarist Richie Hart, bassist Rick Petrone, and drummer Joe Corsello, Morganelli provides a 73-minute CD that is solid and pleasing, if overly conservative in its choice of material. Like too many straight-ahead jazz releases, My Romance has an all-standards-all-the-time policy -- from "On Green Dolphin Street" to "The Girl from Ipanema" to "All the Things You Are," Morganelli sticks to warhorses that have been recorded time and time again. No one is saying that he should avoid standards altogether, but it would have been nice if Morganelli had surprised listeners with some lesser-known gems. Instead of yet another version of Duke Ellington's overdone "In a Mellow Tone," how about unearthing an Ellington or Billy Strayhorn treasure that hasn't been beaten to death over the years? Instead of yet another reading of "Stella By Starlight," how about finding the hard bop or post-bop possibilities in something by Sting, Elton John, Prince, or Billy Joel? But because Morganelli and Person are such appealing soloists, one is inclined to be forgiving of the warhorse factor. Person, in fact, is the ideal tenor player for a Morganelli album because, like Morganelli, he is as swinging as he is lyrical (not to mention warm and expressive). Hart also fares well on these pianoless performances, as do Petrone and Corsello. All things considered, My Romance is an enjoyable demonstration of Morganelli's hard bop and post-bop talents.
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