Romano, Mario
ALMA, 2011, CD
Instrument: Piano
Issue: 17.3
Jazz Ruler Type: Bebop
Performance: 4
Sound: 3
Score: 
O’s Notes: Mario Romano (p) leads a quartet with Pat LaBarbera (sax), Mark Kelso (d) and Riberto Occhipinti (b). His work on the keys is dynamic and crisp and he steps back to let his compatriots shine throughout the set. And with this cast, the listener is rewarded. They open on “Night in Tunisia” going around the horn with solos and reeling us in for an enjoyable set of nine tunes including a couple of originals by Romano and Occhipinti. We warmed up to LaBarbera’s sax on “Autumn Leaves”. The lone vocal track “Those Damn I Love Yous” is a ballad featuring Kristy on the mic adding more flavor to a very good set.
Publicist: Goldberg Media