CD 9164-2

Aldo Romano "THE JAZZPAR PRIZE" Stefano di Battista (alto / soprano sax / perc), Mark Turner (tenor sax), Henrik Gunde (acoustic & electric piano), Jesper Bodilsen (double bass), Aldo Romano (drums / vocal). Special guest appearance on 5, 6, 8, and 9: Susi Hyldgaard (vocal). 1. Fernando 7:43 2. Song for Elis 8:52 3. Link 13:13 4. Inner Smile 6:30 5. Follow 3:57 6. Never Entered My Mind 5:01 7. Il Cammino 4:20 8. Gush 6:32 9. Estate 5:37 All compositions by Aldo Romano except "Follow" by Susi Hyldgaard, "It Never Entered My Mind" by Richard Rodgers / Lorenz Hart, and "Estate" by Bruno Martino. All tracks recorded in Copenhagen except 3 & 4 recorded in Vejle.

Aldo Romano: Italian drummer, composer and ensemble leader, born Jan. 16, 1941, Belluno, Veneto.
Aldo Romano studied guitar and was playing professionally in Paris in the 1950s. After hearing Donald Byrd's group with drummer Arthur Taylor through the air-shaft in the street, Romano took up the drums, 20 years old. In the early 1960s Romano was employed with Barney Wilen's and Michel Portal's local modern groups. This led to Romano playing with visiting Americans, including Jackie McLean, Bud Powell, Stan Getz and Kenney Drew. Also playing regularly with Don Cherry and Gato Barbieri made an impression.
In 1969, a particularly fertile year, he recorded with Joachim Kühn, Michel Portal, Steve Lacy and worked with Keith Jarrett for a while, In 1974 Aldo Romano formed Pork Pie with saxophonist Charlie Mariano, keyboardist Jasper Van't Hoff, guitarist Philip Catherine and Texier, rapidly replaced by Jenny-Clark.
During the 1980s Romano brought pianist Michel Petrucciani to the world's attention, by introducing him to the producer of Owl Records. In trios they made several records. Then Romano recorded with Catherine, Texier. In 1988 Romano's Italian roots were fondly remembered with the foundation of his Italian Quartet with Paolo Fresu, Franco D'Andrea, and Furio Di Castri. This quartet recorded a collection of Italian songs on CANZONE (enja 9102)
A versatile and original instrumentalist, Aldo Romano has proved to be an imaginative musician and composer, anxious to go beyond academic boundaries of jazz, without developing any kind of musical demagogy. This was demonstrated by the trio he formed in 1995 with Louis Sclavis and Henri Texier.
The Jazzpar Price CD is almost like an overview of his musical career with Ornette Coleman inspired tunes, Latin-American compositions, operatic arias. Romanos compositions have a recognizable Franco-Italian style, compounded of bebop elements with a folk strain, dance and formal concert music, and exceed the mainstream.
With Mark Turner and Stefano di Battista two of the most important saxophone players on the scene today can be heared on this exciting live session. Grammy Award winning danish singer Susi Hyldgaard is added on three songs and shows her ability to passionately take you to the heart of the song. Few musicians are able to mix such a variety of expression as her. A real surprise is Aldo's singing on Estate. His sophisticated and charming duet with Susi Hyldgaard is a beautiful highlight on this CD.