Ferdinando Romano emerges as a leader

Italian double bassist Ferdinando Romano, who has been working fairly recently with trombone great Robin Eubanks and emerges from both a classical and jazz background, has an upcoming album called Totem feat. Ralph Alessi on Losen Records out on 24 …

Published: 29 Mar 2020. Updated: 4 years.

Italian double bassist Ferdinando Romano, who has been working fairly recently with trombone great Robin Eubanks and emerges from both a classical and jazz background, has an upcoming album called Totem feat. Ralph Alessi on Losen Records out on 24 April that rewards close listening.

Recorded last October, beautifully captured in striking clarity by Stefano Amerio, the great Italian sound engineer at his world class studio near Udine, the album is comprised of eight pieces all by the bassist (Alessi is on six of them). Romano also produced the record, his band has saxophone and trumpet in the front line and is flavoured by vibes augmenting the core piano trio rhythm section. Romano reminds me a little of Dave Holland and certainly possesses excellent technique he puts to imaginative use. Worth discovering. Check out beautifully arranged opener ‘The Gecko’ above. Totem, top.

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Bon Iver, Jimmy Webb and Mark Knopfler covers feature nestled among originals on Americana

Harmonica player Grégoire Maret and pianist Romain Collin combine with the jazz guitar great Bill Frisell on a very individual, poised, version of Justin Vernon of Bon Iver's 'Re: Stacks' from Americana (the album also features drummer Clarence …

Published: 29 Mar 2020. Updated: 3 years.

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Harmonica player Grégoire Maret and pianist Romain Collin combine with the jazz guitar great Bill Frisell on a very individual, poised, version of Justin Vernon of Bon Iver's 'Re: Stacks' from Americana (the album also features drummer Clarence Penn) to be released on 24 April by Siggi Loch's ACT.

Last we heard of Maret was in 2019 again on the German label with whom he had recently signed, on that occasion in an unusual duo featuring the extraordinary Columbian harpist Edmar Castañeda. The Swiss virtuoso's unique ability to speak to you like a singer was very much then in evidence as it is here again now on this upcoming release.

Americana has compositions by all three players plus besides the Bon Iver piece covers including Jimmy Webb's 'Wichita Lineman' and Mark Knopfler's 'Brothers in Arms,' the overarching theme taking its inspirations in ''the varied roots of American music and culture.''

The treatment of 'Re: Stacks' certainly represents a beautiful sense of organic unravelling – and all the time in the world.

Romain Collin, above left, Bill Frisell and Grégoire Maret. Photo: Neutrø/ACT.