One Take: Joey DeFrancesco, Robi Botos, Vito Rezza, Phil Dwer
Volume Four
Alma Records
www.almarecords.com

Mario Romano Quartet
Valentia
Alma Records
www.almarecords.com
By George W. Harris

Not sure if Alma Records is a brand new label, or just some obscurity that I’ve never heard of before. Like their vision, though: The first disc is part four of a great concept, and the second a nice one for post modern buffs.

B2 Masher Joey D puts out a disc that just might be one of his best. Spontaneity befits the Hammond man as he grooves with fellow Gumbas Bito Rezza/dr, Robi Botos/key and ringer Wasp Phil Dwer/ts through some slow burners and blues. Dwyer’s got a nice gristly tenor, and he uses it to perfection on “There Is Not Greater Love” and the dreamy “Tenderly.” You can literally hear Francesco pulling out the stops on his B3 on the “Every Day…” blues rifer “Not That.” The speakers moan, groan, wail and shout during this “feels so bad it helps” shuffler. Like peanut butter and jelly, the tenor and Hammond are long lasting soul mates.

Three Pisanos and a ringer are the tone again on Mario Romano’s disc, with tenorist Pat LaBarbera, drummer Mark Kelso and bassist Roberto Occhipitti joining in with the pianist. They have a thing about intros here, making them clever and thoughtful, with LaBarbera’s tenor running the gamut before segueing into “Night In Tunisia,” Occihpitt lays into his bass on “Green Dolphin Street”and Romano delivering some Lisztian work on “Norwegian Wood” and “Autumn Leaves.” The band gets into a Coltrane groove on a very “Love Supreme-ish” take of “Nardis, and build up a sweat on an assertive “Someday My Prince Will Come.” Guaranteed that no one is suffering from low T here!