Tony Romano

Three Chord Monte

TRM

With a play on words, from Elvin Jones’s “Three Card Molly,” and the card game of a similar name, guitarist Tony Romano entitles his own solo jazz album, filled with original compositions, Three Chord Monte. Romano has spent most of his career as a sideman for vocalists but issued a solo guitar album Dance for One (2017) and his trio recording, Standards (2018).  So, this represents the first collection of his own writing for a quartet and trio. In fact, they recorded it all in two days, one for the quartet and another for the trio tracks, which unfortunately, are not clearly delineated in the album information. (This should help) There’s well over an hour of music in this distinctly modern album that fuses Latin, blues, and conventional jazz structures such as waltzes with highly cinematic fare. Joining Romano are Paul Carlon on tenor and baritone saxes, Jennifer Vincent on bass, and Rob Garcia on drums.

Afrobeat grooves and robust bass introduce “Cadillac Green,” with tinges of soul jazz as Carlon’s tenor and Romano’s guitar trade melody lines over the percolating bottom. Later “Lay It Down” also melds Afro-beat with a call-and-response like blues with Carlon again blowing fervently before Romano unleashes a blistering solo with immaculately clean tone and rhythmic flair that often sounds as if two guitars are playing. Carlon keeps pace with Romano, soaring in his turn, spurred on with snippets of dialogue with the guitarist. Every quartet member gets an expressive say in this one.

Latin strains imbue “Rhumba-esque,” a 15-bar blues comprised on five three bar phrases for a romantic, lyrical delivery rendered by the trio, with Romano exhibiting quite a range. The trio also applies a sensual cha-cha groove to “Camino,’ with Vincent’s bass lines especially notable as is Romano’s bent for improvisation, rather than simply playing it straight. Romano moves in so many different directions here that it keeps the listener well engaged through the pensive, echoing “One for Bill,” a nod to Bill Frisell that showcases Romano’s lyrical approach, to the even more pensive “Reflection” and the moody “Hollow’ that opens with a gorgeous Romano solo intro.

Diverging further off the beaten path, is the ethereal quartet piece, “Winterland,” casting the ensemble in a highly textural, most contemporary light with Carlon and Romano moving through contrapuntally, using space in much the way that Bill Frisell and Julian Lage do as almost a ‘fifth’ member. The layered harmonics in the up-tempo waltz “Onward and Upward” continually change and grow in intensity behind Garcia’s potent kit work. “Ratatat” is another waltz, albeit at a more disciplined, steady pace by the trio while “Squirrelly” moves with a bouncy gait, an unconventional 22-bar blues, with faint tinges of NOLA strains with bold statements from the bass-drum tandem.

The quartet rendered title track, does indeed revolve around just three chords in two-bar phrases in a circular, almost trance-like, dreamy way. The closer, the tender “Home” is pillowy comfortable, the melody partially evoking strains of Herbie Hancock’s “Maiden Voyage,” leaving us both totally satisfied and craving more from Romano and his versatile, virtuosic bandmates, a solid achievement in an album as lengthy as this one.

Unheralded compared to the ‘name’ guitarists on the jazz scene, Romano proves that he belongs in the conversation. This should be a ‘coming out’ breakthrough release for him.

• Jim Hynes

Buy Us a Cup of Coffee!

Join the movement in supporting Making a Scene, the premier independent resource for both emerging musicians and the dedicated fans who champion them.

We showcase this vibrant community that celebrates the raw talent and creative spirit driving the music industry forward. From insightful articles and in-depth interviews to exclusive content and insider tips, Making a Scene empowers artists to thrive and fans to discover their next favorite sound.

Together, let’s amplify the voices of independent musicians and forge unforgettable connections through the power of music

You can donate directly through Paypal!

Subscribe to Our Newsletter