The Roma Progest

Following the trios led by Stefano Bollani and Giovanni Guidi, The Roma Trio is another splended piano trio from Italy that debuted on Venus Records. Following their Venus debut "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" and sophomore release "Ciao Ciao Bambina" comes a surprising third album which is entirely dedicated to the "jazzification" of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons concerti, each of which represented a season of the year.

Following the trios led by Stefano Bollani and Giovanni Guidi, Roma Trio is another splendid piano trio from Italy that debuted on Venus Records. The youngish trio consists of pianist Luca Mannutza, bassist Gianluca Renzi and drummer Nicola Angelucci. They are all up-and-coming artists who have played with Paolo Fresu, Steve Grossman, Fabrizio Bosso, Marc Johnson and Giovanni Mirabassi. The Italian jazz scene is really hot right now, and this trio is one of the top groups in the country.

Venus Records owner and producer Tetsuo Hara is known for recruiting various American jazz musicians for record dates during his regular trips to New York City, but he is also spending time in Europe, where he recruited the Roma Trio for this excellent album. Unless they gain exposure in the U.S. through appearing on American recordings or performing in New York City, European jazz musicians have a tough time getting recognized in the West. But Hara has long since learned the preferences of the Japanese jazz market, which readily seems to absorb bands he has introduced through his label.

Venus Records owner and producer Tetsuo Hara is known for recruiting various American jazz musicians for record dates during his regular trips to New York City, but he is also spending time in Europe, where he recruited the Roma Trio for this excellent album. Unless they gain exposure in the U.S. through appearing on American recordings or performing in New York City, European jazz musicians have a tough time getting recognized in the West. But Hara has long since learned the preferences of the Japanese jazz market, which readily seems to absorb bands he has introduced through his label.

Following the trios led by Stefano Bollani and Giovanni Guidi, The Roma Trio is another splended piano trio from Italy that debuted on Venus Records. Following their Venus debut "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" and sophomore release "Ciao Ciao Bambina" comes a surprising third album which is entirely dedicated to the "jazzification" of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons concerti, each of which represented a season of the year.

Hasan Ozgok and Lucas van Merwijk are two top musicians, in the fields of world music and jazz respectively; the former is a native of Istanbul, Turkey, and the latter of Baarn in The Netherlands. World music pioneer Hasan Hasan Ozgok , who earned his reputation with the legendary Hasan Band, is initiator of Dutch-Turkish pop music, which skyrocketed to popularity in the mid - eighties. Hasan Ozgok 's roots lie in one of the liveliest quarters of Istanbul, Kasimpasja. He allowed himself to be inspired by the gypsy music, "Roma", that was played all over his neighbourhood. Hasan's latest innovative project is integrating Afro- Cuban rhythms into this beloved Roma music. By adding this Latin touch he has managed to create a unique cross-over, "Roma- Latin". It felt only naturalfor him to invite Lucas van Merwijk to combine artistic forces for this remarkable album, Mamborama.