Trio Japan

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.

Super Standard is an album by pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Jay Leonhart and drummer Al Foster (billed for contractual reasons as the Super Trio) recorded in New York in 2004 and released on the Japanese Venus label.

Hideo Ichikawa (piano), Ikuo Sakurai (bass) and Masahiko Togashi (drums) comprise the Spirits Trio, performing pop and jazz standards of the '40s era, plus a few original compositions…

The New York Trio, consisting of pianist Bill Charlap, bassist Jay Leonhart, and drummer Bill Stewart, have put together a spectacular jazz lineup for this audiophile SACD. Also known as the New York Jazz Trio, the group is known for recording classic standards in a straightforward, post-bop style. Together, they are a successful force, having marked their spot in East Coast jazz scene. But separately, they have also each reached their individual levels of success. In his career, pianist Bill Charlap has played alongside jazz icons Tony Bennett, Benny Carter, and Gerry Mulligan, and has recorded a handful of well-received albums as a bandleader. Jay Leonhart, a bassist for the Trio, has also dabbled in vocals and songwriting and has performed with Marian McPartland, Louie Bellson, Lee Konitz, and many others. And drummer Bill Stewart has rubbed musical elbows on stage with jazz guitarist John Scofield, sax player Maceo Parker and R&B legend James Brown.

After Bill Charlap was "discovered" by the Japanese independent Venus Records with his wonderful debut album for the label 'S Wonderful, he signed with Blue Note. Because of the contract terms, Charlap's name can no longer apper prominently on albums he records for Venus. Hence the anonymous moniker "New York Trio". But make no mistake. This is Bill Charlap's trio. And what a trio! Veteran Jay Leonhart's bass sounds deep, lyrical and authoritative, and cutting-edge drummer Bill Stewart's surprisingly traditional drumming brings a unique tension to this group. This unusual trio has recorded six albums for Venus Records at the pace of one each year, and this is their first of the celebrated series. One of the best interpreters of the Great American Songbook, Charlap dazzles us with his beautiful touch and tone, faithful rendering of original melodies and subtle addition of modern sensibilities. Selections are mostly medium to slow tempo ballads. As the title suggests, this is clearly music for the night.

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.

Japanese all-girls Trio-San's 2004 release features renditions of Dizzy Gillespie's "Be Bop", Thelonious Monk's "Blue Monk", Horace Silver's "Filthy McNasty", Miles Davis' "Milestones", Richard Rodgers' "The Nearness Of You", and more.

Sir Roland Hanna has released both jazz and classical albums, but this may be his most successful attempt to form a seamless blend of the two forms of music. On this album, Roland Hanna, Ron Carter and Grady Tate play nine tracks — eight written by classical composers, one Hanna original, and suprisingly enough for a piano trio session, not one blues. Schubert's "Serenade" swings like mad, Dvorak's "Going Home" sounds like a pop tune with a funk beat, Hanna's own "Like Grains Of Sand" and Rubinstein's "Melody In F" make for great bossa nova! Other highlights include Chopin's "Prelude Op. 28, No. 20", which is a superb feature for Ron Carter, and a suprisingly fresh version of Mozart's "Elvira Madigan, Concerto No. 21 C Major K467".

Ted Rosenthal is one of the leading jazz pianists of his generation. He actively tours worldwide with his trio, as a soloist, and has performed with many jazz greats, including Gerry Mulligan, Art Farmer, Phil Woods, Bob Brookmeyer, and James Moody. He is the winner of the 2nd Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition in 1988. He is also very active in jazz education as a faculty member of The Juilliard School and Manhattan School of Music. Rosenthal executed this somewhat adventurous idea beautifully and made a delightful piano trio album. His impressive arrangement skills are on full display, and his superb supporting cast George Mraz and Lewis Nash more than rises to the challenge of turning sometimes tricky compositions into a romping, swinging affair. This is a wonderful, fun and swinging piano trio album. Enthusiastically recommended.

Since his stunning debut in 1974 with the now world-famous audiophile recordings for the Three Blind Mice label, Japanese pianist Tsuyoshi Yamamoto has built a career that now spans four decades. This live set by the Yamamato Trio, recorded at Jazz Is in Yokohama, features "Midnight Blues", "Polka Dots And Moonbeams", "The Look Of Love", "Mack The Knife", "Gentle Blues", "Caravan", "Misty", and more.