Tony Romano: Three Chord Monte

Three Chord Monte from New York-based guitarist Tony Romano offers thirteen selections with an expansive range of grooves, textures, and intensities. Throughout the session, he and his fine players demonstrate their obvious allegiance to melody, lyricism, and appropriate rhythmic foundation, yielding a fine overall recording.

The starter, "Cadillac Green" has a deep-pocketed funk bed and is a biting melodic statement. There is an Intense tenor saxophone solo from Paul Carlon which is a fine take-off. "Rhumba-esque" has Romano's guitar delivering the melody on a Latin offering. Romantic and sensuous, this is another excellent track. "Winterland" presents a slow, textural, mysterious soundscape on which Carlon's tenor saxophone sings and, in unison with Romano's guitar, builds in intensity. "Lay It Down" is a straight-ahead rocker with deep Afro melodic roots. Drummer Rob Garcia intensely drives under a furious Carlon tenor saxophone and Romano's superb guitar solo.

All the tunes on this album are Romano originals incorporating varying compositional forms. His melodic presentations are elegantly simple and the harmonic platforms they offer provide leader and soloists plenty of latitude for improvisational exploration. There is a lot of material here to encounter, with no track seeming superfluous or as a throw- in.

"Onward and Upward" is a tasty, up-tempo jazz waltz with a catchy melody sent up by Romano and Carlon. "Camino" is a Latin piece with a lovely, romantic essence. It is another winner in which Romano alternates from single notes to Wes Montgomery-like octaves. The groove here is smooth, sexy, and lush. Romano's guitar chops are extensive and there are influences here from a diverse spectrum from Wes Montgomery to Carlos Santana, Pat Metheny, and George Benson. His solos are motific, lyrical, and well-developed, providing interest and involvement. Saxman Paul Carlon is stellar across the date, offering robust inventiveness. The rhythm section, namely bassist Jennifer Vincent and drummer Garcia, are superb and highly engaged throughout.

The title track is a slower, liquid portrait with Romano and Carlon again in unison. Vincent stretches out with a fine solo. It is an interesting track. "Hollow" is a darker, somewhat contemplative selection with Romano's guitar stating over bass and Garcia's fine brushes and cymbal work. "Ratatat" is a triple-metered lively track with fine interaction with Romano and Garcia. It develops into excitement and fury. "Squirrelly" is a straight-ahead melody that lives up to its name. The groove leans heavily on the back beat—this is a track on which the group is obviously having fun. Vincent provides another tasty solo. "Reflection," a lovely, sentimental melody with a classic descending bass line that appropriately fits its title. Romano keeps this one floating with an exquisite solo. A lovely track. Carlon's tenor saxophone gives the melody on the very slow and elegiac, "Home." It is somewhat of a different, open-ended closer.

Overall, Three Chord Monte is a fine album with flights of talented hands and is certainly worth a listen.