Bruno Romani Evolution Trio - Live Evolution (1998)

Young Italian alto saxophonist Bruno Romani boasts a dry, slightly free lyricism to bear on this fine outing, backed by Lusa Coassin on electric guitar and Adolpho Dai Forno on drums. Mixing originals with a few tunes from Monk, Romani effectively turns off the heat and waxes melodic, the results a bit off-center, yet restrained. With a strong command of his horn, Romani refuses to succumb to temptations to dazzle; rather, he mines a tune for all it is worth, slowly picking at it until he makes it his own. A surprisingly mature performer, the Monk cuts bring out his best playing, perhaps because they are so familiar. "Ugly Beauty" manages to be just that: lithe yet dour. "Straight No Chaser" has the tempo cranked down, giving it a new lift. Romani is effective on guitar, his waves of sound gently caressing the leader's graceful tones.~Live Evolution Review by Steve Loewy