Aldo Romano has long proven himself an innovative leader and the 2007 sessions that make up Just Jazz are no exception. Romano is not one to take a lot of solos himself, preferring to showcase his bandmates while adding color behind them. His pianoless quartet consists of clarinetist Mauro Negri, who played on Romano's earlier Dreyfus CD État de Fait, old friend Henri Texier on bass, and the much younger Géraldine Laurent, a gifted French saxophonist whose star is rising. Most of the release focuses on Romano's captivating originals, highlighted by the emotional Cité-Soleil (French for "Sun City"), named for the wretched shanty town in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Township is an infectious African-flavored chant, with Laurent's vocal-like alto recalling Eric Dolphy, and Negri's electronically altered clarinet adding seasoning. Chick Webb, named for the famous swing drummer, has a fun twist in that the bassist is the featured soloist. Romano's love for Ornette Coleman's work is well known, so it shouldn't be surprising to hear the dissonance within the drummer's Libero!! (Free!!). His powerful interpretation of Fats Waller's maudlin Black and Blue and lighthearted take of Scott Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag round out this diverse, rewarding CD. ~ Ken Dryden, Rovi

1		Cité Soleil
2		Prego!
3		Spring Tide
4		Handle with Care
5		Blues for Roy
6		Chick Webb
7		Libero!!
8		Black and Blue
9		Dany K.
10		Township
11		Lontananza
12		Maple Leaf Rag
13		Too Close for Comfort
14		Laguna Beach