Romantic Jazz Trio - So In Love / 2LP Venus Records

New York City-based composer, arranger and pianist John Di Martino is a favorite of some of the world's best singers, musicians, and producers. Di Martino has been nominated for several Grammy Awards and has played with

renowned artists such as Kenny Burrell, James Moody, Joe Lovano, David “Fat Head” Newman, Pat Martino, Paquito D'Rivera and Houston Person. Together with Ira Coleman (bass) and Grady Tate (drums), the keyboard virtuoso

celebrates an incredibly diverse and exciting program that is hard to resist. “So In Love” was recorded on September 9 and 10, 2004, at Avatar Studio in New York, USA, and produced, mixed, and mastered by Tetsuo Hara.

Ken Dryden (AllMusic) writes about “So In Love”: "John Di Martino has found a large audience in Japan after recording for the Japanese label Venus with his Romantic Jazz Trio, which is not a fixed line-up but consists of various bassists

and drummers. Ira Coleman and Grady Tate complete the trio for this session, which begins with a stimulating, sometimes humorous post-bop interpretation of the standard “Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise”. The ballad “Summertime” is an

essential part of any mainstream musician's repertoire and this trio manages to keep it fresh by playing it with restraint and lyricism while adding a bluesy touch. Di Martino's lush playing, Coleman's inventive bass line, and Tate's superb brushwork

are a delight. Italian opera composer Ruggero Leoncavallo's “Vesti La Giubba” is not a common jazz piece, but it is a fascinating discovery given Di Martino's haunting rendition with Coleman's melancholic arco bass. The pianist also devotes himself

to modern pop music, including a slightly upbeat version of “Michelle” by the Beatles and a relaxed interpretation of “Murmullo” by Latin American composer Electo Chepin Rosell, another hidden gem.

Venus Records was founded in Japan in 1992 by Tetsuo Hara, who previously worked as a producer for RCA Victor. The label uses a special mastering process called “Hyper Magnum Sound” for the strictly limited double LP of “So In Love”, cut at 33 RPM

and pressed on 180-gram vinyl, which produces a powerful, present sound and is highly appreciated by audiophiles worldwide. A quick note: Venus LPs are only pressed once. Once the edition is sold out, the title is removed from the catalog and will not be reissued.

Collectors should therefore not wait too long to place their orders: all releases of the “Venus Masterpiece Collection” are extremely popular!

Venus LPs are pressed only once. After the first edition is sold out, the titles are removed from the catalog. Collectors should therefore consider a purchase in time.

Title

1. So In Love 

2. Lamento Borincano 

3. Murmullo 

4. Hush A Bye

5. Moment To Moment

6. Summertime 

7. Softly As In A Morning Sunrise 

8. Vesti La Giubba

9. Love Is Stronger Than Us

10. When I Look In Your Eyes

11. Michelle 

12. What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life