New York-based pianist John Di Martino has found a strong audience in Japan after recording for the Japanese Venus label with his Romantic Jazz Trio, which is rounded out by various bassists and drummers available to record, rather than an actual working group. Veterans Ira Coleman and Grady Tate round out the trio for this 2004 session, which kicks off with a stimulating, sometimes humorous, post-bop workout 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 lyricism in a reserved manner, while still infusing it with a bluesy air; Di Martino's lush playing, Coleman's inventive bassline, and Tate's superb brushwork are enjoyable…

John di Martino is a jazz pianist, arranger and producer, based in New York City. He has been described as a "shape-shifter", for his creativity across musical genres. For this tribute to the King of Pop, John and his Romantic Jazz Trio perform some of Michael Jackson's best-loved songs.

Multiple Grammy nominee John Di Martino - composer, arranger, pianist - has recorded many albums for Venus Records with his Romantic Jazz Trio. Noted for his versatility, John has performed and recorded with such notables as Kenny Burrell, James Moody, Joe Lovano, David "Fat Head" Newman, Pat Martino, Paquito D'Rivera and Houston Person. John has been described as a "shape-shifter", for his creativity across musical genres.
Here the trio devotes an entire album to jazzing up music by the classical composer Frederic Chopin.

For this collection of classic Latin favorites, di Martino and his Romantic Jazz Trio comprised of Hans Glawischnig on bass and Willie Martinez on drums and percussions perform popular Latin compositions by Noro Morales, Andres Eloy Blanco, Joseph Lacalle, Maria Grever, Margarita Lecuona, Ernesto Lecuona and more.

Sometimes it takes extremely talented and worthy musicians a long time before releasing an album in which they lead. Some of the musicians never do. Luckily, Aaron Heick got together with the Japanese label Venus Records to release his first album under his own moniker. Easily one of the best modern alto saxophonists in the United States, Heick has performed and recorded with stars such as Chaka Khan, Barbra Streisand, Paul Simon, Frank Sinatra, and Richard Bona. In this one-horn quartet setting with the extraordinary John di Martino and his Romantic Jazz Trio, Heick shows his phenomenal technique, solid sound, and emotionally charged soulfulness. Some of the selections on this album include Carlos Santana's "Europe," flutist Herbie Mann's funky "Comin' Home, Baby," a song by the Beatles "And I Love Her," and the evocative "Infant Eyes," written by Wayne Shorter. There are also two original compositions by Heick himself.

Multiple Grammy nominee John Di Martino–composer, arranger, pianist–has recorded many albums for Venus Records with his Romantic Jazz Trio. Noted for his versatility, John has performed and recorded with such notables as Kenny Burrell, James Moody, Joe Lovano, David "Fat Head" Newman, Pat Martino, Paquito D'Rivera and Houston Person. John has been described as a "shape-shifter", for his creativity across musical genres.
Here the trio devotes an entire album to jazzing up music by the classical composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.