Album Notes

I have been listening to Roman Riccio’s music for over a decade and I have heard him play every style from rock to jazz to dance to folk. Even hip-hop has not fallen outside of his taste and range when he was developing beats for local rhyming wordsmiths. Therefore there has never been any doubt that Roman Riccio is anything but enormously talented, and now he has only reinforced that fact. What shows in his debut solo album, Women is his ability to pick a genre and become it. In this case, Roman has become modern folk-rock. Women presents itself as a complete thought with all its ideas and arguments carefully planned and crafted, as can only be done by a true student of song structure. The album was constructed such that one song flows into the next bringing back to music the concept of a true album, rather string of singles. I wouldn’t hesitate to say that we hear a modern James Taylor or Jim Croce when we listen to Mr. Riccio’s first of many new musical projects, except that next he will probably hit us with an outstanding funk, rock or jazz album that will embody many of the same great characteristics that we hear on Women. Fans of intelligent music would be doing themselves a disservice not to pick up Roman Riccio’s Women or keep their ears open for more music and more variety from Roman in the near future. – Brodie B. Christ


Roman Riccio (rickeo) is a singer-songwriter originally from Ajax, now living and working from his studio in Brentwood, just west of Barrie. His very musical family included both his grandfather (Pat Riccio – sax, clarinet, flute, big band leader & arranger, jazz pioneer) and his father (Pat Riccio Jr – keyboards, musical director for 14 years with Anne Murray, Juno award winning producer).

Roman provides a fresh approach and unique sound. His original compositions feature elegant, and at times eccentric, lyrics. Roman writes arresting melodies, with a touch of melancholy. His natural on-stage presence and charm will make you feel at ease, and you will find yourself humming the songs long after you leave the performance.

CBC Radio has recently featured Roman and his CD “WOMEN” and said “[Roman] really has a signature voice……this is a compelling debut album” and “Roman’s record is just the kind of thing CBC likes”.

It is of special interest that on “WOMEN”, Roman featured Dawn Langstroth (Anne Murray’s daughter) as backing vocals and also with Roman on a duet of “Here Comes The Rain Again”.

Roman is a member of the Barrie Folk Society and the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals. He is available as a solo performer for house concerts and with a band for larger venues.