Charlie Mariano had an extremely varied career, including a couple of stints in the Stan Kenton Orchestra, performing on two classic Mingus albums, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus and The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady, delving into eastern music in the 1960s (resulting in a marriage to pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi) and showing an interest in free improvisation. He moved to Europe in 1971, becoming an important part of the continent’s jazz community.
Back in the late 40s and early 50s, Mariano’s style owed much to a combination of Johnny Hodges and Charlie Parker, with the former’s influence taking a back step by 1953 but Bird’s shadow still prominent. Both of these influences can be clearly heard in his solo on What’s New?, the opening track on CD1, as he performs as a member of the Ray Borden Orchestra. That’s one of the 11 line-ups in which he can be heard on this disc.
On this excellent compilation, the saxophonist is presented as both leader and sidemen, fronting a variation of configurations from quartet to octet, including such musicians as Nat Pierce (flirting with bebop), Herb Pomeroy and Jaki Byard. All of the music was recorded in his native Boston, apart from the first eight tracks of CD2, which come from the Fantasy album The Charlie Mariano Sextet, captured in San Francisco.
There is little doubt of his fluency on the alto. He totally captured the bebop language but was never afraid to tackle a familiar ballad or two. His comfort in whatever register would be a constant factor over the creative years to come, allowing him range freely when it came to choosing his often shifting musical directions. There was nothing ground-breaking in this music but it had a solidity that much of the modern genre exuded at the time.
This package comes with a booklet containing full personnel and discographical details and an informative piece by Fresh Sound boss Jordi Pujol, who should once again be congratulated for a snapshot of a fine musician.
Discography
CD1: What’s New?; Boppin’ In Boston; Is This The Thing?; Body And Soul; Sheba; Babylon; King Edward The Flatted Fifth; It Might As Well Be Spring; King For A Day; Boston Uncommon (master A); Boston Uncommon (master B); The Wizard (master A); The Wizard (master B); Mariners; Tzoris; Autumn In New York; Aviary; Bye, Bye, Blues; Bess, You Is My Woman; Barsac; Stella By Starlight; I’m Old Fashioned; Erosong (76.37)
CD2: Come Rain Or Come Shine; My Friend Ethel; After Coffee; Trouble Is A Man; Let’s Get Away From It All; The Thrill Is Gone; The Nymph; I’ve Told Every Little Star; Diane’s Melody; Harangue; Sweet And Lovely; Ryan’s Love; This Is Heaven; How About You?; My Nancy; Jan; Chanticleer; Chopin Excerpts; April Afternoon; Chandra; Sagapo; When Your Lover Has Gone; It’s Magic; American Indian (72.51)
Mariano (as); Joe Gordon (t); Sonny Truitt (tb); Herb Pomeroy (t); Dick Twardzik, Jaki Byard (p) and others. Boston, 1947-1953.
Fresh Sound FSR-CD1147
