Altoist Charlie Mariano, active since the late Forties playing around his native Boston, became much better known through his stay at Stan Kenton's orchestra (1953-1955). He managed to assert his own individual quality and his own musical importance while keeping a deep-seated devotion to Charlie Parker. On these early sides, recorded in Los Angeles, Mariano blows with a great deal of emotion, authority, bite and consistency, showing why he became one of the most demanded studio sidemen in the West Coast (1953-1957) as well as one of the most important altoists in modern jazz since Charlie Parker.
—Jordi Pujol
Tracklist
Total time: 63:48 min.
01. 'S Nice (Charlie Mariano) 4:11
02. Chlo-E (Moret-Kahn) 4:06
03. Three Little Words (Ruby-Kalmar) 4:40
04. Green Walls (Charlie Mariano) 3:24
05. My Melancholy Baby (BUrnett-Norton) 5:08
06. You Go To My Head (Coots-Gillespie) 2:38
07. Slugger (Claude Williamson) 3:17
08. There Will Never Be Another You (Warren-Gordon) 3:08
09. Sunday (Coots-Grey) 3:14
10. Sapphire (Stu Williamson) 3:20
11. Don't Get Around Much Anymore (Ellington-Russell) 3:27
12. Strike Up The Band (G. & I. Gershwin) 3:51
13. Just Max (Max Bennett) 3:39
14. Sweet Georgia Brown (Bernie-Pinkard-Casey) 2:50
15. I'll Never Smile Again (Ruth Lowe) 3:14
16. T.K. (Tiny Kahn) 3:23
17. Rubberneck (Frank Rosolino) 3:34
18. Jeppers Creepers (Warren-Mercer) 3:27
Album details
Sources:
Tracks #1-6, from the 10-inch LP “Charlie Mariano —Mariano” (BCP-1022)
Tracks #7-12, from the 10-inch LP “Stu Williamson —Saphire” (BCP-1020)
Tracks 13-18, from the 10-inch LP “Max Bennett —Max Bennett“ (BCP-1028)
Personnel on tracks #1-6:
Stu Williamson (trumpet, out on #6), Frank Rosolino (trombone, out on #6), Charlie Mariano (alto sax), Claude Williamson (piano), Max Bennett (bass), Stan Levey (drums).
Recorded in Hollywood, December 21, 1954
Personnel on #7-12:
Same personnel, omit Frank Rosolino.
Recorded in Hollywood, January 18, 1955
Personnel on #13-18:
Same personnel, omit Stu Williamson.
Recorded in Hollywood, January 27, 1955
Original design & photography: Burt Goldblatt
Original back-liner notes: Ira Gitler
Recordings supervised by Red Clyde
This compilation produced for CD release by Jordi Pujol
Hi Fi · 24-Bit Digitally Remastered
Blue Moon Producciones Discograficas S.L.Press reviews
"In the 1950s, Charlie Mariano was one of the most promising of the bop-oriented altoists. His personnel here is consistent, with Mariano joined by pianist Claude Williamson, bassist Max Bennett, drummer Stan Levey, trombonist Frank Rosolino, and the cool-toned trumpeter Stu Williamson. The repertoire mixes together fairly basic group originals and swinging standards with many fine solos by the horns. An excellent example of Charlie Mariano's playing in the '50s."
—Scott Yanow (All Music Guide)
