Charlie Mariano: Plays / Plays Alto and Tenor

Charlie Mariano Plays

Styles: Easy Listening, Cool Jazz, Contemporary Jazz
Year: 2005
Time: 63:49
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 148,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:11) 1. S Nice
(4:07) 2. Clho - E
(4:41) 3. Three Little Words
(3:25) 4. Green Walls
(5:10) 5. My Melancholy Baby
(2:39) 6. You Go to My Head
(3:18) 7. Slugger
(3:09) 8. There Will Never Be Another You
(3:15) 9. Sunday
(3:21) 10. Sapphire
(3:29) 11. Don't Get Around Much More
(3:52) 12. Strike Up the Band
(3:40) 13. Just Max
(2:52) 14. Sweet Georgia Brown
(3:16) 15. I'll Never Smile Again
(3:25) 16. T. K.
(2:25) 17. Rubberneck
(3:26) 18. Jeppers Creepers

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.

Charlie Mariano Plays

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Charlie Mariano Plays Alto and Tenor

Styles: Bop
Year: 2005
Time: 54:01
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 125,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:32) 1. Johnny One Note
(4:00) 2. The Very Thought of You
(3:11) 3. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
(5:24) 4. King for a Day
(4:21) 5. Darn That Dream
(4:33) 6. Floormat
(6:43) 7. Blues
(4:12) 8. I Heard You Cried Last Night
(3:29) 9. Manteca
(4:35) 10. It's You or No One
(2:56) 11. I Should Care
(5:00) 12. Give a Little Whistle

On these 1955 quartet sessions, whether on alto or tenor saxophone, we hear Charlie Mariano play some of the strongest and most impressive sides he had recorded until then. He was backed by a solid rhythm section, featuring the stabbing and leanly imaginative pianist John Williams, the striding beat of Max Bennett, and the always tasteful drumming of Mel Lewis. All the tracks are marked by a pulse and a flow and deftness which demand satisfactory attention.

Charlie Mariano Plays Alto and Tenor

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Conte Candoli - Modern Sounds From The West

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1956
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:34
Size: 141,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:29) 1. The Blindfold Test No. 1
(3:42) 2. Culver City
(2:54) 3. Van Nuys Indeed
(3:56) 4. Burbank Bounce
(4:47) 5. Santa Monica
(4:07) 6. The Blindfold Test No. 2
(4:03) 7. Here's Pete
(3:59) 8. No Love, No Nothin'
(3:17) 9. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
(2:42) 10. Come Love
(2:55) 11. T.N.T.
(3:31) 12. Thank You, Judge
(4:32) 13. Santa Anita
(3:34) 14. Hooray For Hollywood
(4:30) 15. The Blindfold Test No. 3
(4:27) 16. Arcadia

Best-known as the trumpet section leader in Doc Severinsen's Tonight Show Band, Conte Candoli was a fine all-around jazz stylist most at home in the worlds of bop and West Coast cool jazz. Younger by four years than his similarly accomplished trumpet-playing brother Pete, Conte was born Secondo Candoli in Mishawaka, IN, on July 12, 1927. He first patterned himself after players like Harry James, Roy Eldridge, and Dizzy Gillespie, later discovering Miles Davis and Clifford Brown.

His first job came at age 16, when brother Pete recommended him for a summer gig with Woody Herman's Thundering Herd; after graduating high school, he joined full-time. He went on to play with several other bands, including Stan Kenton, whom he left in 1954 to form his own band. After leading some recording dates, he soon found a more comfortable existence, moving to Los Angeles and taking session jobs in between gigs with Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse All-Stars.

After about four years, he left in 1960 to work with drummer Shelly Manne, while he and Pete both enjoyed top-dog status in the L.A. session community. In 1968, Candoli took a part-time gig with the Tonight Show Band and joined permanently in 1972, when the show officially moved to Burbank.

During the '70s, he was also a member of Supersax, among other L.A. all-star outfits, and also continued his periodic collaborations with his brother. Candoli retired from the Tonight Show along with Johnny Carson in 1992, and continued to play until a battle with cancer slowed his activities. Candoli died in a convalescent home on December 14, 2001.By Steve Huey https://www.allmusic.com/artist/conte-candoli-mn0000100990/biography

Personnel: Conte Candoli / trumpet; John Graas / flute; Charlie Mariano / alto sax; Marty Paich / piano; Monty Budwig / bass; Stan Levey / drums; Buddy Collette / alto sax, flute; Jimmy Giuffre / clarinet, tenor sax,bass sax; Gerald Wiggins / piano; Howard Roberts / guitar; Curtis Counce / bass; Hank Jones / piano; Barry Galbraith / guitar; Milt Hinton / bass; Osie Johnson / drums; Harry Edison / trumpet; Herb Geller / alto sax; Bob Enevoldsen / valve trombone, tenor sax; Lorraine Geller / piano; Joe Mondragon / bass

Modern Sounds From The West

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Peggy Connelly - Hollywood Sessions

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:56
Size: 108,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:03)  1. You Make Me Feel So Young
(2:42)  2. Trouble Is a Man
(3:08)  3. Where Did the Gentleman Go
(2:26)  4. I Have Said Goodbye to Spring
(2:54)  5. What Is There to Say
(2:30)  6. Trav'lin' Light
(3:18)  7. Ev'rytime We Say Goodbye
(3:17)  8. Alone Together
(2:42)  9. I Got Plenty o' Nuttin'
(2:25) 10. Fools Rush In
(2:10) 11. Ev'rytime
(2:47) 12. Gentleman Friend
(4:27) 13. It Never Entered My Mind
(2:59) 14. Why Shouldn't I
(3:14) 15. That Old Black Magic
(2:45) 16. He Was Too Good to Me

By the time she was 15, Peggy Connelly (1931-2007) had a lovely voice that won her jobs singing with competitive big bands in her hometown of Fort Worth, Texas. At 18, she went in search of work as a model and singer, and after a difficult start, she moved to Hollywood. Once there, she landed two significant opportunities. The first involved her appearance in motion pictures and TV shows. The second and more important opportunity was the start of her career as a single recording artist. When she sang, Connelly put to good use her beautiful, round tone and commendable lack of artifice to project the intent of any song with lucidity. She was Frank Sinatra’s girlfriend for over two years, and their relationship opened many doors for her with musicians and the Hollywood studios. Even though Connelly had few significant opportunities in her career to show off her talent as a singer, the times she did resulted in these magnificent recordings. Sinatra, not very fond of praising his colleagues, had no qualms about praising Connelly. When he first heard her sing Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye, he said: “Hi, beautiful lady, you are wonderful.” https://www.freshsoundrecords.com/peggy-connelly/6707-hollywood-sessions.html

Personnel:  Peggy Connelly (vcl), Marty Paich, Russell Garcia (dir), Conte Candoli, Pete Candoli, Stu Williamson (tp), Russ Cheever (ss), Charlie Mariano (as), Bill Holman (ts), Jimmy Giuffre (bs), Al Hendrickson (g), Jimmy Rowles (p), Harry Babasin, Max Bennett (b), Roy Harte, Stan Levey (d), Jack Costanzo, Ramón Rivera, Willy Gallardo (perc)

Hollywood Sessions

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Stu Williamson - Stu Williamson Plays

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1955
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 79:41
Size: 183,9 MB
Art: Front

(3:20)  1. Slugger
(3:10)  2. Ther'll Never Be Another You
(2:39)  3. Autumn In New York
(3:16)  4. Sunday
(4:17)  5. The Lady Is A Tramp
(3:51)  6. Yardbird Suite
(3:23)  7. Sapphire
(2:51)  8. The Things We Did Last Summer
(3:54)  9. Strike Up The Band
(3:30) 10. Don't Get Around Much Anymore
(5:40) 11. Stu's Dues Blues
(3:29) 12. Pee Jay
(4:25) 13. Just Friends
(3:48) 14. Darn That Dream
(6:09) 15. Hongry Child
(4:30) 16. Big Red
(5:05) 17. Red Cross
(3:20) 18. Talk Of The Town
(3:58) 19. Dom's Tune
(4:57) 20. Rose Bud

The younger brother of pianist Claude Williamson, Stu Williamson was a fixture on West Coast jazz dates of the 1950s. He moved to Los Angeles in 1949 and spent periods playing with Stan Kenton (1951), Woody Herman (1952-1953), and Kenton again (1954-1955), in addition to shorter stints with Billy May and Charlie Barnet. The mellow-toned Williamson, best-known for his association with Shelly Manne (off and on during 1954-1958), was on a countless number of sessions up until 1968 when he dropped out of the music scene. A drug addict, Stu Williamson spent most of his last two decades struggling outside of music. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/artist/stu-williamson-mn0000526195/biography

Personnel:  Stu Williamson on trumpet, Charlie Mariano on alto sax, Claude Williamson on piano, Max Bennett on bass and Stan Levey on drums.

Stu Williamson - Plays

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Don Sebesky - A Jazz Portrait of Charlie Mariano

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:33
Size: 92,0 MB
Art: Front

(2:58)  1. I Feel Pretty
(4:14)  2. The Wind
(7:30)  3. To Taiho
(4:29)  4. Goodbye
(2:52)  5. The Shout
(5:24)  6. Portrait of an Artist
(3:19)  7. Deep in a Dream
(5:37)  8. Pretty Little Nieda
(3:05)  9. The Song Is You

"There is so much taht could be said about this album, but until the record companies consider using larger jackets, I shall be obliged to hold my enthusiasm in check. I must mention Jim Hall's masterful playing is something we have all come to expect from him. Phil Bodner, whose complete mastery of all the redd instruments makes him a one man section, and as such, he is an invaluable asset. Mel Lewis' consistently fine musicianship and his fiery propulsion to the big band tracks is more thanworthy of comment Charlie's gospel-tinged THE SHOUT, the Sebesky title tune of the album, amd Rolf Ericson's delightful jazz waltz, Pretty Little Nieda, coupled with the standards, make for above average programming, something of a novelty in a business that has become mired in anonymity. Regiona Records should feel very proud of yhis contribution, and I repeat if this album doesn't scare a lot of people there is definitely something wrong with the music business." ~ Mort Fega, liner-notes from the original LP on Regina Records https://www.freshsoundrecords.com/charlie-mariano-albums/4076-a-jazz-portrait-of-charlie-mariano.html

Personnel: Charlie Mariano (as), Jim Hall (g), Mel Lewis (d), Bob Brookmeyer (v-tb), Marvin Stamm (tp), Roger Kellaway, Jaki Byard (p), Richard Davis, Art Davis (b), Albert 'Tootie' Heath (d)

A Jazz Portrait of Charlie Mariano

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Philip Catherine - End Of August

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1982
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:02
Size: 88,3 MB
Art: Front

(5:12)  1. Petit Nicolas
(5:09)  2. Grand Nicolas
(9:26)  3. Janet
(6:17)  4. September Start
(4:57)  5. Goodbye
(2:53)  6. Birth Of August
(3:14)  7. End Of August
(0:50)  8. Presque

An immensely gifted Belgian guitarist, Philip Catherine is a highly regarded performer known for his harmonically nuanced, deeply lyrical playing and crisply rounded fretboard touch. Born in London in 1942 to an English mother and Belgian father, Catherine moved to Brussels with his family at a young age. As a teenager, he became interested in the guitar, influenced at the time by French singer/songwriter and poet George Brassens. By age 14 he was taking lessons, and learning the basic elements of jazz improvisation when he discovered Django Reinhardt. He quickly absorbed the jazz legend's distinctive style, and eventually picked up other influences, including Belgian guitarist René Thomas. He also immersed himself in albums by such luminaries as Art Blakey, Clifford Brown, Max Roach, and others. Catherine began playing gigs while in his teens, working in a trio with American Hammond B-3 specialist Lou Bennett and drummer Oliver Jackson. There were also stints with Belgian saxophonist Jack Sels and Philadelphia-born/Brussels-based drummer Edgar Bateman. In 1970, violinist Jean-Luc Ponty asked him to join his band and, inspired by contemporaries like John McLaughlin and Larry Coryell, Catherine stayed with Ponty for a year, dedicating himself to the progressive fusion sound. Also during this period, he attended formal music classes at Berklee College of Music in Boston. 

After returning to Belgium, Catherine found himself in high demand and developed a bevy of connections, including playing with Klaus Weiss, Les McCann, Karin Krog, Dexter Gordon, and others. As a solo artist, he made his debut with 1971's Stream, a funky, inventive mix of acoustic and electric jazz. He followed up in 1975 with Guitars and September Man, both also highly inventive, fusion-influenced albums. Sessions with Herb Geller, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, and Charles Mingus followed, as did a duo tour with guitarist Coryell. Also during the '70s, he paired with close associate saxophonist Charlie Mariano for a handful of sessions, and rounded out the decade with his own Nairam, which also featured Mariano, along with trumpeter Palle Mikkelborg and others. During the '80s, Catherine's profile continued to rise as he released several more well-regarded efforts, including Babel, End of August, and Trio with guitarist Christian Escoude and violinist Didier Lockwood. There also were dates with Aldo Romano, Stéphane Grappelli, and Kenny Drew. Also in the '80s, he gained attention for his work with legendary West Coast trumpeter/vocalist Chet Baker, touring and appearing on such albums as 1983's Mr. B and 1985's Strollin'. Although his 1986 album, Transparence, layered keyboards into his atmospheric sound, his work with Baker pointed toward a more acoustic-leaning aesthetic. It was a sound he further embraced on 1990's I Remember You. 

Dedicated to Baker (who died in 1989), the album also featured trumpeter/flügelhornist Tom Harrell. Throughout the '90s, Catherine released a steady stream of albums for smaller jazz labels like Enja, Criss Cross, and Dreyfus, including albums like Moods, Vol. 1, Spanish Nights, and 1999's Guitar Groove. In 2001, he returned with Blue Prince, which found him balancing his love of acoustic jazz and electric fusion. Joining him were trumpeter Bert Joris, bassist Hein van de Geyn, and drummer Hans Van Oosterhout. Joris was also on board for 2002's Summer Night. The orchestral album Meeting Colours followed three years later. The more intimate Guitars Two appeared in 2008. He then joined bassist van de Geyn, pianist Enrico Pieranunzi, and drummer Joe La Barbera for the 2010 live album Concert in Capbreton. A year later, he delivered the trio date Plays Cole Porter, followed by 2013's warmly sophisticated Côté Jardin. The duo album New Folks with bassist Martin Wind followed a year later. He then joined the Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie for 2015's The String Project: Live in Brussels. ~ Matt Collar https://www.allmusic.com/artist/philip-catherine-mn0000287463/biography

Featuring: Philip Catherine (guitar), Trilok Gurtu (percussions), Charlie Mariano (saxophone), Toots Thielemans (harmonica), Nicolas Fiszman (bass) & electric

End Of August

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Johnny Richards & His Orchestra - Softly... Wild... And Something Else!

Styles: Jazz, Big Band
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 79:57
Size: 185,6 MB
Art: Front

(6:04)  1. Waltz, Anyone?
(3:17)  2. For All We Know
(7:12)  3. Dimples
(5:06)  4. Band Aide
(6:27)  5. Turn Aboot
(4:12)  6. Burrito Borracho
(2:56)  7. Long Ago and Far Away
(5:46)  8. Aijalon
(2:42)  9. Walk Softly
(3:57) 10. Run Wild
(3:47) 11. The Way You Look Tonight
(4:01) 12. Laura
(4:53) 13. Tempest on the Charles
(3:06) 14. Sunday's Child
(2:17) 15. Alone Together
(4:06) 16. Three Cornered Cat
(3:42) 17. You Go to My Head
(6:18) 18. Yemaya

Johnny Richards was a man of convictions. Hearing the Richards aggregation, one can feel the leader's expansive expressiveness working. His main goal was the creation of interesting, stimulating music, not music of any particular kind. "We are an ORCHESTRA, not a band of sections; an organized orchestra of interested and interesting musicians who play a music of many dimensions and feelings." Richards once said: "Our music is ambitious. That explains why our instrumentation is not exactly standard. Although we are a jazz orchestra, this does not mean that other musical forms and rhythms cannot be incorporated into our music. After all, music is expressed in many languages. We should be aware and learn from that." https://www.freshsoundrecords.com/johnny-richards-albums/4073-softly-wild-and-something-else.html

Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Childers, Pete Candoli, Stu Williamson, Ray Copeland, Shorty Rogers (tp), Milt Bernhart, Frank Rosolino, Don Nelly, Jimmy Cleveland (tb), Julius Watkins, Vince De Rosa (Frh), Charlie Mariano, Gene Quill, Dave Schildkraut (as), Richie Kamuca, Frank Socolow (ts), Ronny Lang (bs), Marty Paich, John Knapp (p), Buddy Clark (b), Stan Levey, Ed Shaughnessy (d)

Softly... Wild... And Something Else!

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Elvin Jones - Dear John C.

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1965
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:38
Size: 99,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:56)  1. Dear John C.
(5:22)  2. Ballade
(3:49)  3. Love Bird
(5:54)  4. Everything Happens To Me
(3:41)  5. Smoke Rings
(4:24)  6. This Love Of Mine
(4:11)  7. Anthropology
(4:09)  8. Feeling Good
(3:59)  9. Fantazm
(3:08) 10. That Five-Four Bag

The second album by Elvin Jones as sole title rights leader (excluding the co-op ensemble that recorded the stunning and essential progressive jazz icon Illumination!) has the drummer sounding more like a backup musician, as he claims no compositional duties or noticeable solo space. In fact, this is one of the very best albums in the career of alto saxophonist Charlie Mariano, who occupies the bulk of lead lines and improvising responsibilities. He's so up-front, and on an instrument that is not John Coltrane's main instrument the tenor sax that the title is also a bit of a misnomer. The value of Jones as a bandleader lies in his concept of using fellow Detroiter Sir Roland Hanna or brother Hank Jones on selected tracks, or in the case of three tracks, no pianist. Bassist Richard Davis rounds out this truly brilliant ensemble of burgeoning mid-'60s jazz stars, who play an enticing collection of standards, bop, compositions of Bob Hammer, and originals from several modern sources. A stone cold bebopper and Charlie Parker devotee at the time of this recording. Mariano is the standout performer. He swings easily but mightily on the title track paralleling Coltrane's "Milestones," stretches the Charles Mingus evergreen "Reincarnation of a Lovebird" (titled here as "Love Bird"), and pulls out all the stops with Hank Jones during an only slightly flawed (they miss two notes) version of the tricky "Anthropology." 

They tack a calypso beat onto Duke Ellington's "Fantazm" in a playful, modern dress, and stroll on the quirky Hammer composition "That Five-Four Bag" as an offshoot retort to Dave Brubeck's "Take Five." The three tracks sans piano include a walking version of "Everything Happens to Me"; the ballad "Smoke Rings," where the band excepting Mariano is relaxed; and Frank Sinatra's "This Love of Mine," where the emotive saxophonist dips into humor, even a bit ribald. The variety from cut to cut is engaging, and there's nothing over the top, even the drumming of Elvin Jones. With the musicality at a high level, Dear John C. needs revisiting by drumming students and jazz fans to note how teamwork, shared values, and held-in-check dynamics benefit the overall quality of music. It seems this recording is underrated when over time it should never be. Dear John C. is deserving of an excellent rating. ~ Michael G.Nastos https://www.allmusic.com/album/dear-john-c-mw0000096993  

Personnel: Elvin Jones (drums); Charlie Mariano (alto saxophone); Roland Hanna, Hank Jones (piano); Richard Davis (acoustic bass).

Dear John C.

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Helen Carr - Down In The Depths On The 90th Floor (Remastered)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 24:56
Size: 57.1 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 1955/2014
Art: Front

[3:01] 1. Not Mine
[5:15] 2. I Don't Want To Cry Anymore
[2:20] 3. Tulip Or Turnip
[2:48] 4. Memory Of The Rain
[3:11] 5. Down In The Depths Of The 90th Floor
[2:54] 6. You're Driving Me Crazy
[2:58] 7. I'm Glad There Is You
[2:25] 8. Moments Like This

Charlie Mariano: Alto Saxophone; Don Fagerquist: Trumpet; Helen Carr: Vocals; Max Bennett: Bass; Donn Trenner: Piano; Stan Levy: Drums.

One of the darkest vocal jazz albums of the 50s - packaged with a great title and cover image that features a lone lit window in a New York skyscraper! Helen has incredible backing on the record - a small combo that includes Charlie Mariano on alto sax, Don Fagerquist on trumpet, and Donn Trenner on piano - all gently sliding in behind Carr's blue vocals in a way that's similar to some of the Chris Connor work on Bethlehem from the same time. Titles include a near-perfect reading of 'Down In The Depths On The 90th Floor', plus 'Not Mine', 'Tulip Or Turnip', 'Moments Like This', 'I'm Glad There Is You', and 'Memory Of The Rain'.

Down In The Depths On The 90th Floor 

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Charlie Mariano, Sadao Watanabe - Charlie Mariano & Sadao Watanabe

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:05
Size: 94.1 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 1967/2013
Art: Front

[3:17] 1. Come Home Baby
[4:24] 2. Black Orpheus
[3:31] 3. One Note Samba
[3:41] 4. Work Song
[5:38] 5. Oh Lord Please Don't Let Them Drop That Atomic Bomb On Me
[3:42] 6. The Shadow Of Your Smile
[5:22] 7. Goin' Home
[3:19] 8. On The Trail
[4:45] 9. My Romance
[3:21] 10. Secret Love

Alto Saxophone – Charlie Mariano; Alto Saxophone, Flute – Sadao Watanabe; Bass – Masanaga Harada; Drums – Masahiko Togashi; Piano – Masabumi Kikuchi. Recorded June 27, 1967 at Victor Studio, Tokyo, Japan.

In 1967, Sadao Watanabe and Charlie Mariano recorded a pair of albums in Japan, Charlie Mariano & Sadao Watanabe on Victor and Iberian Waltz on the Takt Jazz Series label. Each album has been reissued in Japan, the U.S., and several European countries.

Sadao: "I learned so much from Charlie. Bird was my idol and Charlie’s too, but most of my Bird influence came from Charlie Mariano." Born in Utsunomiya city in Tochigi prefecture in 1933, Sadao Watanabe grew up around music including his father who sang and played the biwa, a Japanese flute. In high school, Sadao Watanabe first started playing clarinet, crediting the 1941 musical Birth Of The Blues with inspiring this decision. After relocating to Tokyo at the age of 18, Sadao Watanabe began playing alto saxophone for the first time. During the next decade, he honed his skills in sessions with various groups including Toshiko Akiyoshi’s Cozy Quartet, which he assumed leadership of when she moved to the United States in 1956. In 1961, he released his first of more than sixty albums as a leader, Sadao Watanabe.

Charlie Mariano & Sadao Watanabe mc
Charlie Mariano & Sadao Watanabe zippy

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Herb Ellis - Ellis In Wonderland

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:18
Size: 83.1 MB
Styles: Bop, Guitar jazz
Year: 1956/2006
Art: Front

[4:44] 1. Sweetheart Blues
[4:51] 2. Somebody Loves Me
[3:43] 3. It Could Happen To You
[4:43] 4. Pogo
[4:00] 5. Detour Ahead
[3:48] 6. Ellis In Wonderland
[6:17] 7. Have You Met Miss Jones
[4:09] 8. A Simple Tune

Alto Saxophone – Charlie Mariano; Bass – Ray Brown; Drums – Alvin Stoller; Guitar – Herb Ellis; Piano – Oscar Peterson; Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet – Jimmy Giuffre; Trumpet – Harry Edison. Recorded December 1955 and January 1956 in Hollywood.

In the midst of his tenure with the Oscar Peterson Trio, Herb Ellis had the chance to turn the tables on his boss and employ him as a sideman, though the keyboard virtuoso strangely reigns in his chops and pretty much stays in the background. This pair of sessions was first issued on a Norgran LP and finally reissued as a Verve CD in early 2006. The first four tracks add Jimmy Giuffre (alternating between baritone sax, tenor sax, and clarinet) and trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison, along with fellow Peterson sideman Ray Brown and drummer Alvin Stoller. Ellis' originals include the easygoing "Sweetheart Blues" and the cooking bop vehicle "Pogo," where both the leader and Edison eclipse Giuffre's efforts on sax. "It Could Happen to You" focuses exclusively on Ellis, with Peterson and Edison sitting out and Giuffre adding some background color on clarinet. Alto saxophonist Charlie Mariano is added for the latter date. The well-known "Detour Ahead" (jointly credited to Ellis and his former Soft Winds bandmates Lou Carter and Johnny Frigo, though Frigo has long maintained that it was his composition alone) has a chamber-like setting, with the band primarily providing background for Ellis, though Ray Brown gets in a snappy solo toward the end. The session picks up with the bubbly "Ellis in Wonderland" and a snappy rendition of "Have You Met Miss Jones?" Giuffre's loping "A Simple Tune" reflects Ellis' Texas roots in a bluesy setting, with Peterson finally getting a chance to stretch out for a chorus. This early album by Herb Ellis is well worth acquiring. ~Ken Dryden

Ellis In Wonderland

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Irene Kral - The Band And I / Steveireneo!

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:53
Size: 144.0 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[2:10] 1. I'd Know You Anywhere
[3:40] 2. Detour Ahead
[2:35] 3. Comes Love
[1:59] 4. Everybody Knew But Me
[2:52] 5. Lazy Afternoon
[2:58] 6. What's Right For You
[2:43] 7. I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart
[2:55] 8. Memphis In June
[2:04] 9. This Little Love
[2:32] 10. The Night We Called It A Day
[2:29] 11. It Isn't So Good
[2:11] 12. Something To Remember You By
[2:21] 13. Too Late The Spring
[2:26] 14. Run (Don't Walk)
[2:27] 15. The Best Time Of The Day
[2:28] 16. Yes
[2:46] 17. There He Goes
[3:03] 18. And Even Then
[3:02] 19. Houseboat
[2:02] 20. Cool Blue
[2:30] 21. What Is A Woman
[2:49] 22. Spring Is Where You Are
[2:58] 23. Impossible
[2:42] 24. Pleasant Dreams

Twofer: Tracks #1-12 from the United Artists 12" LP "The band and I" (UAS 5016); Tracks #13-24 from the United Artists 12" LP "Steveireneo!" (UAS 6052). Irene Kral (vcl), with Herb Pomeroy, Lenny Johnson, Joe Newman (tp), Urbie Green (tb), Charlie Mariano, Zoot Sims, Danny Bank (saxes), Joe Venuto (vib), Ray Santisi, Hank Jones (p), Jimmy Raney (g), John Neves (b), Jimmy Zitano, Charlie Persip (d).

The Band and I was the debut album of the great Irene Kral. On it the outstanding young vocalist, who first came to prominence with Maynard Fergusons band, had the benefit of Herb Pomeroys celebrated big band which, though it had never featured a vocalist before, gave her a backing that no orchestra composed of studio musicians could match. She responded with innate jazz feeling, sensitive phrasing and a warm, unaffected sound. Singer and big band are well served by the excellent Al Cohn and Ernie Wilkins charts.

On Steveireneo!, her second album, she handles a dozen of Steve Allens songs with complete command. Under the direction of Al Cohn, the band ideally complements her singing; Cohns well-conceived arrangements are, like everything he did, extremely musical. And the front-rank East Coast personnel consistently deliver fine solos in a savoury showcase for a superior singer.

The Band I/Steveireneo!

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Bobby Scott - The Compositions Of Bobby Scott

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1955
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:21
Size: 105,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:38)  1. Dot
(2:57)  2. Kwan Youen
(3:49)  3. Moon Tan
(4:16)  4. Betty
(4:10)  5. Aunt Sarah
(4:09)  6. Cerebellum
(2:19)  7. Wigwam
(4:03)  8. The Creed
(2:59)  9. Table Cloth Stomp
(2:59) 10. A Parable
(2:35) 11. The Wig
(2:45) 12. Count Bill
(4:36) 13. Makin' Whoopee (bonus track)

29 January 1937, New York City, New York, USA, d. 5 November 1990, New York City, New York, USA. Scott was a pianist, singer, composer, arranger, teacher and record producer. He also played several other instruments such as cello, bass, vibraphone, accordion and clarinet, but was mainly known for his jazz piano work and vocals. He attended Dorothea Anderson Follette’s School of Music, and then in 1949 studied composition with Edward Moritz, a former pupil of Claude Debussy. Despite his early classical training, Scott turned to jazz in his teens, and played with small bands led by the likes of Louis Prima, Tony Scott and Gene Krupa, with whom he cut some sides for Verve Records. From 1954, he recorded under his own name for labels such as Bethlehem, Savoy, Atlantic and ABC, and in 1956 had a US Top 20 hit with ‘Chain Gang’, written by Sol Quasha and Hank Yakus (not the Sam Cooke song). In 1960, Scott wrote the title theme for Shelagh Delaney’s play A Taste Of Honey, which became popular for pianist Martin Denny and, when Ric Marlow added a lyric, for Tony Bennett. It was also included on the Beatles’ first UK album. The song won a Grammy in 1962, and three more when Herb Alpert took it into the US Top 10 in 1965. In the early 60s Scott was the musical director for Dick Haymes for a time, and, as a pianist, arranger and record producer for Mercury Records, also maintained a close working relationship with Quincy Jones. Scott played piano on most of Jones’ Mercury albums, and accompanied Tania Vega and John Lee Hooker on Jones’ soundtrack music for the film The Color Purple (1986). As a producer, Scott supervised sessions for important artists such as Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Bobby Darin, Harry Belafonte and Sarah Vaughan. He discovered and recorded guitarist/vocalist Perry Miller, who changed his name to Jesse Colin Young, and he is also credited with taking singer Bobby Hebb back to Mercury, although Scott left the label before Hebb released his biggest hit, ‘Sunny’, in 1966.

Scott’s compositions included ‘He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother’ (lyrics by Bob Russell), a hit for Neil Diamond (in 1970) and for the Hollies a year earlier and again in 1988, when it featured impressively in a UK television commercial for Miller Lite Lager; ‘Where Are You Going?’ (with Danny Meehan), sung by Joe Butler in the film Joe (1970); and ‘Slaves (Don’t You Know My Name?)’, performed by Dionne Warwick in the movie Slaves (1969). Scott also composed incidental music for the play Dinny And The Witches, and several pieces for harp and string trios, including ‘The Giacometti Variations’, so-called because it was part-used as a radio advertisement for the Giacometti Exhibition held at the New York Museum of Modern Art. His compositions for guitar included ‘Solitude Book’ and ‘The Book Of Hours’, the latter recorded with Brazilian guitarist Carlos Barbosa-Lima. For Sentimental Reasons displayed Scott simply as an accomplished pianist, who also sang. He died of lung cancer in the year of its release. http://www.oldies.com/artist-biography/Bobby-Scott.html

Personnel: Bobby Scott (arranger, piano); Hal McKusick, Charlie Mariano (alto saxophone); Bill Holman (tenor saxophone); Al Epstein, Jimmy Giuffre (baritone saxophone); Ronnie Woellmer, Conte Candoli (trumpet); Eddie Bert, Frank Rosolino (trombone); Milt Hinton, Max Bennett (bass); Osie Johnson, Stan Levey (drums).

The Compositions Of Bobby Scott

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Charlie Mariano - Reflections

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1974
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:15
Size: 122,3 MB
Art: Front

( 5:38)  1. Glenford Crescent
( 8:30)  2. Naima
( 7:16)  3. Brother Muthaiah
( 4:26)  4. Spanish Dance No.2
( 5:44)  5. Blue in Green
( 4:46)  6. Thiruvarankulam
( 5:56)  7. Chile
(10:55)  8. Rambling

Charlie Mariano's career can easily be divided into two phases. Early on he was a fixture in Boston, playing with Shorty Sherock (1948), Nat Pierce (1949-1950), and his own groups. After gigging with a band co-led by Chubby Jackson and Bill Harris, Mariano toured with Stan Kenton's Orchestra (1953-1955) which earned him a strong reputation. He moved to Los Angeles in 1956 (working with Shelly Manne and other West Coast jazz stars), returned to Boston to teach in 1958 at Berklee, and the following year, had a return stint with Kenton. After marrying Toshiko Akiyoshi, Mariano co-led a group with the pianist on and off up to 1967, living in Japan during part of the time and also working with Charles Mingus (1962-1963).

The second phase of his career began with the formation of his early fusion group Osmosis in 1967. Known at the time as a strong bop altoist with a sound of his own developed out of the Charlie Parker style, Mariano began to open his music up to the influences of folk music from other cultures, pop, and rock. He taught again at Berklee, traveled to India and the Far East, and in the early '70s settled in Europe. Among the groups Mariano has worked with have been Pork Pie (which also featured Philip Catherine), the United Jazz & Rock Ensemble, and Eberhard Weber's Colours. Charlie Mariano's airy tones on soprano and the nagaswaram (an Indian instrument a little like an oboe) fit right in on some new agey ECM sessions and he also recorded as a leader through the years for Imperial, Prestige, Bethlehem, World Pacific, Candid (with Toshiko Akiyoshi in 1960), Regina, Atlantic, Catalyst, MPS, CMP, Leo, and Calig, among others. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/artist/charlie-mariano-mn0000207133/biography

Personnel: Charlie Mariano: alto, soprano sax;  Eero Koivistoinen: tenor, soprano sax;  Jukka Tolonen: electric guitar;  Ollo Ahvenlahti: piano, electric piano;  Pentti Hietanen: piano;  Pekka Sarmanto: acoustic bass;  Heikki Virtanan: electric bass;  Esko Rossnell: drums;  Reino Laine: drums;  Sabu Martinez: congas, percussion

Reflections

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Charlie Mariano - Not Quite A Ballad

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:35
Size: 153,0 MB
Art: Front

( 4:42)  1. Adagio
( 7:44)  2. Plum Island
(12:18)  3. Yagapriya
( 4:41)  4. Vesti La Giuppa
(10:47)  5. Not Quite a Ballad
( 8:31)  6. The Next Last Wave
( 9:14)  7. Lopin'
( 5:47)  8. Candy Lip
( 1:49)  9. You Better Go Now

Octogenarian saxophonist Charlie Mariano has spent a lifetime blurring boundaries. One of the few remaining witnesses of the bebop era, he has spent the early part of his career in that arena. In the mid-'60s he began experimenting with fusion, recording arguably his best work in that genre with bassist Eberhard Weber's groundbreaking Colours band in the '70s. Throughout he has had a passion for music of other cultures, spending time in India learning the nadhaswaram, a South Indian wind instrument. His immersion in Indian culture is well-documented on the '83 ECM recording Jyothi. In recent years, however, he has become more associated with the mainstream, although his broader interests never seem to be far away. With Not Quite a Ballad he marks another achievement'a recording with a concert orchestra'and the result combines the expected with an element of pure surprise.

Along with the Wurtzburger Philharmonic, under the direction of conductor Jonathan Seers, Mariano is supported by New on the Corner, a trio consisting of pianist Bernard Pichl, double-bassist Rudi Engel and drummer Bill Elgart. While both the orchestra and the trio deliver everything that is expected of them and more, this is really Mariano's show and he is understandably front and centre for its majority. An adaptation of Albinoni's "Adagio" is a fitting introduction, reflecting Mariano's Italian roots. Another classical reworking, that of the aria "Vesti la Giubba" from Leoncavallo's I, Pagliacci , demonstrates how Mariano can deliver an interpretation that is dramatic without being melodramatic. His rich tone and invention permeate both pieces. The orchestration is lush without being cloying; sentimental without being syrupy. Four pieces for Mariano with New on the Corner alone highlight Mariano's sense of adventure, even within a mainstream context. The title track is aptly named; the melody would lend itself to being a ballad if it weren't for the more medium-tempo swing of the rhythm section. Mariano's tone is strong and expressive; age seems to be doing nothing to diminish his power.

The highlight of the album is clearly Indian composer Ramamani's "Yagapriya," where the orchestra comfortably navigates the microtonal nature of Indian music. The first half is a free improvisation, or tampura, by Mariano over the orchestra's changing "bordun" form; the second, in 7/4 time, is structured around a single scale, but Peter Fulda's orchestration again creates a broad sense of drama that is exhilarating without being overstated. The marriage of jazz soloists and orchestras can be risky. The inherent structure required of the orchestra can detract from the spirited improvisational nature of the soloist. Thankfully, in this case, Mariano and orchestrator Fulda understand the intentions and requirements of both soloist and orchestra, creating an amalgam which successfully brings out the strengths of both. Not Quite a Ballad is another high point in Mariano's career; a recording that shows that, even though he is in his 80s, he is as vital and exhuberant as ever. ~ John Kelman https://www.allaboutjazz.com/not-quite-a-ballad-charlie-mariano-intuition-review-by-john-kelman.php

Personnel includes: Charlie Mariano (saxophone); Wurzburg Philharmonic; Jonathan Seers (conductor); New On The Corner: Bernhard Pichl (piano); Rudi Engel (acoustic bass); Bill Elgart (drums).

Not Quite A Ballad

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Charlie Mariano - S/T

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:41
Size: 86.3 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2015
Art: Front

[5:29] 1. Where Or When/Johnny One Note
[3:58] 2. The Very Thought Of You
[3:08] 3. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
[5:21] 4. King For A Day
[4:19] 5. Darn That Dream
[4:32] 6. Floormat
[6:42] 7. Blues (Traditional)
[4:09] 8. I Heard That You Cried Last Night

Charlie Mariano is an American jazz alto saxophonist. He played with one of the Stan Kenton big bands, Toshiko Akiyoshi (his then wife), Charles Mingus, Eberhard Weber, the United Jazz and Rock Ensemble and numerous other notable musicians.

His career can easliy be divided into two. Early on he was a fixture in Boston, playing with Shorty Sherock (1948), Nat Pierce (1949-50) and his own groups. After gigging with a band co-led by Chubby Jackson and Bill Harris, Mariano toured with Stan Kenton's Orchestra (1953-55) which gave him a strong reputation. He moved to Los Angeles in 1956 (working with Shelly Manne and other West Coast jazz stars), returned to Boston to teach in 1958 at Berklee and the following year had a return stint with Kenton. After marrying Toshiko Akiyoshi, Mariano co-led a group with the pianist on and off up to 1967, living in Japan during part of the time and also working with Charles Mingus (1962-63).

The second career began with the formation of his early fusion group Osmosis in 1967. Known at the time as a strong bop altoist with a sound of his own developed out of the Charlie Parker style, Mariano began to open his music up to the influences of folk music from other cultures, pop and rock. He taught again at Berklee, traveled to India and the Far East and in the early '70s settled in Europe. Among the groups Mariano has worked with have been Pork Pie (which also featured Philip Catherine), the United Jazz and Rock Ensemble and Eberhard Weber's Colours. Charlie Mariano's airy tones on soprano and the nagaswaram (an Indian instrument a little like an oboe) fit right in on some new agey ECM sessions and he also recorded as a leader through the years for Imperial, Prestige, Bethlehem, World Pacific, Candid (with Toshiko Akiyoshi in 1960), Regina, Atlantic, Catalyst, MPS, CMP, Leo and Calig among others.

Charlie Mariano

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Martin Sasse Trio & Charlie Mariano - Good Times

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:51
Size: 148.5 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[ 6:34] 1. Estate
[ 6:10] 2. Yours Is My Heart Alone
[ 5:11] 3. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
[ 4:57] 4. My Funny Valentine
[ 5:04] 5. Doxy
[ 5:59] 6. I Thought About You
[ 6:08] 7. Stella By Starlight
[ 6:16] 8. Randy
[10:33] 9. My Foolish Heart [live]
[ 7:56] 10. Good Times [live]

Bass – Henning Gailing; Drums – Hendrik Smock; Alto Saxophone – Charlie Mariano; Piano – Martin Sasse. Recording information: Kinodrom, Bocholt (03/13/2003); Topaz Studios, Köln, Germany (03/13/2003); Kinodrom, Bocholt (04/16/2006); Topaz Studios, Köln, Germany (04/16/2006).

This 2006 recording features alto saxophonist Charlie Mariano, a restless innovator who spent the last decades of his life living in Europe. 'Good Times' is his last studio recording (he died in 2009 at the great age of 85) and he is backed by the trio of pianist Martin Sasse, who is one of Germany's leading jazz musicians.

Good Times

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Stu Williamson - Stu Williamson Plays

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1956
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:16
Size: 136,2 MB
Art: Front

(4:16)  1. The Lady Is a Tramp
(5:41)  2. Stu's Due Blues
(2:52)  3. The Things We Did Last Summer
(3:52)  4. Yardbird Suite
(2:39)  5. Autumn in New York
(4:26)  6. Just Friends
(3:30)  7. Pee Jay
(3:50)  8. Darn That Dream
(6:11)  9. Hongry Child
(4:31) 10. Big Red
(5:07) 11. Red Cross
(3:21) 12. Talk of the Town
(3:59) 13. Oom's Tune
(4:56) 14. Rose Bud

Stu Williamson led relatively few sessions in his career and over half of them are on this excellent Fresh Sound CD. The cool-toned trumpeter is mostly heard in a quintet with altoist Charlie Mariano, pianist Claude Williamson (his brother), either Max Bennett or Leroy Vinnegar on bass, and Stan Levey or Mel Lewis on drums. The remaining four songs (all Bill Holman compositions) feature a sextet with Holman on tenor, baritonist Jimmy Giuffre, Claude, Vinnegar, and Lewis. The music swings lightly but firmly with excellent solos from all concerned, making this CD a prime example of West Coast jazz from the 1950s. Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/stu-williamson-plays-mw0000875069

Personnel: Stu Williamson (Trumpet) , Charlie Mariano (Saxophone),  Claude Williamson (Piano), Max Bennett (Bass), Stan Levey (Drums).

Stu Williamson Plays

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Stu Williamson - The Trumpet Artistry Of Stu Williamson

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:22
Size: 134,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:11)  1. Lady Is A Tramp
(5:37)  2. Stu's Due Blues
(2:48)  3. Things We Did Last Summer
(3:47)  4. Yardbird Suite
(2:35)  5. Autumn In New York
(3:26)  6. Pee Jay
(6:07)  7. Hongry Child
(3:46)  8. Darn That Dream
(4:27)  9. Big Red
(4:55) 10. Rose Bud
(3:16) 11. Talk Of The Town
(5:02) 12. Red Cross
(4:22) 13. Just Friends
(3:55) 14. Oom's Tune

Cherry-picking highlights from his mid-'50s dates for the Bethlehem label, The Trumpet Artistry of Stu Williamson represents a superb introduction to this underappreciated West Coast jazz great. A remarkably supple, nuanced trumpeter, Williamson captures the absolute essence of the left-coast sound. His solos are expansive yet efficient, speaking volumes in a minimum of phrases. Brother Claude plays piano on all 14 cuts, while Charlie Mariano, Jimmy Giuffre, and Bill Holman rotate guitar duties. All are in top form, crafting soulful renditions of "Yardbird Suite," "Red Cross," and "Darn That Dream." ~ Jason Ankeny  http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-trumpet-artistry-of-stu-williamson-mw0000704063

Featuring: Stu Williamson (tp), Charlie Mariano (as), Bill Holman (ts), Jimmy Giuffre (bs), Claude Williamson (p), Max Bennett (b), Leroy Vinnegar (b), Mel Lewis (d), Stan Levey (d)

The Trumpet Artistry Of Stu Williamson

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Stu Williamson - Stu Williamson

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:08
Size: 89,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:24)  1. Pee Jay
(4:21)  2. Just Friends
(3:45)  3. Darn That Dream
(6:05)  4. Hungry Child
(4:26)  5. Big Red
(5:01)  6. Red Cross
(3:15)  7. Talk Of The Town
(3:53)  8. Oom's Tune
(4:54)  9. Rose Bud

The younger brother of pianist Claude Williamson, Stu Williamson was a fixture on West Coast jazz dates of the 1950s. He moved to Los Angeles in 1949 and spent periods playing with Stan Kenton (1951), Woody Herman (1952-1953), and Kenton again (1954-1955), in addition to shorter stints with Billy May and Charlie Barnet. The mellow-toned Williamson, best-known for his association with Shelly Manne (off and on during 1954-1958), was on a countless number of sessions up until 1968 when he dropped out of the music scene. A drug addict, Stu Williamson spent most of his last two decades struggling outside of music. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/artist/stu-williamson-mn0000526195/biography

Personnel:  Alto Saxophone – Charlie Mariano;  Baritone Saxophone – Jimmy Giuffre;  Bass – Leroy Vinnegar;  Drums – Mel Lewis;  Piano – Claude Williamson;  Tenor Saxophone – Bill Holman;  Trumpet – Stu Williamson

Stu Williamson

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