RE-POST

Don't miss it this time!
See comments in original post here

I have re-posted Hans Koller 78 rpm (see original post)

The annual Charlie Mariano Re-Post Programme

By popular demand, I have re-posted  three Charlie Mariano LPs.  (last re-post was a year ago).

(see links in comments of original posts)

And a little extra for Mariano's fans :

a.k.a. Blue Flute 
No point in re-posting it,, get it here and say thanks to the man!

And another favorite Mariano, this time with Eero Koivistoinen 's group: 

No point in ripping it, it's already floating in the blogsphere.  Get it here.

And don't forget this one: pure magic!

It's probably still floating around the blogworld, otherwise buy the CD re-issue (still easily available from Amazon or other dealers).

CASCADE

CHARLIE MARIANO – CASCADE

(Keytone LP, NL, 1974)

Another Charlie Mariano LP from the Seventies thanks to JC.   

1974 was a busy year for Charlie Mariano, he appears on ten recording sessions, including two under his own name:  this one with Chris Hinze and Reflections with a group of Finnish all stars.

The LP was produced by Chris Hinze and released on his own private label, Keytone.

In addition to Chris Hinze himself, the musicians were all members or close associates of the Chris Hinze Combination, namely the rhythm pair of John Lee and Gerry Brown, the keyboards of Jasper van ‘t Hof and Rob van den Broek, Philip Catherine and Michael Samson on guitar.

Van ‘t Hof, Catherine and Mariano will form  Porkpie shortly after this recording, so it gives you an idea what to expect.

Tracklist

A1          Suite Of The Festival               Composed by  Chris Hinze                             5:01

A2          Harriet                                       Composed by  John Lee                                 6:28

A3          Quest                                          Composed by John Lee                                  4:08

A4          Electric Funk Jungle                Composed by Charlie Mariano                      5:46

B1          Cascade                                      Composed by Charlie Mariano                      5:31

B2          Piece For Banjo And Kazoo     Composed by – Charlie Mariano                   9:00

B3          Locus                                          Composed by John Lee                                  4:22

Credits

Charlie Mariano        Saxophone [Alto, Soprano], Flute [Wooden Indian Flutes], Reeds [Nagafvaram] –

Chris Hinze                          Flute

Philip Catherine                Spanish Guitar, Electric Guitar

Michaël Samson                Electric Guitar

Jasper Van 't Hof               Electric Piano [Fender Piano], Organ

Rob Van Den Broeck        Piano, Fender Rhodes

John Lee                               Bass [Acoustic, Electric]

Gerry Brown                       Drums, Percussion

Ripped from original LP (lossless, big file!)

For a comprehensive Mariano’s discography, please refer to the Charlie Mariano Tribute website.

If you like what you’ve heard, check this other Hinze / Mariano album (Blue Stone, 1973) here

7 UP

CHARLIE MARIANO – OCTOBER (Inner City, 1977)

 Here is another album that has not been re-issued so far.  It was recorded between Helen 12 Trees and Crystal Bells, (posted a few weeks ago).  Typical Seventies Mariano, part Jazz Fusion – part South Indian. 

AMG is pretty laconic and not especially informative on this one (not that I expect much from AMG):

A '77 session with onetime Charlie Parker imitator Charlie Mariano now as immersed in Asian and Indian music as he ever was in bop. He's working with a European rhythm section that includes keyboardist Rainer Bruninghaus and bassist Barre Phillips. There are some compositions that reflect Mariano's jazz background, while others have everything from classical strains to Asian scales and instruments

.

Personnel:

• Charlie Mariano – alto & soprano saxophones, flute, nagaswaram
• Rainer Brüninghaus – acoustic & electric pianos, synthesizer
• Barre Phillips – acoustic bass
• Hansgeorg Meuser – electric bass
• Udo Dahmen – drums, percussion
• Trilok Gurtu – tabla, percussion, drums (7)

Titles:

1. Aszù (Rainer Brüninghaus) 8:06
2. Nagaswarup (Charlie Mariano) 7:47
3. Earth (Rainer Brüninghaus) 2:47
4. Out of the Jungle (Udo Dahmen) 4:16
5. To an Elfin Princess (Charlie Mariano) 7:24
6. 7 Up (Hansgeorg Meuser) 5:27
7. Back of J. (Barre Phillips) 2:55
8. Down the Kaveri (Charlie Mariano) 4:45

Recorded October 5-7, 1977 at Cornet Studios, Cologne, Germany

Mixed October 19-21, 1977 by Wolfgang Hirschmann at Cornet Studios, Cologne, Germany.

Produced by Kurt Renker, supervised by Vera Brandes Released by Contemp (Germany) 2 Stereo | Inner City 1024

 Although not as good as Helen 12 Trees – which rates among Mariano’s best works ever, it’s nevertheless a very enjoyable and varied album.  There’s a bit of everything: fusion, South Indian, ECM-type ballads (Barre Philips'Back of J) and even a solid slab of funk (7 Up).

Ripped by JC from the original album.

Recommended website on Charlie  Mariano: Charlie Mariano Tribute

CRYSTAL BELLS

CHARLIE MARIANO – CRYSTAL BELLS (1980)

 After writing in my previous post that I found it nearly impossible to give a satisfactory definition of Jazz, I came across this statement on someone else’s  blog:

 “Jazz is no stranger to eclecticism. Musicians have been bending, breaking, reshaping, and reincorporating since the very beginning of jazz history. In fact, departing from jazz tradition might as well be the definition of jazz.”

I could live with this definition.  It would certainly have pleased Charlie Mariano.  His albums - and contributions to other people's works, including to a few kraut/prog albums - and his interest in Eastern music amply demonstrate the point.  CRYSTAL BELLS is just one example among many others.  

Charlie Mariano's output is well documented in the blogworld.  Several of his albums recorded during the Seventies, mostly in Europe, have already been posted on various blogs but I do not remember seeing this one.  I do not know of any CD re-issue either.

AMG is very laconic about this album. It just states “Excellent set, with Don Alias first-rate as a percussionist.”.  I won’t disagree with it.  On the other hand, I’m not too keen on Stu Goldberg’s synthesizers sound. 

Another great rip from JC. Thanks mate!

Personnel:

• Charlie Mariano – alto & soprano saxophones, bamboo flutes, nagaswaram
• Stu Goldberg – piano, keyboards, synthesizers
• Gene Perla – bass
• Don Alias – drums, congas, percussion

Titles:

1. Cynthia (Charlie Mariano) 9:34
2. Afreeka (Don Alias) 3:22
3. Crystal Bells (Charlie Mariano) 7:55
4. Telisi Rama (trad., arr. by Charlie Mariano) 8:07
5. Becky (Stu Goldberg) 4:53
6. Turquoise (Charlie Mariano) 9:06

Recorded in December 1979 and mixed in January 1980 by Henrik Lund at Easy Sound Studio, Copenhagen, Denmark

Produced by Kurt Renker.   Released by CMP (Germany) 10 ST

All Charlie Mariano’s fans should visit the Charlie Mariano Tribute Website.