Jazz Feature For August 13:the Toshiko-mariano Quartet.

[Gavin Walker]

Pianist/composer Toshiko Akiyoshi was born in Dairen, Manchuria on December 12, 1929 . Young Toshiko and her parents were expelled from Manchuria when the Chinese reclaimed the territory and they went to live in Tokyo where she began piano studies. Toshiko was classically trained but heard a lot of Jazz through Americans living or stationed in Japan. She soon began to play in dancehalls and with Jazz groups and became totally committed to Jazz when she met and hung with pianist Hampton Hawes who was stationed in Tokyo. Toshiko moved to the U.S. in 1956. By the time she met and fell in love and married alto saxophonist Charlie Mariano in November 1959, Toshiko had albums out under her name and was well established on the Jazz scene. Mariano (nee Carmine Hugo Mariano) was born in Boston on November 12, 1923, is undoubtedly one of the most distinctive and passionate voices on the alto saxophone. He plays many other instruments but he will go down in Jazz history as a powerful voice on the alto. Mariano's recording and sideman credits run long and would take up too much space. By the time of our featured recording his voice was his and although Charlie Parker was his biggest influence he had shed his Bird preponderances for a sound and style all his own. Most younger listeners will probably remember Mariano for his work with Mingus('The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady' and 'Mingus,Mingus, Mingus etc') or his later work with German bassist/composer Eberhard Weber. As an aside, my old friend and mentor, the late altoist Dale Hillary said to me once," Gavin. man, you have got to listen to and study Charlie Mariano and forget about Eric Dolphy, Oliver Nelson and John Handy (I had not met Handy at this point)........Mariano makes them all sound like beginners........well Handy's ok, I guess." Dale was a man of opinions and was never afraid to state them. The feature album is the only document of the Toshiko-Mariano Quartet and was recorded when their marriage was a year old. The band was as short-lived as their marriage. Mariano and Toshiko went to live in Japan for a couple of years and then split up and Charlie returned to the States. The session was the recording debut of two great players: bassist Gene Cherico who was born in Buffalo, N.Y. who eventually worked with Paul Desmond(on recordings), Stan Getz, Red Norvo, Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra, George Shearing........you get the picture. Gene died on August 12, 1994. The other member of the rhythm section is drummer Eddie Marshall who was born in Springfield, Mass. on April 13, 1938. Eddie is one of the mainstays of the San Francisco scene having worked with everybody who is anybody.....The Fourth Way(remember that band...one of the first 'fusion' bands),John Handy, Pharoah Sanders, Bobby Hutcherson(Eddie was with Bobby at the 2006 Vancouver Jazz Festival). Eddie was the virtual house drummer at the legendary 'Keystone Korner' in the Bay Area. Eddie, it should be noted is the grandson of Kaiser Marshall, one of the pioneering innovators of early Jazz drumming. This album is an important document of a beautiful band not just a saxophone and rhythm group but a BAND! Mariano wrote two originals and arranged a beautiful spiritual called "Deep River" and Toshiko wrote two of her own. Especially moving is her musical depiction of her Manchurian childhood called "The Long Yellow Road". Passionate and warm music with a touch of melancholy is this band's forte. It's also nice to report that with the exception of Cherico all the players are still alive and performing. Toshiko re-married saxophonist/flutist Lou Tabakin and leads both small groups and a big band. Mariano is in Europe and plays "straight ahead" Jazz and Marshall is still very active in San Francisco. Check out this album tonight.....you'll be glad you did and even though it was recorded in 1960....it is still fresh, swinging and vital.