Charlie Mariano

Charlie Mariano's professional journey splits naturally into distinct periods. In his initial years, he established himself as a regular presence around Boston, performing alongside Shorty Sherock in 1948, Nat Pierce from 1949 to 1950, and leading ensembles of his own. Following engagements with a combo jointly directed by Chubby Jackson and Bill Harris, he joined Stan Kenton's Orchestra for tours spanning 1953 to 1955, which helped solidify his standing in the jazz scene. Relocating to Los Angeles during 1956 allowed him to collaborate with Shelly Manne and additional prominent figures in West Coast jazz. He came back to Boston in 1958 for a teaching position at Berklee, and in the next year returned briefly to Kenton's band. His marriage to Toshiko Akiyoshi led to intermittent co-leadership of a group with the pianist until 1967, during which they spent time residing in Japan and he also performed with Charles Mingus between 1962 and 1963.

The later stage commenced in 1967 upon forming Osmosis, his pioneering fusion ensemble. Previously recognized as a capable bop altoist whose personal style emerged from Charlie Parker's approach, Mariano started incorporating elements from international folk traditions, pop, and rock into his playing. He resumed instructing at Berklee, journeyed through India and the Far East, and by the beginning of the 1970s made his home in Europe. His affiliations have included Pork Pie, a band that also starred Philip Catherine, the United Jazz & Rock Ensemble, and Eberhard Weber's Colours. Mariano's light, floating sound on soprano saxophone and the nagaswaram, an Indian woodwind resembling an oboe, suited the atmospheric ECM recordings perfectly, while his discography as a bandleader encompasses releases on Imperial, Prestige, Bethlehem, World Pacific, Candid (featuring Toshiko Akiyoshi from 1960), Regina, Atlantic, Catalyst, MPS, CMP, Leo, and Calig, to name several.