Long overlooked for its service during World War II, Boston and its region were key for the manufacturing of supplies and uniforms as well as the building and outfitting of ships, and the deployment of troops. The city sent to Europe the second greatest number of soldiers on the East Coast, after New York, and third greatest tonnage of cargo. As a result, Boston became a city that provided the thousands of soldiers returning from battle or awaiting deployment with recreation and diversions.
After-hours clubs sprang up, sections of the genteel city were wilder than others for sevicemen, and famous big bands played local ballrooms. And thanks to the Washington D.C. to Boston railroad line, bands could tour from city to city, winding up in Boston and the region for extended runs. Starting in the early 1950s, many jazz clubs opened and attracted the city's drinking-age college students and their professors. These clubs included Storyville, the Hi-Hat, the Stables, the Savoy Café, the Wig Wam, Wally's, the Down Beat and the Melody Lounge, to name a handful. [Photo above, a train leaving Boston's Back Bay Station for Providence, R.I., New Haven, Ct., New York and points south]
By war's end, the Boston area had become known for producing a long list of leading jazz musicians, including Mal Hallett, Leo Resiman, Don Redman, Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney, Slam Stewart, Roy Haynes, Alan Dawson, Serge Chaloff, Jaki Byard, Joe Gordon, Nat Pierce, Charlie Mariano, Herb Pomeroy, Sam Rivers, Alan Dawson and Dick Twardzik. [Photo above of Serge Chaloff by William P. Gottlieb]
One of the finest was saxophonist Charlie Mariano. He grew up in the Hyde Park section of Boston, joined the Army Air Corps in World War II and, after the war, attended Schillinger House of Music, now Berklee College of Music. Influenced by Charlie Parker, Mariano was quick to establish his own style and sound. Like Lee Konitz, there was a bit of an edge in his tone. Mariano began recording in 1947 with the Ray Borden Big Band and led his first recording session in 1951, on The New Sounds From Boston for Prestige. [Photo above of Charlie Mariano in the 1950s]
Now, Fresh Sound has assembled 47 of Mariano's early recordings before he joined Stan Kenton's reed section in 1954. The new, two-CD box, Charlie Mariano: Boppin' in Boston 1947-1953, features remastered recordings that sound terrific. All were recorded in Boston. [Photo above of George Wein's Storyville jazz club in Boston]
They include recordings with pianist Nat Pierce, trumpeter Don Stratton, trumpeter Herb Pomeroy, pianist Jaki Byard, trumpeter Sonny Truitt, arranger-pianist Ralph Burns, trumpeter Joe Gordon, pianist Dick Twardzik, baritone saxophonist Serge Chaloff, Ira Gitler (on bells!) and trumpeter Dick Collins plus many other musicians.
Among the niftiest recordings are sides for two different octets, the Serge Chaloff/Ralph Burns Septet in 1949, tracks with Nat Pierce and His Orchestra, and several spectacular sextets and septets.
Mariano even plays beautifully on standards, with arrangements that offer a twist. These include What's New?, Autumn in New York, Stella by Starlight, I'm Old Fashioned, Come Rain or Come Shine, Let's Get Away From It All, The Thrill Is Gone, How About You, When Your Lover Has Gone and It's Magic.
What's especially interesting about Mariano during this period is how he slides between bebop and cool jazz styles. Different saxophone approaches, but the same sound. This box not only establishes Charlie Mariano as a major player early on but also is a fabulous introduction to the Boston jazz scene. No wonder George Wein was so passionate about jazz. This is a must-own set.
Charlie Mariano died of cancer in 2009 at age 85.
JazzWax tracks: You'll find Charlie Mariano: Boppin' in Boston 1947-1953 (Fresh Sound) here.
JazzWax clips: Here's What's New?, with the Ray Borden Orchestra in 1947: Bill Adams (tp); Gait Preddy, Buddy Hartford and Ray Borden (tp); Mert Goodspeed, Joe Fine and Joe Laconi (tb); Sebastian "Jock" Giacco (as); Charlie Mariano (as); Chuck Stentz and George Green (ts); Gordon Barrentine (bar); Nat Pierce (p); Steve Hester (g); Frank Vaccaro (b) and Joe MacDonald (d)...
Here's the Charlie Mariano Octet playing Babylon in 1949, with Don Stratton (tp), Mert Goodspeed (tb), Charlie Mariano (as), Randy Henderson (ts), George Green (bar), Nat Pierce (p), Frank Gallagher (b) and Joe McDonald (d)...
Here's the Charlie Mariano Boston All Stars playing Mariano's The Wizard in 1951: Joe Gordon (tp), Sonny Truitt (tb), Charlie Mariano (as), Jim Clark (ts), George Myers (bar), Roy Frazee (p), Jack Lawlor (b) and Gene Glennon (d)...
Here's the Charlie Mariano Sextet playing Sonny Truitt's My Friend Ethel in 1953, with Dick Collins (tp), Sonny Truitt (tb), Charlie Mariano (as), Richard Wyands (p), Vernon Alley (b) and Joe McDonald (d)...
Here's Mariano, in Nat Pierce and His Orchestra, playing Autumn in New York in 1949. The band: Nick Capezuto, Lennie Johnson, Gait Preddy and Bud Wilson (tp); Joe Fine, Mert Goodspeed and Frank "Ace" Lane (tb); Sebastian "Jock" Giacco and Charlie Mariano (as); George Green and Phil Viscuglia (ts); Gordon Barrentine (bar); Nat Pierce (p,arr); Steve Hester (g); Frank Gallagher (b) and Joe McDonald (d)...
And here's Mariano blowing cool on Truitt's After Coffee in 1953, with the same personnel as My Friend Ethel above...
JazzWax note: For more on the history of jazz in Boston, check out Richard Vacca's The Boston Jazz Chronicles (Troy Street) by going here.
