CHARLIE MARIANO - Deep In A Dream (2002)

A long and winding road led Charlie Mariano to this inspired record of romantic ballads. For the last 50 years he has traveled through swing, big band, bop, fusion, and more adventurous material; he lived and worked in the US, Japan, Europe, India, and Malaysia; and, not surprisingly, he has amassed a list of collaborators a mile long. No need to provide that list here. Mariano is his own man by now.

All that exploration leads him to Deep In A Dream. It's a far cry from his fusion work and recent ambient efforts: strictly straight-ahead jazz here. It must be said that jazz quartets—typically, as in this lineup, consisting of horn, piano, bass, and drums—have made ballad recordings since the beginning of time. And most of these records have been entirely forgettable, as most listeners know. But the ones that stand out serve as a lesson that one of the hardest things to do as an improvising musician is to harness all the academic knowledge and technical expertise required to play jazz, and turn it toward softness and delicacy.

From the first notes of Deep In A Dream, it's apparent that Mariano has chosen this road. The opening track, "You Better Go Now," leaps right into a alto melody that fairly drips with honey, swinging easily with a light tone that nonetheless retains an edge—something Mariano uses to shape his phrasing and draw emphasis to points of contrast and climax. This is a recurring theme. Rather than aiming for pure liquid smoothness, the saxophonist makes full use of his horn's broader range within these quiet dynamics. And the point, always, is a lyrical melody.

The remainder of the tunes consist of standards plus two originals. Of the standards, "I Only Miss Her When I Think Of Her" stands out most strongly. The Van Heusen/Cahn tune was suggested by pianist Bob Degen, who delivers a deft introduction with surges and pauses, moving back and forth between an abstract feel and light swing. By the time the piece gets up to speed, the group has acquired a fresh, percolating synergy. The interaction among members of the rhythm section is subtle but sophisticated. Drummer Jarrod Cagwin plays a key role in energizing the swinging Latin feel which becomes more and more apparent as the piece moves on.

Degen's original "Etosha" is incredibly soft and open. Lesser musicians would fall flat in such a spare context, but this quartet manages to stick together and maintain momentum. Just barely. It's a good sign that the weakest moment on the record retains a strong sense of clarity. That, of course, bodes well for the rest. As a whole, Deep In A Dream is a beautifully lyrical record with just enough quiet energy to fuel a constant sense of discovery and exploration.  -  Aaj Staff

Who can forget Charlie Mariano’s passionate alto playing throughout Charles Mingus’ 1963 album, The Back Saint and the Sinner Lady? Mingus said the saxophonist innately knew tears of sound were required. Today, nearly 80, Mariano remains fully capable of soulful performances full of tears, as he shows throughout the ballad-oriented Deep in a Dream.

Although he lives in Cologne and this album was recorded in the Netherlands, it represents a return to his Boston roots. After working in the ’50s with Stan Kenton’s orchestra and in the ’60s co-leading a quartet with pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi (his wife at the time), Mariano began to explore fusion, pop and Indian and Oriental folk music. For the last 35 years, his immersion in world music has overshadowed his bebop beginnings.

Throughout the CD, Mariano’s dry, slightly pinched tone and slow vibrato give a more reflective than effusive connotation to the word “soulful.” He uses the altissimo register a lot, and it sounds halfway between Paul Desmond’s coolness and David Sanborn’s edginess, but it seems as natural as a singer’s extended range.

Accompanied by the mood-setting trio of pianist Bob Degen, bassist Isla Eckinger and drummer Jarrod Cagwin, Mariano languishes over the melody of “I’m a Fool to Want You” and then follows with his best solo of the date, a sometimes careening, thoroughly blues-infused, bop-based outpouring. “Spring Is Here,” taken at a faster clip, is also close to the heart of bebop. “Dew Drops,” a Mariano original, conveys a sylvan, peaceful Oriental mood, a reminder of the effectiveness of his world-music impressions. Other romantic selections on this album include the standards “You Better Go Now,” “I Only Miss Her When I Think of Her,” “The Touch of Your Lips,” “Close Enough for Love,” “Yours Is My Heart Alone” and the title track.  -  Owen Cordie

Tracks

01. You Better Go Now (Bickley Reichneider/Robert Graham)

02. Dew Drops (Charlie Mariano)

03. Spring Is Here (Rodgers & hart)

04. I’m A Fool To Want You (Frank Sinatra/Jack Wolf/Joel Herron)

05. I Only Miss Her When I Think Of Her

06. The Touch Of Your Lips (Ray Noble)

07. Etosha (Bob Degen)

08. Close Enough For Love (Johnny Mandel/Paul Williams)

09. Yours Is My Heat Alone (Franz Lehár)

10. Deep In A Dream (Jimmy Van Heusen/H¡Johnny Burke)