Originally influenced by Charlie Parker, the hero of bebop, Charlie Mariano has been carving his own haunting style on the alto sax through stints with Stan Kenton, Charles Mingus, Philip Catherine & Jasper van't Hof, the United Jazz & Rock Ensemble, the Karnataka College of Music, Rabih Abou-Khalil and many others.

At age 83, Mariano is one of the most unique, versatile and creative voices in jazz. He has blended his playing with legions of musicians on several continents without ever losing his art, his soul or his unmistakable sound. On each occasion he has added to the music of his collaborators something very personal.

On his newest album "Silver Blue", Charlie Mariano plays with his favorite European rhythm section, the Cholet-Känzig-Papaux trio, a French-Swiss team that has joined forces a while ago. Listen to them and you'll understand Mariano's choice: These guys have absorbed the great American tradition, yet found a way to express their own European sensitivity on harmonies and rhythms out of the language of jazz. Charlie Mariano has all it takes to understand this process of blending and integrating influences. Born in Boston of Italian origin, Mariano grew up in the American bop business before going to Europe, he lived many years in Japan and Malaysia and has been digging deep into Indian classical music and other "world" traditions.

Foremost a ballad album, "Silver Blue" displays Mariano's exquisite way of handling melodies and moods. Says American critic Nils Jacobsen: "Mariano uses to shape his phrasing and draw emphasis to points of contrast and climax. 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." With his individual, touching sound on the alto sax, sometimes dreamy and romantic, at other times plaintive and biting, Mariano's playing speaks of the blues of joy and the joy of the blues -- and his great love for life and mankind.
Musicians:
Charlie Mariano (alto saxophone), Jean-Christophe Cholet (piano), Heiri Känzig (bass), Marcel Papaux (drums).
9 Tracks.