This CD consists of the music formerly included on the albums Modern Music From San Francisco and Charlie Mariano Sextet. The former LP features three overlapping groups of musicians who were mostly based in San Francisco in the mid-'50s, with pianist
Sonny Clark being a ringer. The Vince Guaraldi Quartet, the Ron Crotty Trio, and Jerry Dodgion's Quartet all show that the "modern" music played in San Francisco at the time was not much different than its better-known L.A. counterpart. The music swings, has smooth and light timekeeping from the rhythm section, and Dodgion's tone on alto is not that far from
Bud Shank's at the time. The Charlie Mariano sextet's date was recorded at San Francisco's Blackhawk and teams together players who were mostly from Boston or San Francisco, including altoist Mariano, trumpeter
Dick Collins, trombonist
Sonny Truitt, and pianist
Richard Wyands. Two Truitt originals, a song apiece from
Vince Guaraldi and
Alec Wilder, plus three standards all serve as fine vehicles for concise solos, tight ensembles, and relaxed playing. ~ Scott Yanow