As early as the late 40s, this dynamic saxophonist was working already with Sonny Sharrock and Nat Pierce. Besides playing in his own group, he also was part of the Stan Kenton Orchestra and after his move from Boston to the west coast, found himself in the band of Shelly Manne, among many others.

Mariano married pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi and spent most of the 60s in Japan. He also worked with Charles Mingus during that period. In the late 60s, he started his own fusion group when he opened up his music to include more pop, rock, and folk elements. Mariano was long known as a bebop alto player much in the same vein as Charlie Parker. During the 70s though, after travels to India and the Far East, and when he finally settled in Europe, his sound and tone included influences from World Music and New Age. He worked with the United Jazz and Rock Ensemble and Eberhard Weber.

Mariano died early yesterday morning at the age of 85.

The last recording he made was in late 2001 for the Verve CD A Song For You which came out in 2002 and featured, among others, Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove, Chris Potter, and Russell Malone. It was only a few weeks ago when he was diagnosed with lung cancer. Kenny Rankin (pictured, right) passed away last Sunday in Los Angeles at age 69.

He started out in 1967 as a pop and standards singer and had a few pop hits during his long career, like Peaceful. Rankin very often accompanied his soft voice with his guitar playing and among his influences were Frank Sinatra, Johnny Mathis, and Joao Gilberto. One of his songs was made famous by Peggy Lee.

Although he wrote a lot of beautiful songs himself, he was best-known in later years for interpreting jazz standards and songs from the Great American Songbook. Among his many admirers were Paul McCartney and Johnny Carson, who invited him more than 20 times to the Tonight Show.

Kenny Rankin was about to record new songs for an upcoming album for the Sly Dog Records label when he became ill.