Eddie Duran - Eddie Duran. Jazz Guitarist. Modern Music from San Francisco (2017)

Born in San Francisco in 1925, Eddie Duran is an unfairly neglected jazz guitarist and a soloist full of imagination and heart who was already playing professionally at 15. To this day he considers himself an “ear player,” despite having played and recorded with Vince Guaraldi, Red Norvo, Cal Tjader, Charlie Parker, Stan Getz, George Shearing, Earl “Fatha” Hines and Benny Goodman, in the heyday of the San Francisco bebop scene.

Duran was 32 when he recorded Jazz Guitarist, his first album as a leader in 1957. His sound and approach were deeply rooted in the bebop tradition, with echoes of Tal Farlow. With Duran on this debut was Howard Dudune—a cleantoned young clarinetist and Getz-derived tenor saxophonist—with support from bassist Dean Reilly and drummer John Markham.

Completing this salute to a fine guitarist is a 1956 date where he and Reilly backed singer Ree Brunell on a relaxed stroll through four well-chosen standards, along with a 1955 trio session with Ron Crotty and Vince Guaraldi. Crotty was a part of Dave Brubeck’s early groups, while Guaraldi was one of the brightest young pianists of the local scene, and the trio produced some relaxed and swinging jazz.

San Francisco emerged in early 50s as one of the most important centres of jazz activity in the US and the musicians playing in these three sessions are a fine example of what the city had to offer.