Charlie Mariano, who initially gained fame playing bop and cool jazz in the 1950s, was exploring a mixture of world music and funk/R&B by the early '70s. This interesting outing finds
Mariano switching between alto, soprano, flute, and the nagasuram in a quintet with flutist
Chris Hinze and a European rhythm section that explores three
Mariano originals (including the previously unreleased 18½-minute "Blue Stone"), a piece by
Hinze, and a traditional South Indian folk song. The moody music contains plenty of intriguing colors and some surprising moments. ~ Scott Yanow