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Mad and Eddie Duran From Here to the Moon
From Here To The Moon is a thoughtful blend of straight-ahead jazz reminiscent of the 50's bebop era, contemporary Latin jazz salsa style, and Brazilian jazz. The focal point is Mad and Eddie Duran (husband and wife) in duo, trio, quartet and quintet settings. Mad displays her strong musical talents on tenor, alto, and soprano saxophones, flute, and alto flute. Eddie Duran, with his decades of experience as a jazz guitarist, composer and arranger, beautifully lends a multitude of abilities to this Fantasy/Milestone release. How to order this CD.

Featuring
Eddie Duran, guitar, Mad Duran, saxophones and flute, Al Plank, piano, Scott Steed, bass, Vince Lateano, drums, Marc Van Wageningen, bass, Raul Ramirez, percussion, and Mark Levine, piano.

Master San Francisco guitarist Eddie Duran describes his playing on this, his first recording in over a decade, as "piano style" guitar. Like a pianist, he combines chord voicings with single-note phrases. In Eddie's skilled, seasoned hands, six strings become eighty-eight keys -- and they all swing! Eddie's extensive credits include work with Stan Getz, Cal Tjader, Charlie Parker, Chet Baker, Nat King Cole, Vince Guaraldi, Benny Goodman, George Shearing, Red Norvo, Earl "Fatha" Hines, Peggy Lee, Barbra Streisand, Tania Maria, and Pearl Bailey.

With her first note, Mad Duran forever destroys the negative myths about female horn players. As the late drummer Eddie Moore said, "Mad can hit with the boys anytime." The new kid on the block, one of the premier female instrumentalists, prides herself primarily on tenor as a hard core bop player, with an eclectic taste for contemporary Latin and Brazilian styles. Mad's credits include performances with George Cables, Jessica Williams, Hal Galper, Tootie Heath, Stan Getz, James Moody, Eddie Moore, and Eddie Marshall, just to name a few. The late Herb Cain summed it up when he wrote, "Mad Duran is just what jazz needs -- soul, swing and a breath of femininity."

What the Critics Are Saying

"Palpable emotional and musical chemistry...a warm, glowing core, whether the tunes are straight-ahead standards or Afro-Cuban and Brazilian, Eddie boasts complete choral and melody-line virtuosity, and Mad, especially on tenor, elegantly reflects the influence of Stan Getz."
Derk Richardson, San Francisco Bay Guardian

"The new release has music of good craftsmanship that is listenable and danceable, and arouses the imagination...the Eddie-Mad duo, trio, quartet and quintet show a far greater scope than is normally heard from such groups. The members successfully blend the saxophone and guitar to get something equivalent to a big-band ensemble sound..."
Johnny Adams, The Monterey County Post

"This live-in-the-studio digital recording from San Francisco's most un-pretentious jazz couple delivers those upbeat arrangements and unique, sincere stylings with a depth that engages listeners, instead of entrancing them. I highly recommend From Here To The Moon as one of those CD's you simply leave on top of the CD player. You won't put it away, you listen to it everyday."
Dan Neel, North Beach Now

"...Mad's playing, guided by Eddie's guitar (and his decades of experience), is wonderful -- she has absorbed Eddie's eclectic taste for swing, bop and Latin."
Phillip Elwood, San Francisco Examiner

"Madaline Duran, a superb Stan Getz-inspired tenor saxophonist who also plays flute and other saxophones, performs duets with husband Eddie, the venerable San Francisco guitarist whose extensive credits include work with Getz, Cal Tjader, Vince Guaraldi, Benny Goodman, and Louie Bellson."
Lee Hildebrand, East Bay Express

"There has been some hard work put into this album, as evidenced by the tight ensemble work and unusual readings of tunes, such as the 5/4 version of My Favorite Things which segues naturally into a Take Five. Duran solo on this medley, is drenched in reverb and has an Eastern flavor with Gabor Szabo-like drones and bends."
Adrian Ingram, Just Jazz Guitar

1.		Daahoud (4:15), by Clifford Brown, is a snappy opener arranged by Eddie Duran in the style of 50's bebop. It features the "best" of San Francisco-based musicians: Al Plank on piano, Mad Duran on tenor, Eddie Duran on guitar, Scott Steed and Vince Lateano on drums.

2.		Symphony Sid Samba (5:40) An Eddie Duran original. This upbeat Brazilian-flavored piece uses a variety of rhythms, including Mozambique, baião, samba, bossa nova, and patido alto. It has smooth contemporary jazz overtones, with strong melodic ideas. This track features Mad and Eddie along with electric bassist Mark Van Wageningen and percussionist Raul Ramirez.

3.		Everything I Love (5:05), by Cole Porter, arranged by Eddie Duran, features the duo -- tenor and guitar. A poignant rendition, played as a ballad. Eddie's chordal imagination is brilliant and Mad's musical interpretation is haunting.

4.		My Favorite Things / Take Five (6:43), arranged by Eddie Duran. Both songs are played in 5/4 time. Percussionist Raul Ramirez is featured on his native Peruvian instrument, the cajón. A tasty contemporary jazz rendition of two very different popular songs, this version can definitely keep a wide range of musical tastes interested. It features Mad Duran on alto sax, Eddie on guitar, Mark Van Wageningen on electric bass, and Raul Ramirez on cajón. MP3 (471K) RealAudio

5.		Conception / Deception (6:21), by George Shearing and Miles Davis, arranged by Mad and Eddie Duran. Definitely straight-ahead 50's bebop. The two songs are similar in many ways. As far as we know, this is the first recording on which they are linked together. This song features the acoustic jazz group of Mad and Eddie Duran, Al Plank, Scott Steed, and Vince Lateano.

6.		From Here To The Moon (7:32), the title track, an Eddie Duran original. This is a luscious, slow, romantic bossa nova, reminiscent of Jobim. Smooth jazz, featuring the soprano sax work of Mad Duran, who also solos on flute. The song continues with a magical bass solo by Mark Van Wageningen. MP3 (457K) RealAudio

7.		Don't Be That Way (6:33), the mild-mannered Benny Goodman theme song turned wicked salsa piece, arranged by Eddie Duran. Up-tempo wailing sax, contrapuntal melodies and rhythms. Solos by Eddie Duran on guitar, Mark Levine on piano, Mad Duran on soprano sax, and Raul Ramirez on percussion. Mad says, "I'll see you guys at the end!"

8.		Besamé Mucho (4:07) The ever-familiar melody played in a duo setting. Mad Duran on alto flute as well as on C-flute and Eddie Duran on guitar. This extraordinary harmonic arrangement of Besamé Mucho demonstrates Eddie's true mastery and sensitivity. Mad's flute has a rather eerie quality, especially as the song begins. As the song progresses into the solo section, it is played as a tango, a unique and sensuous approach to this romantic melody.

9.		Budo (6:41), by Bud Powell and Miles Davis. Another straight-ahead 50's bebop, a high-spirited arrangement featuring solos from the acoustic jazz quintet Mad Duran on alto, Eddie Duran on guitar, Al Plank on piano, Scott Steed on bass, and Vince Lateano on drums. MP3 (408K) RealAudio

10.		Quesadillas (7:01), an Eddie and Mad Duran original. An upbeat salsa piece with the flute playing the melody, intermingled unison mambos, fiery solos.

11.		Very Early (7:09), by Bill Evans, features the acoustic trio of Mad Duran on tenor, Eddie Duran on guitar, and Scott Steed on bass. A warm and sensitive approach to a lovely and challenging composition.

12.		CTA (6:09), arranged by Mad and Eddie Duran. A high-spirited tune featuring the acoustic jazz quintet of Mad Duran on tenor, Eddie Duran on guitar, Al Plank on piano, Scott Steed on bass, and Vince Lateano on drums... Bebop is alive and well!