MAD AND EDDIE DURAN

Eddie Duran considers himself an “ear player.” “Music is this spiritual and intangible thing, and you’ve got to feel it coming out of you.” He was a professional from the age of 15, and in the heyday of the San Francisco bebop scene, he played and recorded with such Fantasy stars as Vince Guaraldi, Red Norvo, and Cal Tjader, as well as with Charlie Parker, Stan Getz George Shearing, Earl “Fatha” Hines, Benny Goodman, Pearl Bailey and Barbara Streisand.  Meeting Eddie at the Cotati Jazz Festival in 1984 provided Mad the catalyst to choose music after years of having it lay dormant for a wine country catering business. They quickly established a personal and professional partnership, with Mad sitting in at Eddie’s San Francisco area gigs, playing sax and flute, and through his tutoring and encouragement, later becoming a full musical partner with Eddie. Herb Caen wrote in his San Francisco Chronicle column, “Mad Duran is just what jazz needs – soul, swing and a breath of femininity.”
 
Mad and Eddie’s personal and professional bond brings out their shared love for each other and music. As Eddie loves to quip: “It’s a good life. I recommend it.”
 

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