Wilbert Baranco

A West Coast pianist, vocalist, and bandleader whose name is served up with one "r" or two, this artist's name comes up most often as an early associate of the brilliant Charles Mingus. The individualistic nature of Baranco's work means he can hold his own in such company, and indeed may have been inspirational, although unlike Mingus, Baranco did not devote his whole life to music. He had only spurts of involvement, the first of which was a collaboration with pianist Curtis Mosby in the first half of the '30s. After that came a break of about a decade in which the only music made by Baranco was in the context of a military band. In late 1945, he showed up on sides accompanying singer Ernie Andrews with a trio of his own leadership, using Mingus as bassist. Not long after Baranco made an especially fortunate appearance on a Dinah Washington session, this time called in by leader and tenor saxophonist Lucky Thompson. Baranco also became involved in a band project called the Rhythm Bombardiers in which former servicemen who played jazz were able to blow alongside top professionals. Further recordings such as the personalized "Baranco's Boogie were released and more sessions with Mingus came out the following year. Not soon after this, Baranco ended one of the shortest recording careers in jazz history, less than three years, and began working mostly as a music teacher. Dr. Victor Baranco, the son of this performer and a new age sexual psychotherapist, recalls his childhood home as constantly full of fascinating visiting musicians such as the blind genius, pianist Art Tatum. Quite often these performers had nowhere else to go because they were racially barred from staying in local hotels. ~ Eugene Chadbourne