Eddie Duran had been long identified with the San Francisco jazz scene, backing many local and visiting stars with his tasty bop and classical-inspired lead and rhythm guitar work. He started on piano at age seven, but switched to guitar at 12, which he began teaching to himself after about seven months of lessons. He began playing professionally at 15 and from the mid-'40s, played with such visiting musicians as Stan Getz, Charlie Parker, George Shearing, Red Norvo, and Earl Hines. He would be best-known, however, for his work on Fantasy recordings by Bay Area musicians like childhood friend Vince Guaraldi, with whom he played on trio sessions in 1956, a Cal Tjader/Getz sextet in 1958, and again in a Latin-tinged quintet and sextet in 1963-1964. Duran led his own trio from 1960 to 1967, became a member of Benny Goodman's orchestras from 1976 to 1981, and made recordings with Tania Maria in 1980-1982. Finally, in the late '80s, Duran moved to New York City and organized a quartet there. Interestingly, Duran was also a licensed barber at one time. ~ Richard S. Ginell, Rovi