Essential Maynard Ferguson CD

Essential Maynard Ferguson CD music Recorded live in New York in 1974 and originally released as a double vinyl album, this set captures the Maynard Ferguson big band at its scorching, swinging best. Fiery solos from Ferguson and saxophonists Bruce Johnstone and Ferdinand Povel are the most obvious of the musical riches on offer here, but the ensemble performances of pieces such as "The Fox Hunt" and "MacArthur Park" are just as breathtaking. This collection features 1970s big band jazz at its finest. Liner Note Author: Mort Goode. Recording information: Jimmy's, New York, NY. Personnel: Maynard Ferguson (trumpet); Andy Macintosh (flute, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); Ferdinand Povel (flute, tenor saxophone); Bruce Johnstone (flute, baritone saxophone); John DeFlon, Lin Biviano, Danny Cahn, Bob Summers (trumpet, flugelhorn); Graham Ellis, Randy Purcell (trombone); Pete Jackson ...

Essential Maynard Ferguson songs During his period on Columbia, Maynard Ferguson showed a willingness (and sometimes even an eagerness) to record pop material. His trumpet playing is frequently brilliant throughout this LP with his English orchestra, but not too many jazz purists will be thrilled with his renditions of "Theme from Shaft," "Spinning Wheel," and "Hey Jude." The music is actually better than it seems, but do not look here for any bop. ~ Scott Yanow

Essential Maynard Ferguson album for sale Although trumpeter Maynard Ferguson's mid- to late-'70s catalog was commercially viable, it also reflected the overindulgence that, in essence, defined the decade. By 1974, Ferguson had already become one of the most established figures in contemporary jazz. After performing with Stan Kenton & His Orchestra in 1950, he became a prolific recording artist. Unlike many jazz players, Ferguson maintained his chops, arguably gaining incremental momentum for his trademark high-range blasting, which is evident throughout this LP. Stylistically, Chameleon (1974) is all over the place. The supporting combo -- which includes future Frank Zappa keyboardist Allan Zavod -- provide tastefully executed backing arrangements. Unfortunately, in many cases they are sonically voided by Ferguson's over the top wailing, the most flagrant example being the reworking of "The Way We Were," which features the trumpeter barreling through with the same gusto and attack that he brings to the hard-hitting cover of Stevie Wonder's "Livin' for the City" or the funkified rendering of the Herbie Hancock composition that gives this long-player its name. "Brother John" is notable for Ferguson's gospel-flavored introduction as well as the soulful support of the ensemble once the platter reaches cruising velocity. Less impressive is the brass assault that accompanies Paul McCartney's "Jet." However, the album concludes with the bop-oriented "Superbone Meets the Bad Man." This is one of the unmitigated highlights as the players embrace their jazz roots and discard the "hip" pretensions governing most of the material. In fact, the brief duet between Ferguson and Bruce Johnstone (baritone sax) makes the rest of the disc seem practically irrelevant. The 2003 CD reissue contains remastered sound as well as an extended essay within the 12-page liner booklet. ~ Lindsay Planer Recorded in April 1974. Originally released on Columbia (90332). Includes liner notes by Dean Pratt. Personnel: Maynard Ferguson (vocals, trumpet, horns); Andy Mackintosh (soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, flute, cowbell); Brian Smith (tenor saxophone, flute, tambourine); Bruce Johnstone (baritone saxophone, flute, percussion); Stan Mark, Dennis Noday, Lynn Nicholson, Bob Summers (trumpet, flugelhorn, percussion); Randy Purcell, Jerry Johnson (trombone); Alan Zavod (piano, electric piano); Rick Petrone (bass); Dan D'Imperio (drums). 1974

Essential Maynard Ferguson buy CD music Maynard Ferguson/Big Bop Nouveau: Maynard Ferguson (trumpet, flugelhorn); Matt Wallace, Sal Giorgianni (alto & tenor saxophones); Carl Fischer (trumpet, superbone); Frank Greene, Wayne Bergeron (trumpet); Tom Garling (trombone, superbone); Ron Oswanski (piano, keyboards); Paul Thompson (acoustic & electric basses); Dave Throckmorton (drums). With one major exception, the tracks on Brass Attitude reflect the relatively traditional (dare we say restrained) big band sound of Maynard Ferguson's Big Bop Nouveau, whose most distinctive feature by far is -- surprise, surprise -- its leader. At 70, MF still has a lot left, able to blast away at those ultrasonic passages and dish out that throbbing, unctious tone in the middle regions. Yet he seems to be choosing his spots with more economy, resorting frequently to the flugelhorn for mellower passages. The soloing by MF's sidemen -- the most prominently featured of whom are Tom Garling on trombone and Sal Giorgianni on tenor sax -- is of a competent, energetic bop variety with few distinguishing qualities. Thankfully, an element of strangeness bursts forth at the album's midpoint, "Misra-Dhenuka," a nearly 16-minute reminder of MF's sabbatical in India. Grounded in a raga, it dissolves into a 6/8 meter vamp based on what sounds like a Spanish chordal pattern. A less welcome bit of weirdness is MF alumnus Denis DiBlasio's amateurish vocal cameo in "The Lip," which in this context fawns over MF's high-note proclivity as shamelessly as rappers have about Miles Davis. ~ Richard S. Ginell Recorded at Sound Design Studios, Santa Barbara, California from May 26-30, 1998. Includes liner notes by Maynard Ferguson. Full performer name: Maynard Ferguson/Big Bop Nouveau. Personnel: Maynard Ferguson (trumpet, flugelhorn); Denis DiBlasio (vocals, baritone saxophone); Matt Wallace , Sal Giorgianni (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Wayne Bergeron, Frank Greene, Carl Fischer (trumpet); Tom Garling (trombone); Ron Oswanski (piano, keyboards); Paul Thompson (acoustic bass, electric bass); Paul Thompson (acoustic bass); Paul Thompson (electric bass); Dave Throckmorton (drums). Audio Mixers: Dominic Camardella; Maynard Ferguson; Tom Garling. Recording information: Sound Design Studios, Santa Barbera, CA (05/26/1998-05/30/1998). Arranger: Tom Garling. Additional personnel: Denis DiBlasio (vocals, baritone saxophone).

Essential Maynard Ferguson songs Track Listing of songs: Primal Scream; Spinning Wheel; Chameleon; Gospel John; Fiesta, La; Gonna Fly Now; MacArthur Park; Pagliacci; Superbone Meets the Bad Man; Theme from "Shaft";

Essential Maynard Ferguson album for sale Trumpeter Maynard Ferguson's move to Concord Records in the mid-'90s was a return to form for the iconic high-note jazz musician. Having scored his biggest success in the '70s with the jazz-funk of "The Theme from 'Rocky'," Ferguson had achieved a level of fame, money and legend few of his contemporaries would match. However, by the '80s the public's changing taste in music and even Ferguson's own glitzy, over-the-top aesthetic led to a bit of a backlash against him. Often labeled a pop sell-out, Ferguson had become a victim of his own success. It didn't help either that he chose to tour incessantly, anywhere and everywhere he could, more often than not appearing at local high school auditoriums. This business model, while endearing him to countless adolescent marching and concert bandmembers, nonetheless found him garnering an ever lowering profile with the jazz buying pubic. So, it was with little fanfare that jazz fans, who had long forgotten Ferguson's awesome performances with Stan Kenton's orchestra in the '50s, received the news that the Titan of the trumpet had signed with Concord Records. That all changed in 1994 with the release of These Cats Can Swing. The first recording of Ferguson with his newly minted, straight-ahead modern jazz ensemble Big Bop Nouveau, These Cats Can Swing found Ferguson surrounded by a stellar big band of young musicians playing laser-tight arrangements of such jazz standards as "Sugar'" and "Caravan." This was the Ferguson of old before the "Rocky" wah wah guitars and polyester got the better of him. Here was the storied Ferguson of the Kenton band who could move from a razor-cut lead trumpet line to a blistering bebop solo at will. This was Maynard Ferguson trumpet master supreme. And this is the Maynard Ferguson showcased on On a High Note: The Best of the Concord Jazz Recordings. Culled from the handful of albums he recorded with Big Bop Nouveau up through 2001 on Concord, these are some of the last great recordings Ferguson made before his death in 2006. ~ Matt Collar Audio Remasterer: Kirk Felton. Personnel: Michael Feinstein (vocals); Chip McNeill (tenor, saxophone); Sal Gioriganni, Matt Wallace (tenor, alto saxophone); Chris Farr (tenor saxophone); Denis DiBlasio (baritone saxophone); Larry Foyen, Scott Engelbright, Brian Ploeger, Adolfo Acosta, Wayne Bergeron, Frank Greene, Bobby Shew, Carl Fischer (trumpet); Joey Tartell, Alex Lles, Jon Owens, Tom Garling, Reggie Watkins (trombone); Jim Self (tuba); Dan Zank (piano); Paul Thompson , Phil Palombi (bass guitar); Marko Marcinko, Jason Harnell, Dave Trockmorton (drums). Additional personnel: Lorenzo Martinez (percussion); Big Bop Nouveau.