Maynard Ferguson
When he debuted with Stan Kenton's Orchestra in 1950, Maynard Ferguson could play higher than any other trumpeter up to that point in jazz history, and he was accurate. Somehow he kept most of that range through his career and since the 1970s has been one of the most famous musicians in jazz. Never known for his exquisite taste (some of his more commercial efforts are unlistenable), Ferguson nevertheless led some important bands and definitely made an impact with his trumpet playing.
After heading his own big band in Montreal, Ferguson came to the United States in 1949 with hopes of joining Kenton's orchestra, but that ensemble had just recently broke up. So instead, Ferguson gained experience playing with the big bands of Boyd Raeburn, Jimmy Dorsey, and Charlie Barnet. In 1950, with the formation of Kenton's Innovations Orchestra, Ferguson became a star, playing ridiculous high notes with ease. In 1953, he left Kenton to work in the studios of Los Angeles and three years later led the all-star "Birdland Dreamband." In 1957, he put together a regular big band that lasted until 1965, recorded regularly for Roulette (all of the band's recordings with that label are on a massive Mosaic box set) and performed some of the finest music of Ferguson's career. Such players as Slide Hampton, Don Ellis, Don Sebesky, Willie Maiden, John Bunch, Joe Zawinul, Joe Farrell, Jaki Byard, Lanny Morgan, Rufus Jones, Bill Berry, and Don Menza were among the more notable sidemen.
After economics forced him to give up the impressive band, Ferguson had a few years in which he was only semi-active in music, spending time in India and eventually forming a new band in England. After moving back to the U.S., Ferguson in 1974 drifted quickly into commercialism. Young trumpeters in high school and colleges were amazed by his high notes, but jazz fans were dismayed by the tasteless recordings that resulted in hit versions of such songs as the themes from Star Wars and Rocky and much worse. After cutting back on his huge orchestra in the early '80s, Ferguson recorded some bop in a 1983 session, led a funk band called High Voltage during 1987-1988, and then returned to jazz with his "Big Bop Nouveau Band," a medium-sized outfit with which he toured the world up until his death from kidney and liver failure on August 23, 2006.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
Similar artists
-
The New Sounds Of Maynard Ferguson/Come Blow Your Horn
Jazz - Released by ABKCO Music & Records, Inc. on 1/01/1963
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Blues Roar
Jazz - Released by exclusiv for streaming partners on 29/01/2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
These Cats Can Swing!
Maynard Ferguson, Big Bop Nouveau
Jazz - Released by Concord Jazz on 1/01/1994
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live From San Francisco
Jazz - Released by Omnivore Recordings on 18/12/2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Alive and Well In London
Jazz - Released by Columbia - Legacy on 1/10/1971
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Verve Jazz Masters 52: Maynard Ferguson
Jazz - Released by Verve on 1/01/1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live and Unleashed 1976-77 (Live)
Jazz - Released by SLEEPY NIGHT RECORDS on 23/02/2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live from London (Live at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, 1994) (Live)
Jazz - Released by Avenue records on 1/01/1993
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Big Bop Nouveau
Jazz - Released by Omnivore Recordings on 11/03/2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A Message From Birdland
Jazz - Released by Parlophone UK on 1/01/1960
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Lost Tapes: Bonus (Live)
Jazz - Released by SLEEPY NIGHT RECORDS on 12/11/2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Birdland Dreamband, Vol. 1
Jazz - Released by RCA - Legacy on 1/01/1956
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Brass Attitude
Maynard Ferguson, Big Bop Nouveau
Jazz - Released by Concord Records on 1/01/1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Roulette Collection
Jazz - Released by Enlightenment on 2/12/2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
-
Maynard '61 + "Straightaway" Jazz Themes (Bonus Track Version)
Jazz - Released by Jazz Musts on 27/09/2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Classic Jazz Christmas
Jazz - Released by Snowflakes on 18/11/2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A Message From Newport
Bebop - Released by Parlophone UK on 15/06/1958
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo