Search - Maynard Ferguson :: Maynard Ferguson

Pardon me while I gush...

Bruce D. Davis | Yorktown, VA | 11/13/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD rates 5 stars (which is also the rating it was given in Downbeat Magazine when the album was reviewed there when it first came out). Clean reproduction of one of Maynard Ferguson's best albums from the 70's. Purists may quibble that the album lacks straight-ahead jazz since it is more commercially oriented than some of his other big band/jazz albums. But each and every arrangement swings!



Since all the tracks but one are covers of pop songs (which were on the charts around that time), the album is very accessable to a neophite big band jazz listener. There are several unique interpretations of popular songs of the period. Who would of thought "Fire and Rain" by James Taylor could swing. Janis Joplin's "Move Over" is like an early fusion jazz tune with enough cowbell to please even "famed record producer" Bruce Dickinson (yes... THE Bruce Dickinson). Then you have great interpretations of George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord", Elton John's "Your Song", Laura Nyro's "Stoney End", Jethro Tull's "Living in the Past" (which came out on this album several years before Jethro Tull released it as a single), Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water", and "Aquarius" from the Musical by the same name with an intro of Indian-Hindu style music.



There is one original track, Keith Mansfield's "The Serpent", again an early jazz fusion piece. You have Maynard playing clean and exact with that great range of his. He solos on trumpet and valve trombone (I am not sure if he was using the Superbone at this point or not).



Which brings me to my only complaint - no liner notes other than reprints of the original album cover (front and back). Solos other than those of Maynard (on sax or piano for instance) are not credited. (They went uncredited on the original album as well.) I'm not sure of the personnel other than to figure it was part of his England band - likely the one that recorded "M.F. Horn 1" & "2". A bonus track or two would have been great as well.



However, this is a small price to pay in order to have this great album on CD. Even if you don't care for the tune selection, you get to hear Maynard playing in his prime - clean and exact. I heartily recommend this CD."

What a sound!!!!

W. Beck | Chicago, IL United States | 08/22/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'm kinda baffled by some of the other reviews on this one. There's no Dolly Parton song or (Michael) Jackson on this one and "Hollywood"????? Wrong album!



Yes this is an era-specifac Maynard album with mostly pop tunes from the early 70's. Are the tunes dated? Of course! Is the album exciting and well-done? Absolutely!! Not necessarily great jazz BUT great Big-Band!



In fact this has always been one of the best SOUNDING big band albums in my collection. It's the followup album to MF Horn recorded with a stellar British Band. What a great studio sound. Personnel has never been listed, but one can guess it's many of the same musicians as the MF Horn or Give it One albums. I believe most of the arrangements were done by Keith Mansfield and the charts are full of Maynard, Maynard, Maynard.



The two ballads on this one are especially impressive "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" and "Fire and Rain". Maynard's sound has never been captured better and he plays with fire AND taste. Something you can't say about every Ferguson album! His absolutely funky mid-range statement of the melody in the middle of the "Fire and Rain" chart has always blown me away! "Your Song" and "Stoney End" also both give Maynard a chance to shine playing the MELODY and knocking it out of the park.



Maynard also plays some great sounding trombone on this album. I especially like his work on Aquarius. Also the Jethro Tull tune "Living in the Past" is a 5/4 surprise.



What else to say? Yes, this one is "just" pop tunes but with a first rate band, great sound, and some of the best cleanest Maynard playing ever recorded. The sound on this CD is especially wonderful.



Buy it and enjoy!

BILL"

Classic MF...his best sound with B+ material

Florida MF Fan | 08/30/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Maynard "marks" aside, this CD was definitely recorded during one of the prime playing periods of the Boss' career. His sound was never better, his control and power never greater.



If you love high note trumpet playing with unprecedented tone and rich sound, this is a CD for you.



The only downside is the choice of material. Not straight ahead jazz tunes, the material on this CD is pop cover style material from the early 70's. You may like it, but it definitely is nowhere near the complexity of the traditional MF CD/album.



But then again, MF is best known for Rocky and that was nowherenear his "traditional" program of material.



Buy this CD...you won't regret it. Just be sure you understand what to expect."