Search - Artist/Band: Maynard Ferguson

• Name: Maynard Ferguson
• Birthday: 05/04/1928
• Birth Place: Verdun, Quebec, Canada
• Died: 08/23/2006
• Decades Active: 1950,1960,1970,1980,1990,2000
• Genre: Jazz
• Styles: Crossover Jazz, Hard Bop, Jazz-Pop, Jazz Instrument, Trumpet Jazz
• Moods: Boisterous, Brash, Confident, Playful, Rousing, Amiable/Good-Natured, Energetic, Exuberant, Freewheeling, Intense, Passionate, Fun, Indulgent, Party/Celebratory, Sophisticated, Brassy, Carefree, Earthy, Joyous, Reverent, Sensual, Slick

Title	Release
Birdland Dream Band W	11/27/2007
Dancing Sessions WA	09/10/2007
Ballad Side of Maynard Ferguson WA	07/17/2007
The Essential Maynard Ferguson	05/22/2007
Wow!: The Formative Years [Original] WA	02/27/2007
On a High Note: Best of the Concord Jazz Recordings WA	02/06/2007
The One and Only WA	2007
M.F. Horn, Vol. 2/The Ballad Style of Maynard Ferguson WA	09/12/2006
Hollywood Party/Jam Session	05/08/2006
Band Ain't Draggin' WA	09/13/2005
Maynard Ferguson WA	06/21/2005
Hollywood Jam Sessions	06/14/2005
New Sounds WA	11/16/2004
Jam Session WA	01/07/2003
Brass Attitude	10/13/1998
Master of the Stratosphere WA	1997
This Is Jazz, Vol. 16	09/24/1996
Verve Jazz Masters 52	03/19/1996
One More Trip to Birdland WA	1996
These Cats Can Swing	1994
Dues WA	08/17/1993
The Essence of Maynard Ferguson	01/19/1993
Footpath Cafe	1992
High Voltage, Vol. 2	02/26/1991
Big Bop Nouveau WA	1990
High Voltage, Vol. 1 WA	1987
Body and Soul WA	01/1986
Hollywood	1982
Storm	1982
It's My Time	1980
The Best of Maynard Ferguson	1980
Hot	1979
Carnival	05/15/1978
New Vintage	05/1977
Conquistador WA	01/1977
Primal Scream WA	1976
Chameleon WA	1974
M.F. Horn, Vol. 3 WA	04/18/1973
M.F. Horn, Vol. 2 WA	01/1972
Magnitude WA	1971
M.F. Horn, Vol. 1 WA	02/1970
Ridin' High WA	1966
Blues Roar WA	1964
Si! Si!/Maynard '64 WA	1962
Maynard '61 WA	1961
Two's Company WA	1961
Boy with Lots of Brass WA	07/1957
The Birdland Dream Band, Vol. 2 WA	1957

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, All Music Guide