Maynard Ferguson

1. Move Over

2. Fire and Rain

3. Aquarius

4. Serpent

5. My Sweet Lord

6. Bridge Over Troubled Water

7. Your Song

8. Stoney End

9. Living in the Past

Maynard Ferguson,Maynard Ferguson,Wounded Bird Records,Crossover Jazz,Hard Bop,Jazz,Jazz-Pop,Pop

Average customer rating: The classic Maynard album Maynard Ferguson - Live at Jimmy's Pilates4me Finally! At last, this epic perfomance is on CD.

M.F Horn 4 & 5 - Live at Jimmy's Maynard Ferguson Manufacturer: Wounded Bird Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Jazz | Styles | Music Similar Items: M.F. Horn 3 M.F.Horn 2 & The Ballad Style of Maynard Ferguson M.F. Horn 2 Wow! The Formative Years Maynard Ferguson's Horn, Vol. 6: Live at Ronnie's ASIN: B000LRZ052 Release Date: 2007-02-27

Tracks:

1. Teonova
2. MacArthur Park
3. Left Bank Express
4. I'm Gettin' Sentimental Over You
5. Two for Otis
6. Stay Loose with Bruce
7. Nice 'N Juicy
8. Fox Hunt
9. Got the Spirit
10. Blue Birdland

Album Description

This 1974 release from this legendary Jazz trumpeter, reached #40 on The Billboard Jazz Albums chart. This was originally a two record set, now contained on a single disc. The best of his Jazz-oriented recordings for the Columbia label, Live At Jimmy's features Ferguson ably assisted bay Lin Biviano, Andy MacIntish, Ferdinand Povel, Pete Jackson and Bruce Johnstone. Wounded Bird. 2007.

Customer Reviews:

The classic Maynard album.......2007-05-16

As this album influenced my jazz tastes through junior high and high school, and into college, I spent countless hours listening to these tunes. Through 30-plus years, I've worn out three of the original albums and at least six tapes before this CD was released. To sit with headphones on and listen to the live atmosphere from Jimmy's takes me to the days of live concerts where high school and collegiate jazzers would sit in awe of the Master's stratospheric work, and the interaction of the musicians. All of the charts are outstanding, including the classic McArthur Park. Nice and Juicy is a fun chart, the Fox Hunt just kicks and Got the Spirit is the perfect closing for a great set.
Perhaps the best words for this album were uttered by Maynard himself as the band played "Blue Birdland" at the conclusion of the album: "I hope we get one hell of an album out of this."
You surely did, Mr. Ferguson, you surely did.

Maynard Ferguson - Live at Jimmy's.......2007-05-12

This is Maynard's greatest live album and possibly his best album period.

Pilates4me.......2007-04-13

This is such an incredible cd. I feel it's one of his best. I've been waiting for a long time for it to be put on cd and so happy that it finally has been. Worth every penny! I listened to the record(aging myself!) growing up and could listen to this everyday for the rest of my life! Got the Spirit is a song that inspired me to play the sax! There's none better than it!

Finally!.......2007-04-11

My records (yeah, remember those?) were stored for a couple of decades, so I was thrilled to unpack them 2 years ago. The first ones out of the box were MF Horn 4&5. It was a fantastic experience and brought tears to my eyes, even through the crackles, pops and distortion caused by what was probably thousands of playings.

Going through my collection, I found this set was THE most worn out of ALL the MF recordings I had (Chameleon, MF2, etc) which says alot about the quality of the recording, the music selection and my preference for live vs studio.

I was really excited to learn this was coming out on CD so I could finally hear a clean version. After waiting an extra couple of weeks beyond the initial promised shipping date, then another 2 weeks of being away from home, I finally got my hands on it yesterday. Whoohooo! It played all day yesterday in my office and on the way home from work.

I agree wholeheartedly with the other reviews, that this is a recording for the ages and would even suggest that, from a layman's point of view, if you have room for 1 MF album, this is the one. He gives Teo Macera credit for recording it ON THE STREET IN A MOBILE VAN, for cryin' out loud, so the quality of the sound is even more amazing. This was no over-miked, multi-take recording with the applause superimposed, but a "you are there" snapshot of a master at work with one of the tightest and most talented bands he ever had backing him up.

I was fortunate to go to the tribute concert held after his death last year in St Louis where alumni from his band rotated through (soon to be on DVD- don't miss that one!). Many of the musicians on this album were there and THAT will be one I watch for.

In life, all we ultimately leave behind is our legacy and he left one of love, teaching and incredible but humble talent.

RIP Maynard, they broke the mold after they made you.

At last, this epic perfomance is on CD........2007-04-09

I wholeheartily concur with the other reviewers. This is Maynard Ferguson and his band at their best. After listening to the CD, I'm even more impressed with the recording quality of this live album. It is a better than most of the live jazz recordings made today -- more than thirty years
later.

I've had the original record since it came out when I was in high school.
Maynard and his band were a huge influence on my friends and me. Several
of my classmates went on to be professional horn players. For me, Maynard
helped spark a lifelong appreciation of jazz and particulary big bands.

Sidenote: What became of Bruce Johnston? I think his bari solos on this
recording are some of my favorites of all time.

Average customer rating: Ferguson Returns Awesome collection! wow the formative years by Maynard Ferguson Essential Still unbelievable

Wow! The Formative Years Maynard Ferguson Manufacturer: Asv Living Era ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Canada | North America | International | Styles | Music Avant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Similar Items: On a High Note: Best of the Concord Jazz Recordings M.F Horn 4 & 5 - Live at Jimmy's Plays Well With Others M.F.Horn 2 & The Ballad Style of Maynard Ferguson M.F. Horn 3 ASIN: B000KLO6TA Release Date: 2007-02-27

Tracks:

1. Diz Duz Everything - Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra,
2. Body and Soul - Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra,
3. All the Things You Are - Charlie Barnet & His Orchestra,
4. Maynard Ferguson - Stan Kenton & the Innovations in Modern Music Orchestra
5. Take the "A" Train - Maynard Ferguson & His Orchestra
6. Short Wave - Maynard Ferguson & His Orchestra
7. Love Locked Out - Maynard Ferguson & His Orchestra
8. Band Ain't Draggin' - Maynard Ferguson & His Orchestra
9. Hot Canary - Stan Kenton & His Orchestra
10. What's New? - Stan Kenton & His Orchestra
11. King's Riff - Ben Webster & His Sextet
12. Wow! - Maynard Ferguson & His Orchestra
13. Way You Look Tonight - Maynard Ferguson & His Octet
14. All God's Chillun Got Rhythm - Maynard Ferguson & His Octet
15. Over the Rainbow - Maynard Ferguson & His Octet
16. Hymn to Her - Maynard Ferguson & His Octet
17. Wonder Why - Maynard Ferguson & His Orchestra
18. C'Est la Blues - Maynard Ferguson & His Orchestra
19. Miss Pitlack Regrets - Maynard Ferguson & His Orchestra
20. Maynard the Fox - Birdland All-Stars, Maynard Ferguson,
21. Wailing Boat - Birdland All-Stars, Maynard Ferguson,
22. Say It with Trumpets - Birdland All-Stars, Maynard Ferguson,
23. Everybody Moan - Birdland All-Stars, Maynard Ferguson,
24. You Said It - Birdland All-Stars, Maynard Ferguson,

Customer Reviews:

Ferguson Returns.......2007-06-01

This album reminds me of the live performances I attended when I was in college a long time ago. It was great to relive these experiences. The Kenton orchestra tracks were particularly good. I thought I had lost the "Hot Canary", since I had it originally on 78. Nothing plays them anymore. I recommend this trip down memory lane.Wow! The Formative Years

Awesome collection!.......2007-05-13

I've been collecting MF recordings for about 35 years... and this really is a great compilation of the Best of Maynard's Early Years. This is the stuff that won him Downbeat Awards and made him a "name" performer while still in his 20's.

The CD is well recorded, there's nothing glaringly bad as far as levels/mixing go. For vintage recordings (late 40's and 50's) these are well recorded and hold up well both from a technical and musical standpoint.

I had all but one of these tunes in my collection... but it's nice to have them all in one place on CD instead of hunting through all my old vinyl!

If you're a MF fan - or a trumpet player who wants to hear what the fuss is all about - come hear The World's Greatest Trumpet Man as he was at the beginning of his career!

wow the formative years by Maynard Ferguson.......2007-03-31

Definitive early recordings of "The Boss". Well recorded and packaged. Good addition to your Maynard collection.

Essential.......2007-03-15

This is an essential CD for Maynard Ferguson enthusiasts who do not own many examples of his work from the late 40s and early 50s or have not heard many of these early cuts. His remarkable youthful precision will be especially revelatory for those who are primarily familiar with Ferguson from his final years touring as an elder statesman with Big Bop Nouveau. While the disk is inexpensive, the sound quality is good to excellent, with the understandable exception of the first two radio transcription cuts.

Ferguson moved to the United States in 1949 and initially played with the bands of Boyd Raeburn, Jimmy Dorsey and Charlie Barnet - just as the age of the big band was passing. While there are no studio recordings from his tenure with Raeburn or Dorsey, this CD contains a couple of tracks from a live radio broadcast with Dorsey in New York during March of 1949.

The third track is Ferguson's notorious feature with the Charlie Barnet band on "All the Things You Are". This disjoint and decidedly unsentimental recording enraged Jerome Kern's widow, leading to a lawsuit threat that resulted in the record being withdrawn from sale by Capitol Records. For those that have grown used to Ferguson's flamboyant style, it does not seem as extreme as it may have in the fall of 1949, although it is still quite a hoot to listen to.

Ferguson was destined to play with Stan Kenton and the only impediment was that Kenton had temporarily disbanded when Ferguson made his move to the U.S. Ferguson finally joined Kenton when he formed the Innovations Orchestra in 1950 and Kenton featured Ferguson prominently on a number of recordings (most already out on CD). This CD contains three tracks with Kenton, the eponymously named "Maynard Ferguson" (with the Innovations Orchestra) and two cuts with the "regular" Kenton band, "Hot Canary" and "What's New". There are four cuts from 1950 recorded with Ferguson listed as leader of an orchestra comprised of Kenton sidemen - and given the quality, apparently dubbed from vinyl. There are also two cuts from 1952: an odd small-group date with Ben Webster and an orchestra cut featuring his first wife, Kay Brown, on vocals.

Ferguson left Kenton in 1953 to become a studio player for Paramount Pictures. While his contract limited his live performance opportunities, he still recorded quite regularly as a leader and sideman. The middle of this CD includes seven tracks from 1954-1956. There are a number of CDs available with additional material from this period.

The CD concludes, appropriately, with five tracks from the Birdland Dreamband, which Ferguson was tapped to lead in 1956 when he left Paramount. This aggregation would form Ferguson's core performing unit until the mid 60s, when he left the inhospitable musical climes of America for Europe and India. While the mature Ferguson would occasionally pull out charts from his early years, his second career would be based on more rock-influenced charts and a more fluid playing style to match.

It is nice to see Ferguson's early- and mid-career work finally coming out on CD, ironically just as the CD is heading into technological obsolescence. Nevertheless, even for those who have moved into the iPod age, the price is right and the screaming is timeless. Wow, indeed.

Still unbelievable.......2007-02-28

Oh, my...even after hearing the incomparable Maynard Ferguson on dozens of recordings over the years, the sheer virtuosity of his playing continues to astound me. I know that most, if not all, of the sides on this LP have already been available on CD - and the quality of some of the recordings is subpar. But the gifts that Maynard possessed, even as a very young man, were nothing short of otherworldly, and this collection showcases the early years nicely. If for nothing else but Maynard's remarkable "All the Things You Are", his restrained and lovely take on "Over the Rainbow", and, of course, "Maynard Ferguson", this disc is absolutely essential for any MF fan. Buy it now.

Average customer rating: Maynard Ferguson from Start to End

The Essential Maynard Ferguson Maynard Ferguson Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Canada | North America | International | Styles | Music Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Similar Items: Wow! The Formative Years M.F Horn 4 & 5 - Live at Jimmy's On a High Note: Best of the Concord Jazz Recordings M.F. Horn 3 Plays Well With Others ASIN: B000P46PZA Release Date: 2007-05-22

Tracks:

1. The Way You Look Tonight
2. 20, Rue De Madrid
3. Never You Mind
4. Over the Rainbow
5. The Wailing Boat
6. Somebody Wants Me Down There
7. Blue Birdland
8. Straight Up
9. Free Lee
10. Everybody Moan
11. TAG TEAM
12. Newport
13. Maria
14. MacArthur Park
15. Ballad To Max
16. Give It One
17. 'Round Midnight

Tracks:

1. The Fox Hunt
2. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
3. Two For Otis
4. Superbone Meets the Bad Man
5. Chameleon
6. The Cheshire Cat Walk
7. Gonna Fly Now
8. Everybody Loves the Blues
9. An Offering Of Love, Pt.1
10. Birdland
11. Caravan
12. Waltz For Nicole
13. Manteca

Album Description

This package consists of previously released material.

Customer Reviews:

Maynard Ferguson from Start to End.......2007-05-30

This is great listening for the young and old. It has tunes that go back to the fifties when LPs were the style of the day to modern day tunes where CDs and DVDs rule. This is great compilation of the career of the worlds most exciting trumpet player. Maynard may be gone now but he left a mark on many of us that will never be forgotten.

Average customer rating: Strange pairing, but well worth having MF Horn 2 & The Ballad Style of Maynard Ferguson Nobody does it better MF2 / Ballad Style Go to the source

M.F.Horn 2 & The Ballad Style of Maynard Ferguson Maynard Ferguson Manufacturer: Dutton Vocalion UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Canada | North America | International | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Jazz | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: M.F. Horn, Vol. 1 M.F Horn 4 & 5 - Live at Jimmy's M.F. Horn 3 Maynard Ferguson Wow! The Formative Years ASIN: B000FOQHFI Release Date: 2006-09-12

Tracks:

1. Give It One
2. Country Road
3. Theme From 'Shaft'
4. The Summer Knows
5. Mother
6. Spinning Wheel
7. Free Wheeler
8. Hey Jude
9. Born Free
10. Girl Talk
11. If He Walked Into My Life
12. The Fool On The Hill
13. The Impossible Dream
14. Somewhere
15. Maria
16. As Long As He Needs Me
17. Hushabye Mountain
18. The Sound Of Silence
19. You Only Live Twice

Customer Reviews:

Strange pairing, but well worth having.......2007-07-09

Other than the fact that the two albums on this CD were recorded in the same era of Maynard's career (just three years apart), they have nothing in common, so they make a strange pair for this re-issue. Still, they represent two sides of Maynard's playing that all of his fans should be exposed to.
M.F. Horn 2 really turned the corner for Maynard's wider appeal to a younger 1970s-era audience. He used much of this material in concert appearances for years to come. As someone who attended many of those concerts, I can confirm that "Give It One" is an exciting way to open a concert, and the track belongs on every MF playlist. "Country Road," "Theme from Shaft," and "Spinning Wheel" became popular arrangements for high school and college jazz ensembles with high aspirations and a desire to pay homage to MF. Some reviewers have given high praise to the album's version of "Hey Jude," but personally, I never cared much for this tune, even for the Beatles' original version. The real magic of Maynard's rendition can only be duplicated in concert, where the whole trumpet section would move out into the audience and scream the repeated chorus like Maynard clones in the midst of the frenzied crowd.
And now for something completely different: The Ballad Style. Many jazz artists of that era did "easy listening" albums in a attempt to broaden their audience and sell more records. Fortunately, Maynard was among those who could flourish in this setting as well. Some things are a bit over the top (such as the intro to the opening track "Born Free"), but Maynard fans may find this endearing even if the uninitiated find it tasteless. But the man was capable of great beauty as well. Check out "If He Walked Into My Life," "The Impossible Dream," "As Long As He Needs Me," "Somewhere," and "Maria." (Essentially the same arrangement of "Maria," written for big band instead of orchestra, appears on the Two Big Bands CD. I prefer that recording of this tune.) There's even a pretty respectable arrangement of the James Bond theme "You Only Live Twice." I must admit, however, that it seems odd, even humorous, to contemplate Maynard playing tunes with names like "Hushabye Mountain" and "The Sound of Silence." Think about it.
For those who like variety in their Maynard assortment, this CD is a good deal.

MF Horn 2 & The Ballad Style of Maynard Ferguson.......2007-05-07

M.F.Horn 2 has better sound quality than the orginal album and is still a fantastic big band jazz "gots to have" selection. The Ballad collection is a treat and is great to share with young up and coming band members. An excellent purchase.

Nobody does it better.......2007-03-28

Maynard, you are the best of the best. A true gigster. A man born to play that horn. What a gift! Wow!

MF2 / Ballad Style.......2007-03-16

I have to reluctantly agree with other reviewers that this collection is not the best representation of Ferguson's work. While those of us that grew up listening to MF2 have a sentimental attachment to it, it is firmly a product of its time. Only two of the eight cuts are original compositions and, in my opinion, they have aged better than the other six covers of pop tunes of the day. For those unfamiliar with Ferguson's early 70's work, the first MF Horn album, or the MF 3/4/5 collection would be a better starting point. For those looking for first introduction to Maynard, his 1950's recordings are recommended, such as: "Wow - The Formative Years", "Verve Jazz Masters 52", the Birdland Dreamband CDs or any of the things he did with Kenton.

But unlike some other reviewers, I would suggest that the "Ballad Style" half of the CD is, in some ways, more interesting than MF2. Ferguson rarely recorded with strings and it's nice to hear him in a large ensemble context. While the MF Horn albums stayed in print well into the 80s, the Ballad Style album apparently came and went fairly quickly and may represent previously unheard material even to those who followed Maynard closely. That being said, with the exception of the two fairly good West Side Story cuts (which he also recorded on other albums with different arrangements), the song selection is tepid late-60's pop or show tunes and Maynard does not seem terribly comfortable with the material or the orchestrations. But it can be very interesting and instructive to hear how a performer deals with adversity and those with a deep interest in Maynard should definitely hear these tracks, at least once.

The sound quality of MF2 is pretty good, and although I don't know how it compares with the Wounded Bird CD of the same material, it's on par with the vinyl versions in my closet. On the other hand, the sound quality of the "Ballad Style" cuts is cloudy, although it's hard to know whether that is because of the quality of the original recordings (probable), the condition of the master tapes (that probably sat untouched for 35 years), or the decisions of the mastering engineer (unlikely).

A comment was made about a mastering problem with a few seconds cut off the beginning of "Country Road". It's an amorphous improvised electric piano introduction and unless you are intimately familiar with the cut as it was originally released, you probably won't notice the missing seconds.

Go to the source.......2007-02-11

Sorry Amazon, but get MF Horn2 ONLY directly from wounded Bird for ten bucks...

Average customer rating: Pop-influenced big band sound reaches maturity with this album My Favorate Maynard Album A Purely Subjective Review

M.F. Horn 3 Maynard Ferguson Manufacturer: Wounded Bird Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Similar Items: M.F Horn 4 & 5 - Live at Jimmy's M.F.Horn 2 & The Ballad Style of Maynard Ferguson M.F. Horn 2 M.F. Horn, Vol. 1 Wow! The Formative Years ASIN: B000LRZ04S Release Date: 2007-02-27

Tracks:

1. Awright, Awright
2. Round Midnight
3. Nice 'n Juicy
4. Pocahontas
5. Love Theme from "The Valachi Papers"
6. Mother Fingers
7. S.M.O.F.

Album Description

M.F. Horn 3 which reached #8 on The Billboard Jazz Albums chart and a respectable #128 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart. Again, Ferguson performs with his English band featuring other famed musicians including Pete Jackson, Randy Jones and Bruce Johnstone. On this volume, Ferguson steps back into Jazz mode, albeit with a more commercial edge. Wounded Bird. 2007.

Customer Reviews:

Pop-influenced big band sound reaches maturity with this album.......2007-04-15

This album marks the point at which Maynard's band hit its stride in the era of the pop-rock-influenced big band sound. In the years just prior to this 1973 release, the band had relied heavily - but not always successfully - on interpretations of top-40 tunes to give it a contemporary sound and wider appeal (the "Ridin' High" album is a prime example of a less-than-successful effort). For this album, five of the seven tracks are original tunes written especially for the band in a contemporary rock-influenced style that would help set the standard for other groups that would follow. For example, "Mother Fingers" sounds like the type of material the Saturday Night Live band started to play a few years later.
The remaining two tracks ("Round Midnight" and "Love Theme from The Valachi Papers") are the ballad offerings of this set, done in a style more like Maynard's band of a decade earlier. Both are beautiful arrangements, and this rendition of "Round Midnight" may be the best big band version of that old standard ever recorded.
Trumpet enthusiasts may wish that Maynard had done more trumpet solos instead of switching to valve trombone for a couple of tunes, but it's always nice to hear what he does with the latter instrument, where he's not expected to play high notes all the time. Also, some listeners (myself included) would better enjoy the closing track "S.O.M.F." if it didn't open and close with solos by an Indian instrument identified as the "veen." Those who know Maynard's history recognize this as his homage to the time he spent in India in the 1960s, but it seems starkly out of place in a big band setting. (Note: The updated CD package mislabels this track as "S.M.O.F.")
For avid Maynard fans, especially those who heard him perform in the 1970s, this CD is a must-have. For others, this is good but not his best from this period - see my review of "M.F. Horn 4 & 5: Live at Jimmy's."

My Favorate Maynard Album.......2007-04-11

This was my favorate Maynard Ferguson LP. The CD sounds just as good as the LP. Note, however, that it is also just as long as the LP. That means that you are paying for a CD with less than 40 minutes of music on it.

A Purely Subjective Review.......2007-03-02

This happens to be my favorite Maynard album of all time. The clowns at Columbia/Sony took their sweet time (30+ years) allowing this one to be released on CD -- just in time for Maynard himself not to see it happen (you can tell I am a big fan of Columbia/Sony brass). This was the last of the original "MF Horn" series recorded with the original "English" crew, and for once, Columbia got the audio right. A great sounding album, along with great performances by all involved.

Average customer rating: M. F. Horn A Maynard Milestone A Great Album, A Great Musician, A Great Person Alas, A Sensative Horn... ABOUT TIME is right!!!

M.F. Horn, Vol. 1 Maynard Ferguson Manufacturer: Wounded Bird Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Similar Items: Maynard Ferguson M.F.Horn 2 & The Ballad Style of Maynard Ferguson Chameleon M.F Horn 4 & 5 - Live at Jimmy's Conquistador ASIN: B0009NSDL6 Release Date: 2005-06-21

Tracks:

1. Eli's Comin'
2. Ballad To Max
3. MacArthur Park
4. Chala Nata
5. If I Thought You'd Ever Change Your Mind
6. L-Dopa

Customer Reviews:

M. F. Horn.......2006-11-11

I've been listening to Maynard Ferguson since high school. It was a big part of my H.S. Band experience. I want to purchase M.F. Horn 2 when it is released on CD. In the past they put out a double cassette called MF Horn I&II. I want this on CD. The sound quality is good. It's on my IPOD already.

A Maynard Milestone.......2006-09-18

At this late date it is hard to convey the impact this album had on a generation of mostly high school age musicians and fans who were hereto introduced to big band jazz.

Not only were we seduced by the jazz virtuosity demonstrated on the recognizable pop covers here (Mac. Park and Eli's Comin)but the screaming brass intensity and jazz excitement demonstrated on the other original pieces (L-Dopa)rivaled the hormonal satisfaction many had only experienced from progressive rock heroes of the day. The fact that this sound was produced with instrumentation many of us could only struggle with in school music programs sealed the deal.

The unexpected commercial success of this groove allowed the veteran Ferguson to continue with number of successive recordings on Columbia, culminating with a top 40 hit with the cover of the "Rocky" theme, Gonna Fly Now. At that point, the marketing people at Columbia Records got all the wrong signals and helped to run the trumpet virtuoso's reputation into the ground with a series of forgettable efforts based on jazz/disco/pop covers of well known themes. His image in the jazz world never fully recovered; his early work with Stan Kenton and his own substantive recordings of the 50s and early 60s were almost totally forgotten by critics and purists.

Fortunately, Maynard's creativity, personality and loyal fan base rebounded with him on other labels, most notably Concord Records through the 90's with a number of hard bop 'small' big band recordings that yielded steady concert bookings through the end of his life.

Ferguson's early associations with other jazz greats encouraged many fans with curiosity to experience most of the post-swing era mainstream jazz world and, to a considerable extent for this 'student musician' demographic, unravelled what rock and roll had done to popular musical taste.

Quite a contribution to the American art form, I'd say; and from a Canadian, no less.

A Great Album, A Great Musician, A Great Person.......2006-08-25

Maynard Ferguson passed away just a few days ago. A sad day for jazz, he was probably one of the last of the old jazz greats. I'm so glad that I was able to take the family to see him live - front row center, it was a great experience. When I was in high school in the 70s he and his band played at our auditorium, our high school jazz band opened for him. Prior to the show he and his band sat in with us for our rehearsal and it was one of those experiences I'll never forgot. He was not only a great musician, he was a very fine person.

I've been looking for this album on CD for years. On hearing the news I pulled out some of my old albums for a listen. MF Horn has always been a real favorite. I've about worn it out. Today I thought I'd check again and it's available! I will be buying it. So should you.

It has a mood to it that always leaves me feeling real good. The musicianship is great across the board. The various pieces all work together. There's no need to explain the particulars of each song. This is simply a great, great recording. Get this, get it now.

I just hope CDs don't wear out because I'll be playing this one a lot.

Alas, A Sensative Horn..........2006-05-31

Ballad to Max has to be one of, if not the most, beautiful thing Maynard Ferguson has ever recorded. His Flugelhorn is flawless and absolutely "liquid". The rest of the album is straight ahead for the times when this was made over in Europe, but the Ballad (mentioned) is easily worth the price of the album if ever you put a horn to your mouth. This is the ultimate phrasing and one of a kind sound. Others play just as high, but not just as well nor as musical as Maynard does up there. At an age approaching 80, his double high C is still as big as a Buick. He remains, after these six plus decades, entirely in a class by himself.

ABOUT TIME is right!!!.......2006-05-01

Anyone who grew up with the sounds of Maynard doesn't need to read these reviews. MF Horn is awsome. Several years ago I bought a high end album-to-digital-CD converter just to hear these tunes again, but since I listened to them so often back in the days, the conversions carry the scratches of the vinyl medium. Cant wait for MF II, and (can we hope) live a Jimmy's???

Average customer rating: AWESOME!!!!!!! DOESNT GET BETTER ... Not Typical Maynard but a Overall Good Release Pardon me while I gush... Good tracks that arae hard to find on current CD's. Maynard Ferguson

Maynard Ferguson Maynard Ferguson Manufacturer: Wounded Bird Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Similar Items: M.F. Horn, Vol. 1 M.F.Horn 2 & The Ballad Style of Maynard Ferguson New Vintage M.F Horn 4 & 5 - Live at Jimmy's Chameleon ASIN: B0009NSDK2 Release Date: 2005-06-21

Tracks:

1. Move Over
2. Fire And Rain
3. Aquarius
4. The Serpent
5. My Sweet Lord
6. Bridge Over Troubled Water
7. Your Song
8. Stoney End
9. Living In The Past

Customer Reviews:

AWESOME!!!!!!! DOESNT GET BETTER ..........2007-04-03

This record captures a place in time that is so spectacular its almost unbelievable...all the records from this period are brilliant...we love you Maynard.

Not Typical Maynard but a Overall Good Release.......2007-03-10

This was the very first Maynard record I ever purchased. And even after all the many other records/tapes/CD's I've bought over the years, even after all the concerts I was blessed to see, this is still a great listen.

This would not be considered a typical Maynard Ferguson Release. While there are times that he gets up into the upper register it doesn't seem to be the main focus of this effort. Most of the music could be considered "pop" in nature with songs like "Fire & Rain", "Bridge Over Trouble Waters", and "Stone End" but the arrangements are outstanding. For me, this album's strength rides on two pieces, "Move Over" & The Serphent". Move Over is the first song on the album and really gets your blood rushing. In The Serphent Maynard brings out the valve trombone. The piece starts slowly and begins to increase in intensity until the whole band is on fire. Still one of my favorite Maynard pieces.

There you have it. Although it doesn't come close to Chameleon standards, or even These Cats Can Swing it is still well worth adding it to your Maynard collection.

Pardon me while I gush..........2005-11-13

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.

Good tracks that arae hard to find on current CD's........2005-10-26

If you don't have this album already for LP, I think you'd have a tough time finding them on a CD. This CD for me was worth the money. My personal favorites on this album are Bridge Over Troubled Water, and Stoney End. In fact, my jazz band conductor just handed out the music for Bridge Over troubled water today, but the music for the solo trumpet part was missing. Having heard the tune many times from when I listened to the CD, it was fairly easy for me to play my part. Very nice trumpet work and solo-ing in this album. (Also, maynard's pose is somewhat comical on the cover, so that's another reason to buy.)

Maynard Ferguson .......2005-10-23

Very satisfied with this CD of this great artist.
Sound quality is excellent. Classic songs performed by Maynard Ferguson everyone will love.

Average customer rating: Finally on cd! A Classic M. F. Horn 2 Classic Maynard !! One of Maynard's Finest

M.F. Horn 2 Maynard Ferguson Manufacturer: Wounded Bird Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Similar Items: M.F Horn 4 & 5 - Live at Jimmy's M.F. Horn 3 M.F. Horn, Vol. 1 Wow! The Formative Years Maynard Ferguson ASIN: B000LRZ03E Release Date: 2007-02-27

Tracks:

1. Give It One
2. Country Road
3. Theme from "Shaft"
4. Theme From "Summer of '42"
5. Mother
6. Spinning Wheel
7. Free Wheeler
8. Hey Jude

Album Description

On M.F. 2, Ferguson performs with his English band featuring other famed musicians including Martin Drover, Peter King and Danny Moss. This release shows Ferguson covering Pop and Rock oriented material including 'Hey Jude', 'Spinning Wheel' and 'Theme From Shaft'. Wounded Bird. 2007.

Customer Reviews:

Finally on cd!.......2007-07-18

Had this on LP years ago, when I was just out of high school. So nice to hear it coming out of my speakers now, instead of just buzzing around my head. Some reviewers faulted the Country Road piano work, but I don't remember it any different. A great timeless cd and I am glad to have finally bought it. Worth the money! Good quality too.

A Classic.......2007-05-25

For any trumpet player who was ever inspired by the fluid ease of Maynard's stratospheric chops, this one is a must have. The band is tight, the arrangements spot on, and Maynard is in top form. I'm delighted this classic is finally available on CD. Favorite tracks: Give It One and Country Roads.

M. F. Horn 2.......2007-05-22

The album was given to me by cousin back when I was a teenager and has always been my favorite production that The Boss ever released. Many years went by and many attempts to find on CD went unsatisfied. I finally found it here in Amazon and ordered it. Now I love it even more (especially without the hisses and pops that my vinyl copy became plagued with due to over playing it). Though it has been 35 years since it was released - it still blows me away like the first time I heard it. Top tracks? Give It One, Spinning Wheel and Hey Jude.

Classic Maynard !!.......2007-03-24

I wore out two cassette copies of MF Horn 1&2 during the mid 80's in my marching band days at Wichita State.

Finally these great charts come to CD.

Hey Jude is a trumpet classic and worth the cost by itself.

RIP Maynard.

One of Maynard's Finest.......2007-03-02

Hooray for Wounded Bird Records; they have seen fit to release another batch of albums from Maynard Ferguson's CBS years, including the dazzling "MF Horn 2". This has always been one of my very favorite MF albums; with the exception of "Free Wheeler", there's just not a weak track in the bunch. Not only are the arrangements of the pop/rock tunes top-notch - "Country Road" is worth the cost of the disc all by itself - the lead track, "GIve It One", is a Downey/Ferguson collaboration that is, to me, a snapshot of everything that made the MF albums from the early Seventies so exciting. It cooks, it's got plenty of screaming trumpet and brisk ensemble playing, and it has that blend of jazz and rock feels that was the basis of most of Maynard's output from that decade. The closer, "Hey Jude", turns the Beatles classic into a manic, wild big band extravaganza; MF closed many a show with this one, his band scattered amongst the audience, everything right on the brink of chaos. The recorded version is pretty darn close to sounding just that frantic, and it's brilliant. In any case, this LP is essential to any Maynard fan, and we finally have it on CD - I'm very happy.

Average customer rating: a great introduction to Maynard Ferguson He's big and high Vintage Gigster at his Finest

On a High Note: Best of the Concord Jazz Recordings Maynard Ferguson Manufacturer: Concord Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Canada | North America | International | Styles | Music Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Contemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Similar Items: Wow! The Formative Years M.F Horn 4 & 5 - Live at Jimmy's Plays Well With Others M.F.Horn 2 & The Ballad Style of Maynard Ferguson M.F. Horn 3 ASIN: B000KP62SY Release Date: 2007-02-06

Tracks:

1. You Got It
2. Caravan
3. Just Friends
4. Manteca
5. Sugar
6. I Love You
7. Knee Deep in Rio
8. Close Your Eyes
9. Fall in Love
10. Birdland

Customer Reviews:

a great introduction to Maynard Ferguson.......2007-05-09

Although I grew up in the '60s playing in high school stage band and being introduced to the Basie, Ellington, and Woody Herman bands, Maynard's work somehow escaped my awareness except for one mediocre album from 1961 which left no impression. Recently, I've attended a couple of concerts by Ferguson veteran Denis DeBlasio, who spoke at length about his time with Maynard and whose own playing made me reconsider what I might have missed out on. What a revelation! If, like me, you've never given Maynard Ferguson a fair listening, do yourself a favor and pick up this album. Now I understand what everyone was raving about. These are stellar performances. What a treat!

He's big and high.......2007-02-27

Maynard, God rest his soul, had the benefit of devine confluence: amazing chops, distinctive style, a prodigious heart, artistic wonder, caffeinated showmanship, and a flat out love of the horn. Jazz was his milieu, but the horn was his showpiece.

These cuts represent the best of his Concord recordings of the late 90's/early '00's, and the charts are no less challenging than the MF1 and 2 books as Maynard cracked 70, with an everlasting command of the stratosphere. As the upper register fades from the older lips of most players, MF still cranks out the high notes and his famous lip trills on difficult, fun charts. He was Barnum and Bailey with a mouthpiece. Well done.

Vintage Gigster at his Finest.......2007-02-12

What a thrill ride! Maynard is blowing like crazy on these tunes. This is a must for every Maynard Ferguson fan as well as any aspiring young musicians. It's amazing to hear what can actually be done with a trumpet. I never get tired of this CD.

Average customer rating: Just an Outstanding Album! Maynard being Maynard Very Cool, Very Diverse, POWERFUL !!! A Classic Maynard Release!!! He's still the best after all these years . . .

Chameleon Maynard Ferguson Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music 4-for-3 Jazz | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Conquistador M.F. Horn, Vol. 1 Maynard Ferguson New Vintage Primal Scream ASIN: B00009VU2Z Release Date: 2003-07-01

Tracks:

1. Chameleon
2. Gospel John
3. The Way We Were
4. Jet
5. La Fiesta
6. I Can't Get Started
7. Livin' For The City
8. Superbone Meets The Bad Man

Customer Reviews:

Just an Outstanding Album!.......2007-03-25

Chameleon. If you were in high school in the mid-1970's this is probably the Maynard Ferguson album that sealed your lifelong appreciation of his music. Not only because of the screaming trumpets but because of the hard hitting, big band sound that just radiates from it. In all the years of listening to MF albums and seeing him in concert, I have always felt this was his strongets band.

"Chameleon" starts off with a strong trumpet presense in the title track. A good track on the album but best heard live as the whole trumpet ensemble gets involved. A great way to start off. The second piece is "Gospel John" featuring Alan (The Amazing)Zavod on Keyboard and Bruce (Bad Man) Johnston on Baritone Sax. The song builds in intensitity until the whole band is Wailing.

The next two pieces are renditions of pop songs that really don't say too much. Randy Purcell's arrangement of the Streisand hit "The Way We Were" is straight forward and not bad as a change of pace. It's followed up by a version of McCartney's "Jet" which is OK but again, not one of my favorites.

Three out of the next four pieces are what really set's this album apart from all other MF works. "La Fiesta" is just an outstanding song, featuring Zavod again on Keyboard and Lynn Nicholson on lead trumpet (yes, that is him during the trumpet cadenza that is the highest screamer). This is another piece that is great on the albim but pales in comparrison to the live 15 minute version. "Can't Get Started" follows and features Maynard singing. A great (slightly changed) version of the old 1950's hit. Then we get to Stevie Wonder's "Living in the City". probably my least favorite work here. Again, like "Jet" it's not bad but it just doesn't say anything new. But hang on to your hats, "Superbone meets the Bad Man" is the final piece and does not disappoint. Featuring Johnston on Baritone Sax and Maynard on Superbone (Valve Trombone) it just swings. An absolute delight!

There you have it. One of MF's best and still my favorite studio album. If you don't have it, get it now!

Maynard being Maynard.......2007-03-03

Chameleon is a compilation of some commercial songs like Herbie Hancock's Chameleon, Stevie Wonder's Livin' For the City, Paul McCartney's Jet, and Chick Corea's La Fiesta. Also on the album is Maynard's own Superbone Meets the Bad Man. Yes, Maynard even sings. (and he's not that bad) Maynard screams with his great openings. One especially includes his rendition of Gospel John. In the liner notes of the album, it reads, "I felt like I was in a gospel band, the way we paraded around during that song." This is stated by the studio drummer. Nobody can touch Maynard's greatness on this CD, and he brought together a great band to make this.

Very Cool, Very Diverse, POWERFUL !!!.......2005-08-31

Unlike some MF 70's releases, this one is HOT! La Fiesta, Super Bone Meets the Badman, Can't Get Started, Gospel John, The Way We Were...all different and all well done.

In my view one of the more "in your face" recordings of the band ever. This mix more closely resembles the way the band sounded live in the mid-70's. So much for producer Teo Macero's reputation...the guy did this one and the famous Live at Jimmy's just before it and messed up both releases at the time (can you say "reverb" and missing parts?)

The trumpet section is scorching led by the legendary Stan Mark and supported by Bob Summers, Dennis Noday and the screaming Lynn Nicholson.

Bruce Johnstone kills on bari sax and Alan Zavod's keyboards were...amazing.

Buy this. You'll love it.

A Classic Maynard Release!!!.......2005-08-27

This is a classic Maynard release. Right up there with Conquistador, this album is hot! I've been listening to Maynard a lot lately, and the most stuff by him that I seem to enjoy the most is his 1970's, more fusion orienated recordings. This album definately fits that discription.

I first picked this up because the song that appears on this album, "Gospel John;" I played in my 7th grade jazz band. The long intro is amazing. And once the song starts, Maynard's band rips it up! What a great song!

Another highlight here, for me, is Maynard's vocal version of "I Can't Get Started." Not a fan of vocals, but I love this tune.

The rest of the album is great as usual. There's something for everybody in this recording. It ain't just fusion influenced, there are some straight ahead big band tunes as well. I don't really see how this album is commercial. All I see is that it has some really talented players on it.

Great album!

He's still the best after all these years . . . .......2005-06-09

Listening to this album again takes me back to my high school days, when I was cutting my musical teeth on the fusion and jazz tinged pop and rock music of the early 70s. I was into BS&T, Chicago, Lighthouse etc. But then I went to my first MF concert. WOW! These cats could play! The music educators I was studying under pooh-poohed Maynard as a pop huckster, but he was my bridge. Because of his pop-tinged jazz, I was hooked, and went deeper and deeper into a love for REAL jazz.

No one can deny Maynard's awsome musical ability, and the musicians on this album are all top notch too. I remember waiting with anticipation when this album came out, because I had heard many of these numbers live before they were released on vinyl. Even back then, I thought the approach he took with the title track (adding the electric guitar) was too much, but its still a great chart. Gospel John is just a great arrangement, and Randy Purcell's trombone work on "Way We Were," coupled with Maynards cascading trumpet, well, it don't get no better! The real highlights, though, are the incredible arrangement of "La Fiesta," (again, it was better live, but this is the next best thing), Maynard doing a credible singing job on "Can't Get Started," and the interplay between Maynard on Valve Trombone and Bruce Johnstone on Bari Sax on "Badman" -- all these tracks are just fantastic!

This was a real trip down memory lane for me. I wore the vinyl version of this record out as a teenager, and I have to cite Maynard as one of my major influences for initially choosing music education as my first career. For you audiophiles, the remastering on this was great -- I have discovered that quite often, trying to refine the recordings of earlier eras makes the remastered version artifical or sterile. That is NOT the case here -- its as vibrant and lifelike as the first time I spun the platter on my turntable.

God bless Maynard! He's still the best!

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