 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Carol Dutcher
Date: 2005-01-22 22:30
In the Lesher Center for Performing Arts last night in Walnut Creek, California I heard the greatest concert by Maynard and his band. His lip is still holding strong and I heard notes I didn't know existed! No clarinets though, but two extremely proficient sax players, three other trumpets, a trombone, a keyboard, bass/guitar player and a drummer out of this world. We were up close and personal which made it even more exciting. Maynard obviously respects his musicians greatly and it was fun to watch the interactions between them.
Go Maynard!
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-01-22 23:08
Did he play McArthur Park? If not then you haven't heard his highest note yet.
Bob Draznik
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Author: ron b
Date: 2005-01-22 23:19
Hadn't heard anything for ages, until your post today, about Maynard Ferguson. I've wondered ocassionally if he was still around, (much less whether he's still playing). Thank you for answering both questions without my asking 
I'm glad you were able to be there, too, Carol. Live performances are truly cherished moments.
- r![[cool]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/cool.gif) n b -
...who's over the hill in Sacto....
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-01-22 23:52
Maynard's Bari Sax player and Arranger from the past (and on some current recordings - he leads the Rowan Univ. Maynard Ferguson Insitute of Jazz) Denis DiBlasio has some great recordings up on Itunes. Denis has a very good jazz improv primer book called Diblasio's Bop Shop.
One cool thing that Maynard does is to farm out players from the best Univ. jazz programs and use them as his band to tour.
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Author: FrankM
Date: 2005-01-23 02:34
For you old folks who go back to the "Live at Jimmy's" days in the early 70s, Maynard had two sax players that knocked me out...Bruce Johnston on bari and Ferdinand Povell on tenor. Both those guys made me want to play sax
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-01-23 04:06
Chip McNeill is quite a hot Tenor player now who does a lot of playing w/ Maynard. Chip also tours with Arturo Sandoval.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2005-01-23 05:06
I presonally don't like Maynard Ferguson. I think he can play VERY high on the trumpet, but that is about it. His improvisations always sound boring to me.
Glad you enjoyed the concert.
Post Edited (2005-01-23 05:59)
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Author: Buster Brown
Date: 2005-01-23 12:52
I saw Maynard as a young man in the 50's when he played with Kenton. Had an opportunity to look at his music. He had written notes in his music that were higher than I could play on the clarinet. Maynard was not a great soloist, but the man reinvented the trumpet. No one played that high with that sort of power before him. MacArther Park on MF Horn I album was the best of the many MacArther parks he recorded.
I think I should have played trumpet.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-01-23 13:18
Not the case with Sandoval, but his stuff is mostly hard core. Even gentle is still pretty aggressive.
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2005-01-23 13:23
I heard him twice...once at the old Robin Hood Dell in Philly, and again at the Acad. of Music.
His band members were the best of the best of the best (to steal a phrase from MIB)....and they got ample opp. to show their stuff.
He had a flutist doubler in the reed section at the time....the solo on flute (might have been an alto flute) was to die for.
MF's Maria featured himself on lower notes...and the phrasing and thoughts were right on...the sound somewhat more Hugh Masekela than MF and, well....the altissimo is the icing on the cake.
This was about the time of his New Vintages album. and then of course there is MF Horn which is on my desert island wish list along with Pink Flloyds Wall and Marcellus K622 and a burned copy of a Yona Ettlinger Brahms trio (diverse list, huh?)
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: jim lande
Date: 2005-01-24 03:34
I saw him in Baltimore in the early 1970s -- outdoor concert, double bill with Count Basie. Both bands were terrific. Basie did very little to stand out, but everything they played sounded like the Count Basie band. He was the musical glue. Everything Maynard did was to stand out, but his playing stood on top of the music rather than adding to it. His playing was very impressive, but I liked his band better when it wasn't playing.
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Author: Pappy
Date: 2005-01-24 12:49
Glad to know he's still got it. In the 70's I remember hearing concerts by MF, Kenton and Chase that were all amazing! Listening to recordings of them now bring back great memories!
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Author: msloss
Date: 2005-01-24 15:12
When I turn back the clock to the earliest MF recordings, I almost do a double-take. This cat is a lot deeper than his disco albums would suggest. He was a wicked bop improviser in addition to his monster chops. And sure he can play high, but some of the guys he hired could match or best him in that department, particularly in the 70's and on. Stan Mark, Jon Faddis, and Alan Rubin can cause bats to fly into walls when they play in the stratosphere.
He has always surrounded himself with amazing young musicians, and has probably done more for the promotion of high school music programs than any other figure in the biz.
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