 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Chalumeau Joe
Date: 2006-08-26 03:53
I just wanted to acknowledge Maynard Ferguson's passing on this web site and share the effect he had on my own musical development.
I first saw Maynard live in concert as a young teen in the early 70s. His playing had an immediate and profound effect on me: it was passionate...and fun...and motivated me to want to play better. He moved me, and I became hooked on "The Boss" for life.
I've been to countless Maynard concerts since then, with most of them being at our local high school, where he would appear regularly every two years. For me, the highlights of these performances were when his band would play together with the school band: how exciting an experience that was for the kids, as well as the parents. Maynard's enthusiasm and love as an educator was genuine and infectious, and after each one of these concerts, I'd pull out my clarinet and start playing as soon as I got home (regardless of how late it was!).
The musical world has truly lost a legend today...to borrow a quote from his obituary, "Gabriel will be playing second trumpet tonight."
Joe
Post Edited (2006-08-26 06:19)
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Author: BobD
Date: 2006-08-26 11:04
Maynard's rendition of "McArthur Park" always moved me. I heard an interview with him last year on radio and found his comments and personality very interesting. Another Great passes.
Bob Draznik
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Author: ghuba
Date: 2006-08-26 15:00
The band would be churning. You had heard the recording three dozen times before and knew what was coming. And it didn't matter. When Maynard's solo got to the point where the notes were going up into the stratosphere mixing bolts of high pitched lightning and silence, you would feel that sense of electricity all over again. His artistry will be greatly missed.
George
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2006-08-26 15:49
Saw him at the old Robin Hood Dell in Philly and again at the Academy of Music in Phila. Both super concerts.
Had awesome players in his big band, and always gave each of them a chance to catch the spotlight.
RIP, MF Horn.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: martind
Date: 2006-08-26 16:39
Memories, yes I've had a few of Maynard when he first joined the Kenton
Band just out of high school in the late 40's. I first heard of him on the radio of my '37 Olds late one nite on a Detroit station. The DJ mentioned
the attributes of this young outstanding musician with the terrific range.
I'm sure I have him on some of my early Kenton LP's and a '60's album...
Straight Away Jazz Themes with his big band playing great jazz charts.
Yea, we lost a giant!
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Author: Michael E. Shultz
Date: 2006-08-27 01:54
I graduated high school in 1974. Maynard Ferguson had more influence than all other professional musicians combined. His band played many Top 40 songs from the 1960's and 1970's. As a result, his music was contemporary, and had strong melodies and a good beat. This was affirmed in 1977 when his version of Gonna Fly Now (Theme from "Rocky") made the Top 40. Even his clothing and hair styles belonged to the 1970's, rather than to an earlier era.
Maynard Ferguson had an incredibly big, rich sound. He was a trumpet player even for those of us who did not normally care for the sound of trumpets. At one concert, he played the beginning of Hey Jude on a soprano sax, and sounded better than the soprano sax player in his band!
In addition to playing several concerts in my area during the 1970's, he spoke at a jazz seminar at the University of Akron. He explained that his trumpet was identical to the MF Horns sold by Holton. In fact, before one of his concerts, the parents of a boy with an MF Horn told Maynard Ferguson they were unhappy with this trumpet. Maynard swapped his well-used trumpet for the boy's new shiny trumpet and played the concert on it. The problem was with the boy, not the trumpet. After the concert, the boy's parents wanted their trumpet back. Maynard played a few notes at the clinic, which was enough to tell me his sound really was that good, and not electronically enhanced.
None of the trumpet players in high school used an MF Horn, however. I think the huge 0.468" bore scared them away.
I noticed about 8 years ago that Maynard Ferguson was 70 years old, and still performing and touring. I had been wondering lately if he still played at his age, and saw in his obituary that he was performing, touring, and recording up until his death from an abdominal infection. What a wonderful life he had; to love playing and be able to do it right up until death!
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."
Groucho Marx
Post Edited (2006-08-27 01:57)
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Author: Chalumeau Joe
Date: 2006-08-27 03:14
Thank you for sharing your remembrances about Maynard Ferguson.
Whenever I listen to my Maynard records, my thoughts immediately go back to my youth: jammin' with the trumpets in high school band to "Chameleon" (as a clarinetist, it was much easier for ME to hit the high notes); playing "Gospel John" and the "Theme from Shaft" during marching band and pep rallys; seeing Maynard perform in his "totally cool" bright orange jump suit at my college and seriously wanting to get one, too. To this day, I play "Birdland" as a sort of celebratory song when things go well at work or when there's a happy ocassion at home; when I'm feeling blue, Maynard's rendition of "Maria" (which never fails to bring a streaming tear down my cheek) is cathartic to me and makes it all seem better.
I've been playing clarinet for over 35 years now...but this amazing trumpet player was the single most signficant influence in my musical development. Music has always been an important part of my life...and that's why,for me and so many of his fans, Maynard's passing simply "just hurts".
Maynard will undoubtedly be remembered for his "triple Cs"...but that only captures one dimension of this well-loved, profoundly influential, and important musician. I encourage those of you that may not have been exposed to his music much, or dismissed him as "that screechy trumpet guy", to take the opportunity to learn more about him. Take a look at http://www.maynardferguson.com/, or read some of his fan's comments on http://p081.ezboard.com/bmaynardfergusonboard. See for yourself the outpouring of love and adoration that people truly have for this legend, not just for his talent, but for his humanity as well.
(By the way, Maynard could play a mean clarinet, too.)
Joe
Post Edited (2006-08-28 02:57)
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