Maynard Ferguson

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Maynard Ferguson (1978)

Walter "Maynard" Ferguson (born May 4, 1928 in Verdun (now part of Montreal ), † August 23, 2006 in Ventura , California ) was a Canadian jazz trumpeter and flugelhorn player . He was considered a "high-note" specialist and was famous for his large range.

Life

Ferguson discovered his love for music at a young age. Encouraged by his parents, he learned the piano and violin from the age of four. At the age of nine he discovered the trumpet for himself and at the age of 13 he was already performing with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Orchestra , and at 15 he played with his own band as the opening act for traveling bands. Before he played his famous skyscraper cascades on the trumpet, however, he also made a name for himself as a veritable valve trombonist . However, he finally decided on the trumpet. With his energy and virtuosity he drew the attention of various famous band leaders and was finally accepted into the Stan Kenton Orchestra at the age of 22 , in which he played from 1950 to 1953, as on his album New Concepts of Artistry in Rhythm . In the mid-fifties he founded his first orchestra, which saw itself in the tradition of Basie classicism and made swinging, simple, blues and beat-oriented, but still vital and exciting instrumental jazz.

Ferguson with orchestra leader Pino Presti ( Rai 2 1977)

He then turned to film music and recorded some soundtracks for Paramount Pictures . In Hollywood he had also played with West Coast jazz musicians . He also played in the New York Philharmonic Orchestra under Leonard Bernstein William Russo's The Titans .

In the 60s and early 70s Ferguson lived in Spain, England and India and toured with his own bands, e. Sometimes even big bands. His version of MacArthur Park became famous, and assignments drew him back to his homeland. In 1974 he decided to return to the USA. With Gonna Fly Now from the US movie Rocky , in the then trendy disco sound, he celebrated his final breakthrough as a jazz trumpeter suitable for the masses, because the single reached the American Top 40, the accompanying album Conquistador got gold, and he became 1978 nominated for a Grammy .

For a long time Ferguson was the high-note trumpeter par excellence in jazz . He also plays the trombone, but was only significant in this area as a co-developer of a combined valve slide trombone. In 1997 he was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in recognition of his achievements .

Ferguson died on August 23, 2006 at the age of 78 from liver and kidney failure.

reception

Ferguson's friendship with Tim Leary found expression in fiction in TC Boyle's novel Das Licht (2019).

Discographic notes

Maynard Ferguson.
  • Jazz Masters 52: Maynard Ferguson ( Verve Records , 1951–1957)
  • The New Sounds of Maynard Ferguson and His Orchestra (Fresh Sound, 1964)
  • Chameleon ( Columbia Records , 1974)
  • Conquistador ( Columbia Records , 1977)
  • Carnival (Columbia Records, 1978)
  • Maynard Ferguson (Columbia Records, C31117)
  • Live from San Francisco (Rhino, 1983)
  • These Cats Can Swing ( Concord Records , 1994) with Tom Garling
  • One More Trip to Birdland (Concord, 1996)
  • Brass Attitude (Concord, 1998)

As a sideman

With Stan Kenton

  • Innovations in Modern Music ( Capitol , 1950)
  • Stan Kenton Presents (Capitol, 1950)
  • New Concepts of Artistry in Rhythm (Capitol, 1953)
  • Popular Favorites by Stan Kenton (Capitol, 1953)
  • Sketches on Standards (Capitol, 1953)
  • This Modern World (Capitol, 1953)
  • The Kenton Era (Capitol, 1940–54, [1955])
  • Kenton in Hi-Fi (Capitol, 1956)
  • The Innovations Orchestra (Capitol, 1950–51 [1997])

Web links

Commons : Maynard Ferguson  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Canadian Music Hall of Fame - Inductees. Canadian Music Hall of Fame , accessed August 6, 2017 .
personal data
SURNAME Ferguson, Maynard
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Ferguson, Walter (real name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Canadian jazz trumpeter and flugelhorn player
DATE OF BIRTH May 4, 1928
PLACE OF BIRTH Verdun (now part of Montreal)
DATE OF DEATH August 23, 2006
Place of death Ventura , California