Maynard Ferguson was the poster boy for musical evolution … from playing high notes that only dogs could hear with the Kenton Orchestra to his own big bands in the fifties and sixties, to popular tunes and disco stylings during the 1970s and beyond. Beneath it all was always a foundation of solid jazz but my favorite period was the Ferguson orchestra between 1959 and approximately 1965, featuring Willie Maiden with his untamed tenor solos and unusually creative arrangements that fit Maynard’s powerful ensemble to a tee! Then there were the compositions and occasional injection of Slide Hampton’s talents on the tuba and flugelhorn, along with his renowned prowess with the trombone. Rufus “Speedy” Jones on drums rounded out the band’s driving sound, as he did in the latter half of the decade with the Basie and Ellington orchestras.
Night Life
Night Life is a low key Slide Hampton arrangement that features a more mellow Maynard on the uncommon valve trombone rather than playing dog-whistle notes on his trumpet. A Message From Birdland was the second jazz album I ever bought and the one that got me hooked on Ferguson big bands for life. Ol’ Man River is an arrangement that I suspect would make Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein proud. They would most certainly take notice right from the solo baritone sax lead-in by Frank Hittner. As the tune rolls on, you can almost hear the paddle wheel churning up the water!
