Maynard Ferguson biography

 

Maynard Ferguson (born May 4, 1928 in Montreal, Canada) is a jazz trumpet player and bandleader. He came to prominence playing in Stan Kenton's orchestra, before forming his own band in 1957. Maynard Ferguson is noted for being able to play accurately in a remarkably high register, and his ability to circular breathe while doing has been a feature of his workshops to young brass players globally.

Maynard Ferguson was born in Verdun, Quebec (now part of Montreal). Encouraged by his mother and father, Maynard was playing piano and violin by the age of four. At nine years old, Maynard heard a trumpet for the first time in his local church and asked his parents to purchase him one. He won a scholarship to the French Conservatory of Music where he received formal training and in 1941, at age thirteen, Maynard Ferguson soloed as a child prodigy with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Orchestra. During his teen years, he led a band in Montreal. In 1949, he moved to the United States in hopes of joining Stan Kenton's big band in New York City.

Kenton's band was broken up at this point, so Maynard Ferguson began playing with Boyd Raeburn, Jimmy Dorsey, and Charlie Barnet. In 1950, Stan Kenton formed his new Innovations Orchestra in Los Angeles with Ferguson as his star attraction. After the Innovations experiment proved a commercial failure, Maynard Ferguson stayed in the Kenton organization through its shift back into touring as a jazz big band, although he was still too young to travel with the band, and was separately driven by his parents behind the band's bus.

By 1954, Maynard Ferguson left the Innovations Orchestra to work for Paramount Pictures on film soundtracks in Hollywood. He played lead trumpet on such notable films as The Ten Commandments.

After leaving the Innovations Orchestra, Maynard Ferguson began playing and living outside North America, with extended periods in England and India, before returning to the U.S. in 1974. His recording of "Gonna Fly Now," the theme from the movie Rocky won him a Grammy nomination in 1978. This was the first time since the end of the big band era that jazz topped the popular music charts. Since, Ferguson has primarily led his own bands, including his fusion band High Voltage and his latest big band Big Bop Nouveau.

Maynard Ferguson is one of a handful of musician/bandleaders to survive the end of the big band era and Rock and Roll. While never a household name, and with little popular success, excluding "Gonna Fly Now," he demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt musically. His albums show a progression from big band swing, bebop, cool jazz, latin, jazz/rock, fusion with classical and operatic influences. Maynard Ferguson enjoyed a remarkable resurgence in the 1970s when he embraced jazz/rock, especially through the album Chameleon. Though this phase is often derided by jazz purists, it attracted a new generation of young school musicians to jazz.

Known for his ability to play in the upper ranges of the trumpet, fans thrill to hear Maynard Ferguson reach a "double-high C". Another signature which is rarely duplicated by other musicians is a four octave range. Ferguson has been accused of not being experimental in music styles, but has been successful adapting and improvising on other's compositions. He did develop two unique instruments - a trumpet with both traditional valves (played with the left hand rather than the right) and trombone style slide called the 'Firebird' as well as a trombone with both a slide & valves called 'Superbone.' The India experience deeply touched Maynard Ferguson, and he regularly incorporated Indian instruments and influences in albums and concerts, often ending with the ringing of a temple bell.

After Maynard Ferguson's return to the U.S. in the 1970s, he has been able to sustain the big band experience on tour by recruiting talented college musicians, and teaching in high school auditoriums and conducting master classes. Though touring with a lean band of ten to twelve musicians, Maynard Ferguson is a crowd pleaser with dedicated fans and enjoys a cult-like following. He has been known to keep the band riffing on the final tune while he takes the time to shake the hand of every cheering fan in the audience.

YouTube - Maynard Ferguson
Maynard Ferguson on the Mike Douglass Show. Tribute to Maynard Ferguson. 03:27. From. MAYNARD FERGUSON AINT NO SUNSHINE. 04:37. From: dpizza. Views: 9850.


Amazon.com: Maynard Ferguson: Music: Maynard Ferguson
Amazon.com: Maynard Ferguson: Music: Maynard Ferguson by Maynard Ferguson. This would not be considered a typical Maynard Ferguson Release.


The Maynard Ferguson Tribute Page
An internet tribute to jazz legend Maynard Ferguson. Includes tour dates, pics, and more. Update your bookmarks! The Maynard Ferguson Tribute Site was born.


Amazon.com: Chameleon: Music: Maynard Ferguson
Amazon.com: Chameleon: Music: Maynard Ferguson by Maynard Ferguson. 1970's this is probably the Maynard Ferguson album that sealed your lifelong.


USATODAY.com - Jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson dead at 78
Jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson, known for his soaring high notes and for his. Jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson, shown here in the Ukraine in 2003, died of.


Maynard Ferguson - MacArthur Park - Music at Last.fm
People who like Maynard Ferguson also like Arturo Sandoval.Maynard Ferguson & Big Bop Nouveau. Stan Kenton. Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band. Buddy Rich.


Maynard Ferguson; trumpeter known for soaring jazz style - The Boston Globe
Jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson, known for his soaring high notes and for his. There is no Kenton, no Basie, no Ellington, and now, no Ferguson.


Maynard Ferguson - a true inspiration
author: AYEJAY - site profile. vote: image: google. sound: Maynard Ferguson - Maria. keywords: Trumpet Maynard Ferguson. Click here to go back to YTMND.com.


NPR : Jazz Trumpeter Maynard Ferguson Dies at 78
Maynard Ferguson, a jazz trumpeter who played with the greats, has died at 78. Mr. MAYNARD FERGUSON (Jazz Trumpeter): I'm from Montreal, Canada, and I grew up.


The Maynard Ferguson Tribute Page - Pictures - Exclusives
An internet tribute to jazz legend Maynard Ferguson. Includes tour dates, pics, and more. graciously allowed the Maynard Ferguson