Details
Track Listing
1. King's Riff
2. Maiden Voyage
3. Willie Nillie
4. Hymn to Her
5. Way You Look Tonight, The
6. Can't We Talk It Over?
7. Egad, Martha
8. Dancing Nitely
9. Lamp Is Low, The
10. Dream Boat
11. Pork Pie
12. Never You Mind
13. Love Me or Leave Me
14. Moonlight in Vermont
15. Easy to Love
16. Wildman
Album Notes
Personnel includes: Maynard Ferguson (trumpet, valve trombone); Irene Kral (vocals); Benny Carter (arranger, alto saxophone); Willie Maiden, Bill Holman (arranger, tenor saxophone); Pete Rugolo, Ernie Wilkins, Al Cohn (arranger); Bud Shank (alto & baritone saxophones, flute); Jimmy Ford, Anthony Ortega (alto & tenor saxophones); Herb Geller (alto saxophone); Bob Cooper (tenor saxophone, oboe); Ben Webster, Nino Tempo, Georgie Auld (tenor saxophone); Bob Gordon (baritone saxophone, bass clarinet); Tate Houston (baritone saxophone); Conte Candoli, Don Palladino, Ray Linn, Pete Candoli, Buddy Childers, Tom Slaney, John Bello, Joe Burnett (trumpet); Herbie Harper, Milt Bernhart, Bobby Burgess, Jimmy Cleveland (trombone); Larry Bunker (vibraphone, drums); Gerald Wiggins, Russ Freeman, Lorraine Geller, Bobby Timmons (piano); Howard Roberts (guitar); Buddy Clark, John Kirby, Curtis Counce, Joe Mondragon, Red Mitchell, Ray Brown, Richard Evans (bass); George Jenkins, Shelly Manne, Gary Frommer, Alvin Stoller (drums).
Compilation producer: Michael Lang.
Recorded in Los Angeles, California; New York, New York and Radio Recorders, Hollywood, California between 1951 and 1957. Includes liner notes by Bill Kirchner.
The first half of this Verve compilation emphasizes the small group recordings of trumpeter Maynard Ferguson, while the latter half of the disc features scaled-down big-band selections. Although there are beautiful arrangements here by Bill Holman and Willie Maiden, much of this music still revolves around individual soloists, rather than section work or complex, weighty compositions.
The album's opener, "King's Riff," sees Ferguson performing with a quintet. On this tune, Ben Webster's dark, smoky tenor-saxophone playing contrasts with Ferguson's bright, brassy tone. Other highlights include the high-energy "Love Me or Leave Me" and the equally lively "Easy to Love." On the latter, the light ensemble work is tempered by vigorous bop solos from pianist Bobby Timmons and alto saxophonist Jimmy Ford. Ferguson himself plays an uncharacteristically delicate muted trumpet solo on this standard. The only song to features a singer is the ballad "Moonlight in Vermont." On this powerful arrangement, Irene Kral's silky voice is offset by the vociferous brass, including Ferguson's own robust lead trumpet work. Overall, this compilation gives listeners an excellent overview of the early career of this unique jazz master.
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