Tuesdays on the Tube: Maynard Ferguson

Birdland. Gonna Fly Now. Chameleon. Macarthur’s Park. The list could go on. These songs are all well known standards that were elevated by one man. Maynard Ferguson. Born in Montreal, Maynard started music at an early age. Through out time, he became one of the great jazz trumpeters and bandleaders of the 20th Century. Known for his ever reaching (and sometimes screaching) high notes, Ferguson could light up the room with glorious playing of jazz standards and ballads.

Although, he was primarily a trumpet player, Maynard was known to have played other instruments as well as playing a combined slide/valve trombone known as, THE SUPERBONE. Holton designed this horn specifically for him and allows the player to switch between functions with no break. Right now, Last Row Music has one of these instruments in our collection, and we will be highlighting it for our Feature on Friday series. Stay tuned to this Friday where we will have a soundclip of Maynard playing the Superbone as well as video demonstration. Also, check out our eBay store, as we will be selling a few Maynard Ferguson vinyl records.

For now, we would like to show a video of Mr. Ferguson playing a great spiritual-themed standard, Gospel John. This video will show his high range and trumpet playing as well as his skills on the baritone horn.

Cheers and Vinyl!