By the time he left the boisterous big band of Stan Kenton to form his own orchestra, Maynard Ferguson was known as the man who could break the ozone layer with his trumpet. This four disc collection brings together all of the albums that he recorded on the Roulette Label from 1958-1963, and the music is as exciting as the “Rocky” theme that he is most famous for.
His orchestras included some of the best soloists around, including but not limited to Bill Chase/tp, Don Sebesky/tb, Slide Hampton/tb, Joe Farrell/ts, Jake Hanna/dr, Lanny Morgan/as, Jaki Byard/p, Rufus Jones/dr and Don Menza/ts. The debut album mixes jazz standards like “Loved Walked In” with pieces by tenor saxist Willie Maiden such as “Bittersweet”. The next album, in 1958, from Newport is a hard hitter, with extroverted pieces like “Fan It, Janet” and the exciting “Tag Team”. A 1959 album serves as almost background music for dancers, with subdued reads of standards such as “’Tis Autumn” and “Hey There”, with Ferguson back in Newport in 1960 with his classic album with tenorist Joe Farrell on a blues “Foxy” and the team on all 8 cylinders on “I’m Gonna Go Fishing”. Maynard in 1961 with trumpeters Bill Berry and Rolf Ericson shining on “Blues For Kapp”. The band features Lanny Morgan and Don Menza in 1962 for pieces like “Morganpoint”, “Morgan’s Organ” and “Statement” with the 1963 finale going out on a high note with the band belting out “Oleo” and “Back In the Satellite Again”. Music for the macho.