The music on these sides is the product of different sessions that represent, between them, a veritable Blue Book of West Coast jazz. At the head of each ensemble, enjoying himself to the full, is trumpeter extraordinary Maynard Ferguson. Most of the men heard in this CD were old friends, either colleagues from the Stan Kenton band or Californians with whom he had worked on and off for several years. Stan Kenton was really the first to realize what I could do technically on a horn, said Ferguson in 1956. Because hes such a natural, such a great leader, he saw my capabilities in perspective and acting accordingly. We feel that anyone interested in West Coast jazz sounds will find these recordings of exceptional value.
Tracklisting:
01. Band Aint Draggin (Joe Greene) 2:11
02. Short Wave (Shorty Rogers) 2:34
03. Love Locked Out (Noble-Kester) 2:56
04. Take The A Train (Billy Staryhorn) 2:52
05. Whats New (Haggart-Burke) 3:10
06. The Hot Canary (Nero-Gilbert) 2:20
07. Roses All The Way (Carpenter-Weber) 2:37
08. And So I Waited Around (Altman-Kaye) 2:51
09. Homing Pidgeon (Drake-Shirl-Jerome) 2:35
10. Wow! (Shorty Rogers) 2:05
11. Maiden Voyage (Willie Maiden) 2:58
12. Thou Swell (Rodgers-Hart) 2:43
13. The Way You Look Tonight (Kern-Fields) 2:53
14. All Gods Chillun Got Rhythm (Kaper-Jurman) 2:54
15. Willie Nillie (Willie Maiden) 3:03
16. Hymn To Her (Willie Maiden) 2:33
17. Lonely Town (Comden-Green-Bernstein) 3:07
18. Over The Rainbow (Arlen-Harburg) 3:03
Tracks #1-4: Maynard Ferguson (dir,tp,vcl), Alfred 'Chico' Alvarez, Al Porcino, Shorty Rogers (tp), Milt Bernhart, Harry Betts, Bob Fitzpatrick (tb), John Graas (frh), Gene Englund (tuba), Art Pepper, Bud Shank (as), Bob Cooper, Jimmy Giuffre (ts), Bob Gioga (bars), Joe Rotundi (p), Don Bagley (b), Shelly Manne (d). Arrangements by Joe Roland (#1), Shorty Rogers (#2,4), Paul Villepigue (#3).
Recorded in Hollywood, September 13, 1950
#5-6: Maynard Ferguson (dir,tp) accompanied by the Stan Kenton Band: Alfred 'Chico' Alvarez, John Howell, Shorty Rogers, Jimmy Salko (tp), Milt Bernhart, Harry Betts, Bob Fitzpatrick, Dick Kenney (tb), Paul Weigand (btb), Art Pepper, Bud Shank (as), bart Caldarell, Jimmy Giuffre (ts), Bob Gioga (bars), Ralph Blaze (g), Stan Kenton (p), Don Bagley (b), Shelly Manne (d). Arrangements by Shorty Rogers (#5), Pete Rugolo (#6).
Recorded in Hollywood, May 31, 1951
#7-10: Maynard Ferguson (dir,tp), Alfred 'Chico' Alvarez, Shorty Rogers (tp), Milt Bernhart, Herbie Harper, Dick Kenney (tb), Abie Most, Bud Shank (as), Jimmy Giuffre (ts), Bob Gordon (bars), Barney Kessel (g), Frank Patchen (p), Joe Mondragon (b), Shelly Manne (d), Kay Brown (vcl). Arrangements by Pete Rugolo.
Recorded in Hollywood, February 25, 1952
#11-18: Maynard Ferguson (dir,tp,vtb), Milt Bernhart (tb), Bud Shank (fl,as), Bob Cooper (ts), Bob Gordon (bars), Russ Freeman (p), Curtis Counce (b), Shelly Manne (d). Arrangements by Willie Maiden.
Recorded in Hollywood, February 19, 1954
