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last update Sept 2006 - new photo of Maynard Ferguson onstage at Bath .

Maynard Ferguson Big Band .
June 28 1970

Personnel. Maynard Ferguson-trumpet.  Pete Jackson -piano. Randy Jones - drums. Morton Drover-lead trumpet.  Alan Downey- lead trumpet Albert Wood- trombone  Billy Graham - trombone Johnny Huckeridge- backing trumpet Nigel Carte -backing trumpet. Rob Watson - baritone sax. Unknown bass or lead guitarist.

Maynard Ferguson Big band at Bath 1970 Photo © John Griffiths

      Not a lot to say about Maynard, as there are unlikely to be tapes of this performance out there, or set lists either.  He was the resident house band on the Simon Dee Show, so he got to be seen by ten million people a week, but appearing on such a turkey of a show was hardly an enhancement to his freak credentials. His group was quite a powerful jazz big band ,but nowhere in the same league as the bands of Clarke Terry or Buddy Rich. Somewhat out of place at rock festivals , I think the promoters included them on the bill because the programme says "  should catch on with those following rock bands with similar sounds such as Keef Hartley and Blood Sweat and Tears." Well , possibly but .......

    The problem here was that Maynard's band was NOT a rock band using a brass section, but a jazz band without a rock rhythm section - and according to the program they did not even have a bass player- a major oversight when playing to a rock crowd. ( although John 's photo indicates there was a guitar player as part of the line up, so perhaps a bass player had been added by this stage ).

   The lack of the steady rock beat did not endear the band to audiences and I found that the material and arrangements were not strong enough-although maynards trumpet playing was a highlight, he was able to hit extremly high notes and play hard and fast . I saw them twice - Bath and Bickershaw -and I was not particularly impressed- and I LIKED Jazz Big Bands. God knows what most of the audience felt but the band did not exactly receive rapturous applause at either festival. They weren't boo'd off either, but the applause was more respectful than anything else.

   Sad to hear that Maynard has now passed away- apparently his music switched to becoming more traditional in his later years and he ditched the rock trappings and returned to the mainstream fold .

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