Personnel:
Maynard Ferguson (tp, v-tb, vcl, lead), Alfred 'Chico'
Alvarez, Al Porcino, Jimmy Salko (tp), Shorty Rogers (tp, arr), Milt Bernhart,
Harry Betts, Bob Fitzpatrick, Herbie Harper, Dick Kenney (tb), Paul Weigrand
(b-tb), John Graas (Frh), Gene Englund (tuba), Art Pepper, Bud Shank, Abe Most
(as), Bob Cooper, Jimmy Giuffre (ts), Bob Gioga, Bob Gordon (bs), Joe Rotundi,
Stan Kenton, Frank Patchen, Russ Freeman (p), Ralph Blaze, Barney Kessel (g),
Don Bagley, Joe Mondragon, Curtis Counce (b), Shelly Manne (d), Kay Brown
(vcl), Joe Roland, Paul Villepigue, Pete Rugolo, Willie Maiden (arr)
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.
TRACKLIST:
01. Band Ain't 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. What's 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 God's 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
Sources:
Tracks #1 & 3, from the 10-inch 78 rpm Capitol 1269
Tracks #5 & 6, from the 10-inch 78 rpm Capitol 7-1713
Tracks #8 & 9, from the 10-inch 78 rpm Mercury 5819
Tracks #12-18, from the 10-inch album "Dimensions"
(EmArcy MG 26024)
Personnel on #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 (bs), 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
Personnel on #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 (b-tb), Art Pepper, Bud Shank (as), Bart
Caldarell, Jimmy Giuffre (ts), Bob Gioga (bs), 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
Personnel on #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 (bs),
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
Personnel on #11-18: Maynard Ferguson (dir, tp,
v-tb), Milt Bernhart (tb), Bud Shank (fl, as), Bob Cooper (ts), Bob Gordon
(bs), Russ Freeman (p), Curtis Counce (b), Shelly Manne (d). Arrangements by
Willie Maiden.
Recorded in Hollywood, February 19, 1954
Liner notes: Jordi Pujol
Original sessions produced by Pete Rugolo (1-4), Lee
Gillette (4-6),
Joe Carlton (7-10) and Bob Shad (12-18)
Produced for CD release by Jordi Pujol
Special thanks to John Himes
Hi Fi · Digitally Remastered