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
Total time: 49:49 min.
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
Album details
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
Blue Moon Producciones Discograficas S.L.
