Maynard Ferguson Tribute

I made a last minute decision Thursday (10/15/2009) to attend a UNT 1:00 Lab Band concert at McDavid Studio in Ft. Worth. The concert was a tribute to Maynard Ferguson, a legendary jazz trumpeter and band leader active for several decades from the 1950s on. I always enjoy live big band concerts and this one had a few other reinforcing motivators to spur my attendance.

First, I am a graduate of the UNT jazz studies program (MM 1983) with a concentration in Jazz Piano and Education. So, I always enjoy hearing any of the various excellent musical groups every year when the opportunity arises. Especially the 1:00 Lab Band. The variety of musical color, energy levels and melodic variety that comes from a highly skilled big band with top notch arrangements can be an exhilarating experience.

Second, an old college musical cohort is now Director of the 1:00, Lab Band, Steve Wiest. Steve and I knew each other back in USM (University of Southern Mississippi) days where we played together in such infamous groups as "The Essence of Jazz" and sometimes in USM's Lab Band. Steve went on to become an outstanding composer/arranger and trombonist for the Maynard Ferguson Band very soon after graduating from USM in the late 1970s. I usually run into him once or twice a year around the area at 1:00 concerts or other performances in which he participates.

Third, relatively recently, the Maynard Ferguson Library of Charts was donated to the UNT Jazz program. This is in addition to the donation of the Stan Kenton library a couple of decades ago. The group is currently cultivating music from the Maynard library that dates from the late 1950s to early 1960s. Another unexpected surprise for the evening was a guest saxophonist from the Ferguson band, also a friend/colleague of Steve's, who contributed lively solo performances throughout the evening.

The concert was very enjoyable, especially the second half where the group performed more contemporary arrangements than in the first half. The pianist was especially notable and there were several outstanding solos from members of the saxophone, trombone and trumpet sections as well. Steve broke out his trombone and played on one of the numbers with the guest saxophonist.

McDavid Studio is a good medium-sized venue for enjoying live music. It was spacious and accomodative for the volume and power of a modern Big Band. Even though I had almost an hour drive from Plano to Ft. Worth at the end of the workday, it was well worth the effort for 2 hours or more of delicious and inspirational music provided by various Maynard Ferguson Band composers and excellent UNT jazz musicians.