NickD

Please be patient with this slightly maudlin post, but if you've read the article I wrote for Adrian, you'll understand my feelings. On the outside chance you don't know, Maynard passed away on August 23. My cousin, Steve Wiest, and I have exchanged some phone calls. In all honesty, I can't help feeling just a trifle emotional about this. So, please forgive the sentimentality of this post.

The Impact of Maynard Ferguson on My Professional Life as a Trumpeter:

It is 2:50 on August 24, 2006. I just taught 90 minutes of classes putting on a happy face even though I was struggling with a sense of sadness at just hearing of the passing of trumpet legend, Maynard Ferguson. I got through it, and will be fine, of course. More on that, later.

Now, folks who know me well may ask, “Why are you so bothered by this? You only really did three complete tours with him! You didn’t even finish a full year!” Well, these queries deserve answers.

First, I left when I did, by and large due to the fact that I was a newlywed when I went on the road with Maynard. My new wife was very supportive of the move onto the road. She knew how important to a young trumpeter it was to go on the road with Maynard Ferguson. However, I felt I had to come home when I did. This was made easier due to some personal challenges (which had NOTHING WHATSOEVER to do with Maynard!) I was facing on the road.

Next, those three tours I did with Maynard Ferguson were some of the most cherished moments of my career. My life would not have been the same without them. I learned a great deal about trumpet playing, musicianship, jazz and humanity that I would have missed had I not had that experience. I learned as much about me as I did one of the greatest jazz trumpet legends who ever lived.

Maynard has had a huge impact of the lives of virtually every trumpeter, in some way. Certainly, the legacy of high notes is there. However, Ferguson brought a sense of musicianship and artistry to that aspect of trumpet playing that has only been approached by others. I recently posted a comment in a forum about Maynard’s version of Gershwin’s “Summertime” on a recording with Max Roach, Dinah Washington and Clifford Brown. In listening to that piece, one can only stand in sheer awe at the power and majesty of his work. I was more than just an athletic event. It was beautiful music in the hands of a master trumpeter.

For me, The Fox will live on forever in his recordings, of course, but also in the memories of the conversations I had with him during my brief tenure on his band – his words of encouragement and advice through some rough patches I had along with his stories about his experiences with other jazz greats. His jovial and kind nature will never be diminished in my mind. Those moments in hanging out with him on the band bus, on the airplane to Japan, on bullet train platforms, the rehearsals in Orlando Florida, his joking around with us, will always be with me. I’ll never forget the time he met my wife and then treated her to my getting to trade solos with him on Latino Lovewalk at Rolling Meadows High School. He was an incredible gentleman to her and extremely greacious to me in that consideration. When Alan Wise dubbed me “Studio Man,” Ferguson was like another little kid with that, too! I could go on, but I’ll spare you. I may have only done three tours, but oh what a three tours those were!

In short, I am a very privileged man. I got to be on the road with one of the greatest jazz legends of our time. Certainly, he’ll be missed, but rather than mourn his passing, I am going to celebrate his life and all the beauty and joy he brought us.

Much gratitude is due to Maynard Ferguson, for my part.

Nick Drozdoff

Solar Bell

That was great Nick.

Don't think that you have to spare us anything. Anything that you tell us about your career and the time spent with Maynard is always appreciated.

It's tougher for you guys that spent parts of your lives with him. I like your attitude!

Celebrate his life and memory!

Peace to you Nick,

Chuck

Bruce Lee

Maynard's "voice" is one that served as a great inspiration to trumpet players throughout the world. Whenever Maynard was in town, going to see him was a given. What an incredible performer he was!

What has also been mentioned about Maynard is his wonderful smile, and his great sense of humor. While today has been a sad day for the trumpet world, I'd like to share a memory that I have from a clinic that Maynard did quite a few years ago. I should preface my story by giving Maynard the highest praise for all of his years of contributing to music education, by performing so many of his concerts in school auditoriums, and for giving so much encouragement to trumpet players, of all ages, for so long.

The event that I attended was held in a high school auditorium. There was a clinic in the afternoon, where we had the opportunity to hear the band rehearse prior to the evening performance. After the rehearsal, Maynard took questions from the audience. Part way through this Q&A session, a kid raised his hand, and Maynard addressed him.

The kid in the audience said, "Maynard, I think that I'm better than you."

Maynard's reply... "Kid... just the fact that you said the work "think" ... tells me that you don't have your sh*t together!"

"The Boss" received some well-deserved applause, as well as some well-deserved laughter, for "educating" that young man.

Needless to say, that evening's performance was just as stellar as all of the many other Maynard Ferguson performances that I had the privilege of attending throughout the years. Here's to the life of a great man!

R.I.P. Maynard

Bruce

bigtiny

I remember it like it was yesterday. I walked into my new school at the beginning of 9th grade. I'd been playing the trumpet for a while, always first chair, but I'd never really played any jazz and had no interest or exposure to it.
We were allowed to store our instruments in the band room during classes, so first thing in the morning, everybody in the band headed there to leave their horns. My new band director (one of the hippest people I've ever known) often played records on the band room system at this time.
So, during about the second week of school I walked in and heard something I'd never heard before...it was the brand new Maynard Ferguson record, MF Horn Two, and the tune was 'Give It One'. I literally walked up to the band director and asked what instrument that was. I had no idea a trumpet could be played like that!!! I quickly became a huge Maynard fan, seeing 7 or 8 live shows over the next 12 years or so, and even writing a fan letter at one point (which he answered on Holiday Inn stationary from OshKosh Wisconsin!)
Anyway, I'm 48 now, I recently hung up the horn for good, but Maynard Ferguson was one of many musicians who were seminal influences on me as a musican and a human being. I would have given my left arm to have played with his band, but that was never in the cards. Godspeed.

bigtiny

Greg5850

Thanks for the post Nick, I just heard the news and came right here. We've lost one of the greatest ever, one truly larger than life. As a trumpet player and jazz fan I feel a sense of loss. My condolences to those who knew him.
Greg

trumpetdiva1

I feel very fortunate to have heard Maynard play at the Blue Note in New York City last month. I'm glad that I had taken the opportunity to hear him because you never know when will be the last time that you get to hear a true musical artist perform live. I go to concerts in the City with that thought in mind.

About three years ago in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, I got to play the opening act with the River Street Stompers (they have a new name now) for Maynard Ferguson. It was truly a night that I will never forget!

Since that time, I had moved to Brooklyn and got to hear him last summer and this summer in the City. Maynard was so kind to me and he had signed his autograph.

My days of childhood echo remembrances of Maynard as I had listened to him as a teenager, trying to imitate his playing. He remains one of my favorite players.

He remains in my heart and his spirit will live on.

Janell

Dan Millheim

Wow, I just read about Maynard and am so sad to hear of his death. Like many here he was so influencial to my playing as a kid. One of my fondest early "Maynard memories" was during my 9th grade band days. My big sister was off at college and I would use her empty room to practice each day...I'm talking hours a day ha. MacArthur Park had became the unoffical anthem of our little trumpet section...the rite of passage so to speak. Many a day I woke up on her bed or on the floor having passed out from attempting to play notes like "The Boss." Through the years I would often think back on those early days when I heard him play.

JackD

Whoa, very shocking and sad.

Certainly one of the great brass players (as Herseth said "Maynard Ferguson is the greatest brass player in this part of the century")

Kicking myself now I didn't go to see his band last time they were over here, never got to hear him live.

He has a place in every trumpet player's heart I'm sure, and will be sorely missed.

Eclipsehornplayer

Nick,

I'm with Chuck!

Keep em coming man; I'll take whatever you'll share with me.

I very much regret not being able to see "The Boss" live.

I just never could find him touring in a place that was good for me to see him.

We just kept missing each other; I moved down here to Georgia and he finally made tour stops in Michigan not far from where I lived. I waited for him to come anywhere near Georgia but no cigar!

I was listening to "Conquistador" on my way into work this morning. What a way to start the day.

Thanks for sharing your tribute to Maynard; Nick.

You too must be an amazing player because Maynard strikes me as someone who would not surround himself with less then the best.

Peace,
John

samdaman

My sympathies for all friends and family of Maynard. He truly will be missed as a musician and a great person. He truly left his mark on jazz, the trumpet, and all of music. But you also have to be happy for him to...

They're probably having new tryouts for Gabriel's position as we speak ;)