Double Bass Maynard Ferguson RIP

[Freddels]

Wasn't sure where to post this.

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[bassmonkeee]

Aw, man.

RIP, Maynard.

 

[Carlo Tanori]

I've seen Maynard perform several times and the performances were always awesome! Some of the great bassists he had in his group in the past were Gordon Johnson, Matt Bissonette, and Bob Wackerman. Drummer Peter Erskine was also in his band too.

Maynard, RIP.

Carlo Tanori

 

[Zachmozach]

Eddie Gomez was once in his band as well.

I got to see him last year, and since I grew up listening to him it was a great experience. Great player, and from the stories I've heard a great man too.

 

[Mike Goodbar]

Sad news.

I was fortunate enough to work for the company that made Maynard's trumpet and had the chance to hang with him and his band occasionally. He was always "on" -- the high energy thing wasn't an act.

He had a million stories. I asked him if he'd ever encountered Miles. Turns out he and Miles used to alternate sets at Birdland. Maynard told us that one night Miles missed a high note and got pissed off with himself and asked Maynard, "Fox, what am I doing wrong?" Maynard said, "Miles, it's your feet." Miles just said, "Sh*t," and walked off in a huff.

After Maynard's set, Miles came back and muttered, "Uh, Fox, what was that you were sayin' about my feet?"

 

[Brad Maestas]

Wow. Sad news. He will be missed greatly.

One of my first bass teachers, Nathan Berg, played in the Big Bop Nouveau Band and recorded Live at Ronnie Scott's and Live in London with Maynard on their European tour. Later, around 1994 I saw Maynard and the band at a jazz festival in Manhattan, KS. *On a side note, that same day I saw Will Lee's father playing piano in one of the other bands! I was surprised to find out that not only did he live out in the middle of KS but also that he was blind. That didn't seem to slow him down one bit, though!

Anyways, back to the story. Nathan encouraged me to ask Maynard's manager to audition and I did. I tried out a few weeks later and got in! I played with him for a few months, toured the Midwest and some of the East Coast and then I returned to Lawrence, KS to attend college. He was truly a special, great guy.

RIP, Boss!!

 

[Brad Maestas]

That's a great story, Mike.

 

[Uncletoad]

Maynard played a gig and did a clinic at my High School in the 70's. I was playing trumpet in the Jazz Band then and it was quite an experience to get a small group lesson from him. I was screeching for years after that all the way into the OSU Marching Band.

Meeting him and Clark Terry were two of the high points of my High School Music experiences.

 

[puff father]

Maynard played a gig and did a clinic at my High School in the 70's. I was playing trumpet in the Jazz Band then and it was quite an experience to get a small group lesson from him. I was screeching for years after that all the way into the OSU Marching Band.

Meeting him and Clark Terry were two of the high points of my High School Music experiences.

Ditto, 'cept it was Clark Terry at my HS. I just went and saw Maynard a few times. He was a huge inspiration to me!

RIP, Maynard.

 

[Marcus Johnson]

Maynard played a gig and did a clinic at my High School in the 70's. I was playing trumpet in the Jazz Band then and it was quite an experience to get a small group lesson from him. I was screeching for years after that all the way into the OSU Marching Band.

Meeting him and Clark Terry were two of the high points of my High School Music experiences.

Same here, sort of. Wonder how many of us bass guys were trumpet guys in school... seems like a thread in itself.

He did a lot of clinic work when I was studying. Very nice guy, and generous with his time.

 

[jonathan_matos5]

in 2001 my highschool jazz band got to open for him in oklaoma city as part of the prize for winning state (i played trombone then) it amazed me that chain smokers could get that much volume.