Live From San Francisco by Maynard Ferguson (CD, Jun-1994, Avenue Jazz)

"What happened to Maynard Ferguson after that long string of 1970's Columbia recordings came to an end?" Were anyone to ask me that question, I'd simply respond by telling the asker to buy this disc. This is Maynard, live and exuberant, performing at San Francisco's Great American Music Hall on May 27, 1983. This is Maynard and his band without added strings or disco vocals. While the night's performance includes a salute to the Ellington era ["Lush Life"] and a thirteen-minute nod in the direction of Parker, Gillespie, and Monk ["BeBop Buffet," the longest track on the disc], anyone expecting a typically traditional big band date will quickly sense that things are heading in a different, funkier direction as soon as Matt Bissonette's electric bass pops and slaps help to introduce the first selection: "Fireshaker." Ferguson solos on trumpet on every track--with the exception of "On The Sunny Side Of The Street"--a vocal duet featuring Ferguson and Denis DiBlasio. A Maynard quote printed in the CD booklet describes the "Sunny Side" performance: " . . . it makes me grin to even think of it." Other soloists include trombonists Chris Braymen and Steve Wiest; saxophonists Denis DiBlasio, Tim Ries, and Daniel Jordan; drummer Gregg Bissonette [Matt's brother?], and pianist Ron Pedley [a nice feature on "Lush Life"]. All arrangements are by members of the band. "Coconut Champagne" will be a particular favorite of those who prefer Latin music.

I own close to two dozen other Maynard Ferguson recordings--all the others are LP's. Though the critics were not always uniformly enthusiastic, I admit that I still have a lingering fondness for Maynard's 1977 recording of the "Rocky' theme. Only two or three years ago I had the opportunity to catch a live outdoor performance of Maynard's band--by then, a completely different lineup from the one on this disc. Though he no longer dressed like or looked like the much younger fellow pictured on the Columbia LP's, his energy and spirit were seemingly undiminished. It was a fun evening. Whenever I want to recapture the feeling of that performance that night--particularly since Maynard is no longer with us--this recording is the one for which I reach.

To bring an element of balance to this review, I must admit that the last track on the disc--"Ganesha"--doesn't really work for me. If you are a fan of big band arrangements of Hindu vocals, it may be your cup of tea. If not, . . . . In short, this is a great disc. Given the unpredictability of jazz reissue availability, don't assume that it will always be easily obtainable. Buy it now!