Maynard Ferguson

Maynard and his band were some of my first major influences on the trumpet. I first saw the band live about 1977 in the South 'Burbs of Chicago. This video would have been from just before that - I know this because the handsome devil sitting on Trombone 2 is my good friend Jerry Johnson. Jerry passed away a year ago after losing a battle with leukemia. He was a terrific friend, colleague and constant inspiration to me. Watch for the wonderful close-up at 4:52 in this video. The entire clip is a gas, showing Maynard at his prime in a fantastic arrangement by Jay Chattaway of Elton John's "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me." You're still around, Jer...