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...

So here's what one half of MEN WITH HORNS looks like - the half sometimes known as Larry Larson. This photo beckons back to the 1950s, when Chet Baker - one of Larry's inspirations - was one of a handful of trumpet players turning the jazz world upside-down. This photo is actually a recreation of an actual shot that William Claxton took of Chet, backstage at a jazz club in Los Angeles. As much as Chet has influenced Larry with his beautiful solo lines, Larry has decided against leading the life of a junkie - hocking his horn time after time to fulfil his next fix...

Welcome to the new home and Official Blog of MEN WITH HORNS, aka Larry Larson and Dave Martin. This blog will serve no other purpose than to:
A) update our loyal followers as to future MWH Happnins'
B) share humourous stories, anecdotes, jokes, and life lessons
C) keep you up to speed on all MWH merchandise (coming soon to an "Internets" site near you), and
D) waste even more of your precious time, which seems to slip more and more away from us with each passing year.

Oh, did I mention that we enjoy fine malted beverages? We may certainly be discussing this topic from time to time, as the spirits move us.

Cheers!