Maynard Ferguson

Maynard Ferguson was one of the most distinctive jazz trumpeters of the 20th century, displaying an unprecedented level of technique that went hand in hand with a lyrical approach to the instrument. Born in Montreal in 1928 to musical parents, he was a prodigy who learned multiple instruments as a child. In 1948 he relocated to the U.S., where he played with Charlie Barnet, Jimmy Dorsey and others, before joining Stan Kenton’s band in 1950. His ability to play cleanly in the trumpet’s uppermost register made him a standout and earned him a high profile. In the mid-’50s, Ferguson worked in Hollywood on the soundtracks of dozens of films. He began his prolific solo discography in 1955 with Jam Session, then became swept up in the countercultural movement of the ’60s, living with Timothy Leary, experimenting with psychedelics and becoming heavily involved with Eastern spirituality. In 1970 he moved in a jazz-rock direction, with his version of Jimmy Webb’s “Macarthur Park” becoming one of his most popular tunes. Ferguson spent the rest of his life pursuing his vision, passing in 2006 at 78.