I Can't Get Started - Maynard Ferguson with Al Hirt

[dalex03]

In the early 1970's I attended a Jazz clinic at a local High school in Dayton, OH put on by The late great Maynard Ferguson. It was in a band room and they set up folding chairs for the small audience. I was in the front row and the bell of his trumpet was less than 10 feet from my face. When he started to play, all I can say is ...MY GOD!! I have been a Maynard fan ever since!

[jazzmfhorn00]

stunning listening to Al, stunning. So effortless.

[cheech669]

Al cut him with a knife

[cez1005]

Doc severinsen was the best!

[880Oliver]

Three words say it all...BEAUTIFUL, SMOOOOTH JAZZ!

These are two of the absolute best jazz trumpeteers to ever grace the jazz/blues scene. Great video...

[meaksam]

I must say, I prefer Al's playing in this video to maynards, yes maynard plays ridiculously high notes but al's playing is so clevrly placed and he has a beautiful tone!! :) of course maynard is still one of the best all time players!!

[rnchro]

a very good version...but nothing compares to ella fitzgerald's "take" on this immortal song.

[mojohar]

Two of my long-time favorites, but first time hearing them together. Must say that (on this tune anyway), Al's phrasing and imagination take the day....he's just so soulful on balads...brings tears. Of course Maynard makes the heart go boom anytime he hits that high register. What great legends. Thanks so much for the post. Thanks goodness I had the good fortune to see them live before they passed on.

[berriganfan]

nice try but as louis armstrong stated so well the song is bunnys'

[DancingSpiderman]

I bet if I pull the waistband of my pants up and over the top of my nipples, this will aid my diaphragm to hep me play more robustly...

I should do the same with my T-shirt, pull it over my head, Cornholio-style, and play my next gig this way...

[Arborwaychet]

But after the mandatory trumpet acrobatics Hirt settles down (2.00) reiterates the melody and plays on the chords in a pretty restrained way ... the changes are all there the guy is a legend ... at times flowery but maybe that's his era and the way he hears it - personally I don't like maynard's high note style - but I respect it as the work of an absolute master

[MrMo228]

Maybe I just don't appreciate the artistry here, but to me, this tune is unrecognizable as played by Al Hirt...give me the Bunny Berrigan version any day. Sure, it's history, but if you just want to show off with your trumpet, write your own tune...

[6468792]

@MrMo228 This is evolution and "progress"....add some of your personal soul to a tune? I dig it!!

[Leebm29]

I had the good fortune to see/hear these two fellows, Al Hirt 1965 in Reno, and Maynard Ferguson 1986 Portland Oregon. Both great, but I personally prefer Al.

Best regards Lee Mason leebm29

[MarshallsWorld]

did anybody notice maynard changing up the lyrics? "Stan Kenton, he made me a star"

Maynard has such wit!

[feelitliveitdoitbeit]

al hirt so mellow

[phillytalented]

Thats herbie on piano and is that ron carter?

[steviemusic1]

Yep; Herbie, Ron Carter & Billy Higgins. From a great concert called Sass & Brass, live in New Orleans. Early/mid 80s I think

[franklinpross]

JumboJack @ MF

It doesn' t get any better.

Thanks for posting

[sulmo]

Whoa! This is absolutely fantastic and I've only heard 30 seconds so far! MORE DETAILS, I beg you. Is that Herbie Hancock?  When was this?

[careythefox]

This sort of performance gives jazz a great name.

CLAAAAASSSSSS

[ChicagoJT]

Thanks for the posting .... two complete artists. Sooooo smooth. This is one on his album that is amazing.

[dalex03]

LOVE IT! TWO GREATS

[jhagenson]

al hirt had to start playing all over again off center after someone hit him in the mouth with a piece of brick during mardi gra.

beautiful low register!

[tiamono1]

Thi is OK. But Bunny Berigan did it much better

[steviemusic1]

No need for comments like that...

[bahhstones]

maynard isn't that bad of a singer

[onenamejay]

just incredible.WOW!

[druemyrajackson]

Wow! What a stellar performance! This is one my favorite ballads and hearing Maynard,AL and other Greats is the icing on the cake.

[Toddlip]

Both GREAT! For us trumpet players, we all wish we could do what Maynard did...although Al Hirt was amazing and wonderful to listen too.

[Trmpt106]

I thought Al Hirt was the better player in this song. His playing style just 'fit' this song better than Maynards did.

[Toddlip]

trmpt106: Al Hirt was my first favorate, when I heard him in the 1960's. Super player.

[speedily]

R.I.P. Maynard, I'll love ya always!!!!

[fujitafunk]

I don't play, but even I can tell the difference in styles and both are great. Legends that shouldn't be forgotten.

[ibjamin5]

It's sad when people have to use these open forums to showcase their anger and poor judgement with bad language. This is a nice performance by both players. Betaomega04 should take the foul mouthed commentary somewhere where other people of similar limited intelligence might relate to it!

[huumbft]

It's nice that they've got so different styles.

[cupwithhandles]

It seems to me that MF was loved mostly by other horn players (and other musicians) because of his technical skills, but AH was definitely able to make original horn music that had popular appeal.

[rathrice]

Thanks so much for this terrific video. I loved them both. I heard Maynard live on a couple of occasions and met Al Hirt once. Hirt was a terrific guy. Intelligent, well mannered, funny and just a very nice guy. He was a hell of a musician. What a pleasure to hear the two of them together. This has made my day. Thanks again.

[MoveOnDotOrgg]

Al Hirt was more well known to the general masses back then, correct? At least I knew Al Hirt growing up, until I got into school band and discovered Maynard - saw/heard him play at UMASS/Amherst late 70's; Cambridge,MA in the 90's and here in Miami in '06? I enjoy both.

[zwreckless1]

loks like Maynard backed off and let al play at the beginning.....I assume there's times when you're on and everyone who knows anything will stand back and let you groove .. I saw maynard when i was a kid in high shcool ....I was working back stage on stage crew... he was great .. Yeah I played the horn for a couple months in grade school so i like brass....If you don't like maynard you're not in the band.................

[MoveOnDotOrgg]

Al Hirt has such a pure, golden tone; definite mood set on this stage that night.

[gab1279]

Priceless footage. Al Hirt sounds great here...I always really loved this chart, gorgeous tune.

[sinatrabooth89]

Is that Herbie on the Piano?

[PerisphereRec]

Sure does look like Herbie Hancock.

[johnnierah]

i remember the first time we heard him sing. the audience was shocked. and loved him.

[moundmaster45]

thats incredible

[zetnsh]

Classic - excellent! Love the piano playing too.

[tehm0rgu3]

lmao look at the white haired guys neck when he blows! looks like a frog! xD

[brainworm1]

troll much? :D

[garytelecastor]

Man, I never knew Al Hirt could play like this. Very cool. Maynard was incredible. Nice to hear some horn jazz.

[TheRealBrewForYou]

Aha!! Do you see!! Do you see!!

This prooves it!

Big Buddy is my sick stalker!!

He must be banned!!!

[TheRealBrewForYou]

Aha!! Do you see!! Do you see!!

This prooves it!

Big Buddy is my sick stalker!!

He must be banned!!!

[deezstack]

this is a jazz super group!!! this is one of my faves

[mikeinportland]

outstanding

[tehm0rgu3]

lets all just... hug

[jonbhorn]

Well, lots of people like it. I also think that the people who like this music would have the common courtesy to keep negative comments about other people's music to them self. Didn't your mother ever tell you if you have nothing nice to say, then keep your uneducated trap shut. By the way, all the people in the audience on the clip seem to like it. Just a though!

[loootbeen]

im sorry jonbhorn

youre correct

[tehm0rgu3]

who the hell likes this kind of music? O.o

[loootbeen]

well assfucker

many people like it, mostly trumpet players

why dont you sit in a corner with your head between your knees?

[tehm0rgu3]

what would be the point of doing that? ^^ ty for answering my question tho (btw i don't really like the ass-fucking thing)

[B17MIKE]

ppl who don't get rap. ppl who read music.

ppl who PLAY instruments.

That's who.

[logansGT]

"Who the hell likes this kind of music?"

Not you, tehmOrgu, who obviously doesn't possess a shred of couth or sophistication!

[rbtmumm]

Stan Kenton made alot of stars but none as great as the badman.

[davidhazard71]

Not for nothing can you post Sarah's portions too????

[Kevintaylorsnell]

This is jazz history in my book and doesn't get all the props it deserves.

[jaztek1]

I had this on a video called 'Sass & Brass' which also featured Sarah Vaughan, Billy Higgins, Dizzy Gillespie, Don Cherry and Chuck Manjioni. Does anyone know if it't been released on DVD?

[davidhazard71]

I had the VHS as well, but since lost it. It is on DVD. I was hoping the person that posted this would post more of that video, but alas nothing

[bwiggs6]

TWO OF THE VERY BEST TRUMPET PLAYERS. THANKS,bw

[MillerTan]

awesome

[scottfrock]

Let's here it for those two cats playing together again, forever. RIP Jumbo and the Boss.

[MightySaturn5]

In 1978 we had one of the best high school marching bands in the country, every one of the trumpeters in that incredible outfit considered Maynard Ferguson the absolute best-his range was of course incredible but it was also that tone he had, jeez that tone was sweet yet powerful... man I wish I could find a video of him doing Spanish Fever (with the Fania all stars)

[getrdun435]

What bout Al Vizzutti?

[azmike146]

Back in high school for me in the 80's, Maynard was an absolute GOD for any kid who played the trumpet, and Al Hirt was a hell of a player as well. Both of them in their prime were couple of the best horn players around. Great memories !!

[DonnyBoy2255]

I argee!

[sweepee10131013]

OMG The last of the greats. They don't play music like that anymore. Love you Al, Maynard...the choirs of heaven have a band leader at last!

[ragingurchin]

It's so odd for me to see Herbie or Ron performing and not be the main event.

[Hempus1221]

Tres bon!! :)

[haxer18]

And Billy Higgins on drums.

[giveupthefunk22]

If I'm not mistaken, I do believe that its Herbie Hancock on piano and Ron Carter on bass.

[stanzibar]

Love it! Great rendition of a great song from two masters of the instrument!

[GozTheGreat]

Great !!!

But it's not "Body and soul" but the Vernon'Duke tune "I can't get started" with special MF's lyrics ("Stan Kenton, he made me a star"... and some strange words about "Linda Lovelace")

[trumpetguide]

Sorry - I made a mistake in the title and I fixed it.

Thanks for the call..

[mookdog]

RIP