Interview with Maynard Ferguson, May 8, 1998.

On May 8, 1998, I spoke with Maynard in his hotel room, during a week long gig at the Blue Note, in New York, celebrating his 70th birthday, four nights earlier.. The article was published in JazzTimes magazine later that year. Maynard agreed to let me shoot video as well, to document the interview.

I started listening to Maynard in the early 60s, his Roulette recordings, which to my ears, are some of the most exciting big band sessions ever. The first time I heard Maynard live, in the summer of '64, at Lake Compounce in Bristol, CT, I was a fifteen year old trumpeter in search of some answers about my embrochure. I went backstage after the gig and he was a very nice cat, very encouraging.

I didn't become a trumpter, but instead a writer and filmmaker. But I always dug Maynard and followed the changes in his music over the years.

In the early 90s, Michael Cuscuna asked me to write the liner notes for the Mosaic Records reissue of "The Complete Maynard Ferguson Recordings."

And a few years after that, I did this interview for JazzTimes magazine.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Maynard
• Ferguson
• Trumpet
• Jazz
• Video
• Guy
• Miles
• Davis
• Clifford
• Brown
• Clark
• Terry

[lpsling]

What a good. positive spirit Maynard has. I always heard what a nice cat he was and this is just a great opportunity to spend 45 minutes in the good humored realm of his musical spirit

[EverythingPiano]

Haha love the lengthy interviews thanks Bret.

[br3nn3nrul3z]

He seems to be out of breath o_O

[master0puppets1]

i was 2 when they had that interview lol

[kdogg1777]

This was about the same time I met Maynard for the very first time as a starting trumpet player...

Thank you so much for posting this video...as you can see in some of my videos, Maynard was a big influence in my life as a musician and a trumpet player. Maynard means a lot to us (musicians/trumpet players)! Hope I can push as much love and appreciation for music and life as he did and does during his career!

RIP and love you Maynard!!!

[postatility]

Bret,I'm so glad you conducted and posted this interview of Maynard....I'd never seen or heard him interviewed before,and I found him to be delightfully unassuming,open and humorous.Thanx again!

[IJay808]

Saw him twice in Indianapolis I think it was 88 & 89 where he conducted the worlds largest high school band. Got to opportunity to catch his shows in Union Station after the event both times. I took a few good pictures in 88 and printed a few 8x10's gave him copies and he signed mine in 89. As a band member this was the highlight of my senior year. My whole trumpet section was in envoy of me. This just brings back memories, he touch so many lives with his music and kind heart.

[fricker05]

He is seriously looks like the kind of man would want to sit an have a cup of coffee with. What a tremendous individual!!

[dukeaddict237]

your SOOOOOO LUCKY!!!!!

[selector111]

@Terrifkin damn right lol, he is so cool even in his old age with the suspenders he is really cool.

[Terrifkin]

I really enjoyed listening to the Boss. He was along with Clark Terry a great influence on my trumpet playing. The more you learn about him the more you like him.