Regarding John Salmon’s communique about Maynard Ferguson, a musician and historian writes:
Doug:
John Salmon would have made his case for Maynard Ferguson better without the hyperbolic prose. For example:
1) “Some, like his Roulette era albums of 1958-1962, and are unrivaled by anyone, including Basie and Ellington.”
I think that Ferguson’s ’57-’65 bands were among the best of their time, but I’ve never heard even the most hyper-partisans of MF make a claim like Salmon’s. “Endless taste wars” indeed, Mr. Salmon–I suspect that Maynard himself would blush.
2) “I love Maria Schneider, but name one kid drawn into jazz by her music.”
As a musician who teaches jazz at three universities and does clinics on three continents, I’ve observed much student interest in Maria’s music.
3) “And many of the guys in her bands came up through MF’s bands.”
I know most of Maria’s players (male *and* female, by the way) personally, and I know of only two who are MF alumni: Tim Ries and Keith O’Quinn. I may be missing at most one or two. A number of others are Woody Herman, Gerry Mulligan, and Buddy Rich alumni.
—Bill Kirchner
And one is a graduate of the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra. Tenor saxophonist Rich Perry was with Jones-Lewis, then the Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, and now plays in the current incarnation of those bands, The Vanguard Orchestra, as well as in Schneider’s.