Maynard Ferguson’s Birdland Dream Band: A Performance Chronology of the Years 1956–1959
Thomas Herb
Introduction
Canadian-born trumpeter Maynard Ferguson (1928–2006) was best known for his ability to play in the high register. In the 1970s he would achieve great fame and fortune with his jazz-rock bands, most notably with his recording of the theme for the movie Rocky. Ferguson began leading his own bands in the 1940s as a teenager in Canada, before coming to the United States as a member of the Boyd Raeburn, Charlie Barnet, and Jimmy Dorsey bands. In 1950 he joined the Stan Kenton Orchestra, where his work earned him three consecutive Down Beat Readers Poll awards for best trumpeter. After three years with Kenton, he became a Hollywood studio musician, both for motion pictures and jazz and popular records. In 1956, Ferguson was offered the chance to lead a band of all-star players for two weeks at the Birdland nightclub in New York City. Ferguson wanted to lead a band again, and the Birdland engagement helped him realize this. His divorce from actress-singer Kay Brown was finalized in the fall of 1955, and he had married Flo Farmer on April 21, 1956. Down Beat magazine noted that Don Fagerquist had taken Ferguson’s spot in the MGM Studio orchestra after Ferguson had resigned to “reactivate a band.” [1] The Birdland Dream Band would begin an era in Ferguson’s career that has been called “among his most propitious contributions to jazz.” [2] It is this east coast-based band that is the focus of this article.
Literature Review
Most literature pertaining to Ferguson falls into one of two categories: anecdotes and studio recording discographies. MF Horn by William F. Lee [3] is filled with anecdotes from Ferguson himself and band members that spent time with him, as well as a discograpy of his studio works. Maynard! by Ralph Jungheim [4] contains thirty interviews from former band members about their time with Ferguson. Maynard Ferguson: A Discography by Edwin Harkins [5] contains a discography of studio recordings by Ferguson from 1949–1976. In 1993, Mosaic Records released The Complete Roulette Recordings of the Maynard Ferguson Orchestra, [6] which focused on the recordings issued by Roulette Records from 1958 to 1962. The liner notes for this set by Bret Primack are full of details for the studio sessions and anecdotes from the era. There are also numerous articles, frequently in Down Beat, that contain interviews with Ferguson throughout his long career. For the most part, the discographical sources do not include ephemeral recordings such as broadcasts or private tapes from clubs or concerts, and the interviews do not provide much in the way of details regarding the day-to-day activities of Ferguson’s very busy performing ensemble.
This article will present information not readily available in these sources. Through the examination of newspaper and magazine articles, album liner notes, and biographical books, a detailed sequence of events emerges. This article traces the specific live performance dates of the Maynard Ferguson Orchestra year by year, from 1956 to 1959. It is intended to be the first of a series that will cover the entire nine-year run of Ferguson’s New York-based ensemble. A full chronology with citations is found at the end of this article.
1956
The Birdland Dream Band headed by Ferguson began with a two-week engagement at Birdland in New York City. This engagement lasted from August 30 through September 12, 1956. [7] Just two days earlier, on August 28, Ferguson participated in recording sessions for the Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Rogers and Hart Song Book album in Hollywood. The Ferguson group had several recording sessions throughout September, which produced two albums. There were also a few other New York engagements during this span. By the end of the first week of October, Ferguson had returned to Los Angeles.
Herb Geller (as), Al Cohn, Budd Johnson (ts), Ernie Wilkins (bar), Nick Travis, Al DeRisi, Joe Ferrante (t), Jimmy Cleveland, Sonny Russo (tb), Hank Jones (p), Milt Hinton (b), Jimmy Campbell (d)
The personnel of the group seems to have been fluid. While this was a group filled with top-notch studio players, some seemed to rotate in and out, even within multiple recording sessions on the same day. Alto saxophonist Herb Geller was the only Los Angeles-based musican to come cross-country with Ferguson; the rest were Local 802 union musicians from New York.
New York Daily News
August 31, 1956, p.42.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1956-08-30 thru 09-12 | Birdland, New York, NY |
| 1956-09-07 and 11 | Dream Band recording sessions (New York, NY) |
| 1956-09-24 and 25 | Dream Band recording sessions (New York, NY) |
| 1956-09-26 | Steve Allen Show (TV) |
| 1956-10-02 | Musical Salute to Ike (Rockland Palace, New York, NY) |
Ferguson was back in Hollywood on October 6, recording a session for the Jerry Lewis Sings album, and he recorded with many other EmArcy sessions during the months of October and November. During the same time, Ferguson was active with his big band in Los Angeles. An October 14 newspaper article states that Ferguson’s new band was performing at Peacock Lane. [8] A November 14, 1956 Down Beat article reports that Ferguson had been held over at Peacock Lane. [9] A month later Down Beat published an article about Ferguson filming a short film for Universal International, which would be released as Swingin’ and Singin’. [10] Ferguson used charts from the Birdland Dream Band as part of the book for this new band.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1956-10-06 | Jerry Lewis Sings recording session |
| 1956-10-14 | MF playing at Peacock Lane |
| 1956-10-29 and 31 | Pete Rugolo recording sessions |
| 1956-11-02 | Russ Garcia recording session |
| 1956-11-08 | Charlie Barnet recording session |
| 1956-11 | Donna Fuller with Pete Rugolo recording session |
| 1956-11-14 | MF held over at Peacock Lane |
| 1956-11-21 | Pete Rugolo recording session |
| 1956-12-12 | MF to film Universal short (Swingin’ and Singin’) |
| 1956-12-18 | Swingin’ and Singin’ recording session |
| 1956-12-20 | Buddy Bregman recording session |
1957
From January 4 to 6, engineer Wally Heider recorded the band during a stint at Peacock Lane. A pair of albums titled Live at Peacock Lane were eventually released from a selection of these tapes, while the entire set of recordings can be found in the Library of Congress and in the holdings of some private collectors. Before one of the tunes, Ferguson introduces the members of the band as “movie stars,” alluding perhaps to the recent filming of the Swingin’ and Singin’ short. The band personnel at this point was:
Herb Geller (as), Nino Tempo, Richie Kamuca (ts), Willie Maiden (bar), Ed Leddy, Joe Burnett, Tom Slaney (t), Bob Fitzpatrick, Bob Burgess (tb), Paul Moer (p), Red Kelly (b), Mel Lewis (d)
| Date | Event | 1957-01-04 thru 06 | Peacock Lane, Los Angeles, CA (location recordings made by Wally Heider) |
|---|---|
| 1957-01-06 | MF at Peacock Lane |
Ferguson followed up this date with several sideman recording sessions. The artists with whom he would record included Elmer Bernstein, The Axidentals, Shorty Rogers, the DeCastro Sisters, and Frances Faye. He also took his own band out to Salt Lake City for a weekend in February, doing a prom on Friday and appearing at the Rainbow Randevu on Saturday. The February 20 issue of Down Beat states that Ferguson had twelve weeks each year “sewed up” at Birdland. [11] A month later, Down Beat listed a series of gigs lined up after the first Birdland engagement, which started April 4. [12] Ferguson was gearing up for a more permanent move to New York.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1957-01-18 | Elmer Bernstein recording session |
| 1957-01 | Axidentals recording sessions |
| 1957-01-30 | Shorty Rogers recording session |
| 1957-02 | Several Shorty Rogers recording sessions |
| 1957-02 | Francis Faye–Russ Garcia recording session |
| 1957-02-15 | Junior prom — New Union, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT |
| 1957-02-16 | Rainbow Randevu, Salt Lake City, UT |
| 1957-02-20 | MF confirmed to appear 12 weeks a year at Birdland |
| 1957-02-22 | DeCastro Sisters recording sessions |
| 1957-03 | Francis Faye–Russ Garcia recording session |
In March, Ferguson took his band to New York with several performances along the way. First was a Greek dance at the University of Arizona. Then he did a four-city tour as a part of the Dick and Don Maw Present Modern Jazz for ’57 tour. This package also featured the Chico Hamilton Quintet, Lurlean Hunter, and the Don Shirley Trio. One stop of this tour was at Keil Opera House in St. Louis, where multiple accounts say that Elvis Presley was performing the same night just on the other side of the curtain in Convention Hall. [13] In his biography, Ferguson recalls the following personnel for this tour: [14]
Joe Maini (as), Jimmy Ford, Willie Maiden (ts), Pepper Adams (bar), Ed Leddy, Joe Burnett, Tom Slaney (t), Bob Fitzpatrick, Bob Burgess (tb), Bobby Timmons (p), Red Kelly (b), Larry Bunker (d)
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1957-03-23 | University of Arizona Greek Week — Scottish Rite Cathedral, Tucson, AZ |
| 1957-03-28 | City Auditorium, Omaha, NE |
| 1957-03-29 | Kiel Opera House, St. Louis, MO |
| 1957-03-30 | Municipal Auditorium Music Hall, Kansas City, MO |
| 1957-03-31 | Lyceum Theater, Minneapolis, MN |
Ferguson’s band finally made it to New York and performed their first two-week stint at Birdland from April 4 to 17. They also had a full set of performances lined up before their next Birdland assignment. In May, they performed at the Blue Note in Chicago, where they auditioned and hired Irene Kral as vocalist. She joined the group in Cleveland. Radio began broadcasting performances as well, bringing new notoriety to the group. Private recordings exist from the April Birdland gig, the May Red Hill Inn gig, and the Steel Pier gig in this next section. Announced soloists on these broadcasts line up with the above listed personnel.
Although unconfirmed, the band may have performed at the Zanzibar in Buffalo, NY in this period. This was reported as an upcoming appearance in Cash Box magazine. [15] The same article mentions the following personnel:
Joe Maini (as), Jimmy Ford, Willie Maiden (ts), Pepper Adams (bar), Ed Leddy, Joe Burnett, Tom Slaney (t), Bob Burgess, Frank Strong (tb), John Bannister (p), Moe Edwards (b), Larry Bunker (d)
Pepper Adams left the band following the conclusion of the April Birdland run. [16]
Boston Globe
May 27, 1957, p.10.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1957-04-04 thru 17 | Birdland, New York, NY |
| 1957-04-22 thru 27 | Pep’s, Philadelphia, PA |
| 1957-05-01 thru 12 | Blue Note, Chicago, IL |
| 1957-05-13 thru 19 | Modern Jazz Room, Cleveland, OH |
| 1957-05-21 thru 26 | Red Hill Inn, Pennsauken, NJ |
| 1957-05-23 | Community Center Field, Conshohocken, PA |
| 1957-05-27 thru 06-02 | Storyville, Boston, MA |
| 1957-06-06 thru 19 | Birdland, New York, NY |
| 1957-07-05 thru 11 | Steel Pier, Atlantic City, NJ |
| 1957-07-13 | Starlight Ballroom, Hershey Park, Hershey, PA |
| 1957-07-14 | Pleasure Beach Park Ballroom, Bridgeport, CT |
When the group returned to New York for their next set of Birdland performances, they also recorded Ferguson’s final EmArcy LP, Boy With Lots of Brass. The listed personnel for the album was:
Anthony Ortega (as), Jimmy Ford (as, ts), Willie Maiden (ts), Tate Houston (bar), John Bello, Joe Burnett, Tom Slaney (t), Bob Burgess, Jimmy Cleveland (tb), Bobby Timmons (p), Richard Evans (b), Larry Bunker (d), Irene Kral (v)
Announced soloists from radio broadcasts from this time frame align with the above personnel.
The group stayed in the New York City area for the next three months or so.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1957-07-18 thru 31 | Birdland, New York, NY |
| 1957-07-29 and 08-02 | Boy with Lots of Brass recording sessions |
| 1957-08-05 thru 08-25 | Theatre Under the Stars — Wollman Memorial Theatre, Central Park, New York, NY |
| 1957-08-23 | New York Jazz Festival — Randall’s Island Stadium, New York, NY |
| 1957-08-24 | North Shore Jazz Festival — Manning Bowl, Lynn, MA |
A Down Beat article from October 17 reported that Slide Hampton, Jimmy Rowser, and Clarence Johnston had joined the band at the recent Birdland gig. This full personnel is unconfirmed:
Anthony Ortega (as), Jimmy Ford (as, ts), Willie Maiden (ts), Tate Houston (bar), John Bello, Joe Burnett, Tom Slaney (t), Bob Burgess, Slide Hampton (tb), Bobby Timmons (p), Jimmy Rowser (b), Clarence Johnston (d), Irene Kral (v)
The same Down Beat article states that the group would be going to the midwest for a tour, [17] but evidence of only one engagement, in Cleveland, has been found elsewhere. This leaves a gap of dates for October and November, with the group re-emerging for December dates in Boston and New York. In terms of personnel, a broadcast from the Boston gig singles out only Irene Kral by name.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1957-08-29 thru 09-11 | Birdland, New York, NY |
| 1957-10-07 thru | Modern Jazz Room, Cleveland, OH |
| 1957-10-09 | Bud Wendell show on KYW radio, Cleveland, OH |
| 1957-10-10 | Dorothy Fuldheim show on WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH |
| 1957-12-02 thru 07 | Storyville, Boston, MA |
| 1957-12-27,28,31 | Cork ’n Bib, Westbury, NY |
1958
In the first part of 1958, Ferguson was on the road for club and collegiate dates, spent five weeks in residence at Birdland, and made a few studio recordings. His first Music Makers appearance was also broadcast on Candadian television during this period. The Music Makers show did not feature the Dream Band, but included Ferguson as solo guest artist with a Canadian band.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1958 01-03 thru 05 | Red Hill Inn, Pennsauken, NJ |
| 1958-01-23 | Embassy House Of Jazz, Allentown, PA |
| 1958-02-06 | Mehary Hall, DePauw University, Greencastle, IN |
| 1958-02-20 thru 03-05 | Birdland, New York, NY |
| 1958-03-06 | Embassy House Of Jazz, Allentown, PA |
| 1958-03-08 | Lafayette College, Easton, PA |
The April 17, 1958 issue of Down Beat reported Jake Hanna joining on drums. [18] It is uncertain exactly when this personnel change took effect.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1958-03-27 | Tony Perkins–Urbie Green session |
| 1958-04-03 thru 23 | Birdland, New York, NY |
| 1958-04-12 | NAACP Concert — Convention Hall, Philadelphia, PA |
| 1958-04-21 and 23 | Sal Salvador recording sessions |
| 1958-04-24 | Music Makers ’58 broadcast |
| 1958-04-25 thru 26 | Cork ’n Bib, Westbury, NY (“coming in April” for a Friday and Saturday) |
| 1958-04-28 | Sal Salvador recording session |
| 1958-05-03 | Dance — Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY |
| 1958-05-04 | Concert — Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY |
Down Beat May 15, 1958 reported Jay Cameron joining on baritone saxophone. [19] It is possible he was with the band for some or all of the April and May dates. The June 26, 1958 issue named Detroit singer Lodi Carr as the band’s new vocalist. [20] Carr does not appear on any Ferguson recordings, and the extent of her tenure in the band is uncertain.
The summer of 1958 had many significant events. First was the Message from Newport session, their debut recording with their new recording label, Roulette Records. (The recording sessions occurred prior to the Newport Jazz Festival, but the album was released after it, and the title was intended to capitalize on the band’s successful appearance at the festival.) This allows a chance to see a more current personnel listing:
Jimmy Ford (as), Carmen Leggio, Willie Maiden (ts), Jay Cameron (bar), Bill Chase, Clyde Reasinger, Tom Slaney (t), Slide Hampton, Don Sebesky (tb), John Bunch (p), Jimmy Rowser (b), Jake Hanna (d)
No vocal tracks were recorded. [21]
The next notable event was the band’s first performance at the Newport Jazz Festival. In addition to performing by themselves, the band also accompanied singer Dakota Staton. The personnel listed in the Newport program matches that of the Message from Newport recording session.
Another event was the recording of a single with strings and brass led by Russo. A Down Beat article indicates that Bill Russo had already scored and conducted the recording session. [22] The resulting 45 rpm single was Roulette R-4084, which contained the tunes “Yesterdays” on one side and “Indiscreet” on the other. This is frequently listed in discographies with a recording date many months later. [23]
Ferguson himself also returned to Canada as a guest artist for the summer version of the Music Makers show listed above. For the summer months, Summertime ’58 occupied the same slot on CBC television.
New York Daily News
May 4, 1958, p.711.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1958-05-06 thru 08 | Message From Newport recording sessions |
| 1958-05-11 | Leon’s Supper Club, Richmond, VA |
| 1958-05-13 thru 18 | Red Hill Inn, Pennsauken, NJ |
| 1958-05-24 | Carnegie Hall, New York, NY |
| 1958-06-12 thru 25 | Birdland, New York, NY |
The Library of Congress annotation for the Voice of America recording of the Ferguson band’s appearance at the Newport Jazz Festival lists Frankie Dunlop on drums. [24] It is possible he joined the band for some or all of the spring engagements.
Jimmy Ford (as), Carmen Leggio, Willie Maiden (ts), Jay Cameron (bar), Bill Chase, Clyde Reasinger, Tom Slaney (t), Slide Hampton, Don Sebesky (tb), John Bunch (p), Jimmy Rowser (b), Frankie Dunlop (d)
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1958-07-05 | Newport Jazz Festival, Newport, RI |
| 1958-07-01 thru 07 | Sea Isle Casino, Wildwood, NJ |
| 1958-07? | Bill Russo with strings recording session |
| 1958-07-24 | Summertime ’58 broadcast |
| 1958-08-02 | Stratford Festival, Toronto, Ont. |
| 1958-08-07 thru 09? | Long Island Jazz Festival — Island Garden, West Hempstead, NY |
| 1958-08-21 thru 09-03 | Birdland, New York, NY |
Either at the Birdland session starting in August or the one starting in October, the Ferguson band was recorded live for later broadcast by Treasury of Music. These broadcasts are frequently listed by their broadcast dates, which are October 30, 1959, January 8, 1960, and January 15, 1960. However, announcements on the recordings name pianist John Bunch and baritone saxophonist John Lanni. By the Jazz for Moderns tour, Bunch had been replaced by Bob Dogan, and Jay Cameron had been replaced by John Lanni. That leaves a small window of time where the group could have been at Birdland with the Bunch–Lanni combination. Examination of other known surrounding Treasury of Music broadcasts also indicate a fifteen-month lag between recording and broadcast dates as typical.
Ferguson also made another appearance with the Music Makers show in Canada. This time the show was labeled Music Makers ’59. The host for this show, Jack Kane, states that Maynard and his full band will be in Toronto “next month,” presumably referring to the Jazz for Moderns tour. [25]
An article in the Linton Daily Citizen reported that Jerry Tyree had joined on trumpet. [26] The following is an approximate personnel:
Jimmy Ford (as), Carmen Leggio, Willie Maiden (ts), John Lanni (bar), Bill Chase, Larry Moser?, Jerry Tyree (t), Slide Hampton, Don Sebesky (tb), John Bunch (p), Jimmy Rowser (b), Frankie Dunlop (d)
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1958-09-21 | Virginia State Fair, Richmond, VA |
| 1958-09-27 and 28 | Spotlite Room, Washington, DC |
| 1958-10-02 thru 15 | Birdland, New York, NY |
| 1958-10-09 and 28 | Sammy Davis and Carmen McRae recording session for Buddy Bregman |
| 1958-10-16 | Music Makers ’58 |
| 1958-10-18 | Memorial Chapel, Union College, Schenectady, NY |
| 1958-10-24 thru 26 | Red Hill Inn, Pennsauken, NJ |
The next set of dates contain the Jazz for Moderns 1958 tour. This nearly month-long touring concert package consisted of the Dave Brubeck Quartet, the Sonny Rollins Trio, and The Four Freshman along, with the Maynard Ferguson Orchestra. Leonard Feather travelled along as master of ceremonies and recalled some of the problems on the road in an article published a year later. [27] Personnel for the tour was:
Jimmy Ford (as), Carmen Leggio, Willie Maiden (ts), John Lanni (bar), Bill Chase, Larry Moser, Jerry Tyree (t), Slide Hampton, Don Sebesky (tb), Bob Dogan (p), Jimmy Rowser (b), Frankie Dunlop (d)
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1958-10-31 | Symphony Hall, Boston, MA |
| 1958-11-01 | Smith College, Northhampton, MA |
| 1958-11-02 | Agricultural Hall, Allentown, PA |
| 1958-11-04 | Zembo Mosque, Harrisburg, PA |
| 1958-11-05 | Syria Mosque, Pittsburgh, PA |
| 1958-11-06 | Massey Hall, Toronto, Ont. |
| 1958-11-07 | Carnegie Hall, New York, NY |
| 1958-11-08 | Memorial Gymnasium, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA |
| 1958-11-08 | Burras Hall, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, VA |
| 1958-11-09 | North Carolina State Fair Arena, Raleigh, NC |
| 1958-11-10 | Indiana Theatre, Indianapolis, IN |
| 1958-11-11 | Kiel Opera House, St. Louis, MO |
| 1958-11-12 | Fieldhouse, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA |
| 1958-11-13 | Northrop Auditorium, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN |
| 1958-11-14 | Orpheum Theatre, Madison, WI |
| 1958-11-15 | Medinah Temple, Chicago, IL |
| 1958-11-16 | Masonic Temple, Detroit, MI |
| 1958-11-18 | War Memorial, Rochester, NY |
| 1958-11-19 | Sports Arena, Toledo, OH |
| 1958-11-20 | Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, Louisville, KY |
| 1958-11-21 | Masonic Auditorium, Cleveland, OH |
| 1958-11-22 | Kleinhans Auditorium, Buffalo, NY |
| 1958-11-23 | Philadelphia, PA |
Closing out 1958, there are some club dates, a quick three-day fill-in at Birdland, and the recording session for the Swingin’ My Way Through College LP. Personnel for this album was unchanged from the Jazz for Moderns tour. No vocal tracks were recorded.
Down Beat also makes passing mention of two undated performances from this period: a country club appearance at the Woodmere Club in Woodmere, NY [28] and a Harlem breakfast dance at the Renaissance Club in New York City. [29] Based on the magazine’s publication schedule, both of these dates would have to have happened in December or earlier. Specific citations have as yet been undiscovered.
Philadelphia Inquirer
December 26, 1958, p.20.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1958-11-24 | Franklin Junior High School, Ridgewood, NJ |
| 1958-11 and 12 | Esquivel recording sessions |
| 1958-12-04 thru 12-06 | Birdland, New York, NY |
| 1958-12-15 thru 12-17 | Swingin My Way Through College recording sessions |
| 1958-12-25 | Ritz Ballroom, Bridgeport, CT |
| 1958-12-26 thru 28 | Red Hill Inn, Pennsauken, NJ |
| 1958-12-31 | Red Hill Inn, Pennsauken, NJ |
1959
1959 would be the busiest year yet for Ferguson’s group. While there are doubtless as-yet-undocumented performances, this research found documentation for nearly 200 performances in 1959. Many of these are based at Birdland, for which each week equals six performance dates. A steady mix of club dates and college events, along with a few side gigs, resulted in a solid year of work for the group.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1959-01-01 thru 14 | Birdland, New York, NY |
| 1959-01-23 thru 29 | Apollo Theater, New York, NY |
| 1959-02-05 thru 07 | Instrumental Conductors Conference — Mississippi Southern College, Hattiesburg, MS |
| 1959-02-15 | University of Connecticut, Mansfield, CT |
| 1959-02-20 (1–5 pm) | Kake Walk Jazz Concert — Memorial Auditorium, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT |
| 1959-02-20 (9 pm) | Norwich University Carnival Ball — Armory, Northfield, VT |
| 1959-02-21 | Winter Carnival — St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY |
| 1959-02-21 thru 27 | Apollo Theater, New York, NY |
In February 1959, the group entered the studio to record what would become the Plays Jazz for Dancing LP. The only personnel change from the session two months earlier was trumpeter Don Ellis replacing Jerry Tyree.
Jimmy Ford (as), Carmen Leggio, Willie Maiden (ts), John Lanni (bar), Bill Chase, Larry Moser, Don Ellis (t), Slide Hampton, Don Sebesky (tb), Bob Dogan (p), Jimmy Rowser (b), Frankie Dunlop (d)
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1959-02-23,25,26 | Plays Jazz For Dancing recording sessions |
| 1959-02-27 (2 shows — 7:30 and 9:30 pm) | Inter-Fraternity Council Weekend — Barton Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY |
| 1959-03-08 | Hank’s Evergreen, Bloomfield, NJ |
| 1959-03-15 | Ritz Ballroom, Bridgeport, CT |
| 1959-03-19 thru 04-01 | Birdland, New York, NY |
| 1959-03-30 | Lakewood Theatre, Barnesville, PA | 1959-03-31 | Plays Jazz For Dancing recording sessions |
| 1959-04-11 | Reynolds Coliseum, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC |
| 1959-04-12 and 13 | Magnolia Ballroom, Atlanta, GA |
In April, Ferguson performed as soloist with the New York Philharmonic for Symphony No. 2 in C — The Titans composed by Bill Russo. Ferguson was featured on the fourth movement (Finale). [30]
According to Metronome the band also performed at Hank’s Evergreen that weekend. The review of this engagement contains the earliest known published reference naming Josef Zawinul as a member of the band. [31]
Another performance at Carnegie Hall with his own band occurred at midnight on May 23/24. [32] Six selections were performed, with the following personnel:
Jimmy Ford (as), Carmen Leggio, Willie Maiden (ts), John Lanni (bar), E.V. Perry, Don Ellis, Jerry Tyree (t), Slide Hampton, Don Sebesky (tb), Joe Zawinul (p), Jimmy Rowser (b), Frankie Dunlop (d)
Perry seems to have been a substitute trumpeter in the band for this occasion.
This timeframe also includes a Canadian television appearance on the Timex Presents the Canadian All-Star Jazz Show. The show was broadcast on June 2, but was pre-recorded prior to this date. Ferguson again performed as a guest with a band of Canadian musicians.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1959-04-16 thru 19 | New York Philharmonic The Titans — Carnegie Hall, New York, NY |
| 1959-04-17 thru 19 | Hank’s Evergreen, Bloomfield, NJ |
| 1959-04-22 | U.S.S. Leyte gala — Sheraton–Astor Hotel, New York, NY |
| 1959-04-25 | Relay Jazz Festival — Convention Hall, Philadelphia, PA |
| 1959-04-26 | Ritz Ballroom, Bridgeport, CT |
| 1959-05-01 | Junior–Senior Prom — Somerville High School, Somerville, NJ |
| 1959-05-08 | ROTC Ball — College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA |
| 1959-05-09 | Spring Dance — Millheiser Gymnasium, University of Richmond, VA |
| 1959-05-15 | Colonial Tavern, Toronto, Ont. |
| 1959-05-17 | Old Main Auditorium, Fredonia Teachers College, Fredonia, NY |
| 1959-05-23 (midnight) | Carnegie Hall, New York, NY |
| 1959-05-27 | Country House, Banksville, NY |
| 1959-06-02 | All-Canadian Jazz Show aired on television (Timex) |
In June, the Ferguson band was closing out a two-week stand at Birdland when it recorded the Live at Birdland LP for Roulette. The personnel for this date was:
Jimmy Ford (as), Carmen Leggio, Willie Maiden (ts), John Lanni (bar), Don Ellis, Jerry Tyree, Clyde Reasinger (t), Slide Hampton, Don Sebesky (tb), Joe Zawinul (p), Jimmy Rowser (b), Frankie Dunlop (d)
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1959-06-04 thru 17 | Birdland, New York, NY |
| 1959-06-17 | A Message From Birdland location recording |
Within the liner notes for The Complete Roulette Recordings of the Maynard Ferguson Orchestra, Bret Primack writes that tenor saxophonist Carmen Leggio acknowledged that this was his last gig with the band. [33] He would be replaced by Wayne Shorter. The combination of Joe Zawinul at the piano and Wayne Shorter on tenor saxophone would foreshadow the pair’s collaboration with their Weather Report group years later. Shorter’s name is announced and he can be heard soloing on recordings from the Newport Jazz Festival, as well as multiple One Night Stand broadcasts from Hershey Park. In the Lee Morgan documentary film I Called Him Morgan, Shorter recalls being asked to join Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers at a jazz festival in Toronto at which both Ferguson and Blakey performed. [34] Shorter submitted his notice to Ferguson at that festival. It is unclear exactly how many more performances he did after that date, but it is likely he was gone before the group returned to Birdland.
York Dispatch
July 24, 1959, p.10.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1959-06-20 | Starlight Ballroom, Hershey Park, Hershey, PA |
| 1959-06-30 | Lake Compounce, Bristol, CT |
| 1959-07-03 (afternoon) | Newport Jazz Festival — Freebody Park, Newport, RI |
| 1959-07-03 thru 08 | Peps’s, Philadelphia, PA |
| 1959-07-16 thru 22? | Birdland, New York, NY |
| 1959-07-23 | Canadian Jazz Festival — Toronto, Ont. |
| 1959-07-25 | Starlight Ballroom, Hershey Park, Hershey, PA |
| 1959-07-30 thru 08-12 | Birdland, New York, NY |
The August 20 Down Beat included a photo of Ann Marie Moss signing a contract with Ferguson to be his next vocalist. [35] Ferguson “found” Moss while he was performing in Canada. She is named in advertising starting with the Hartford, CT gig.
Several articles mentioned the band traveling to Europe for several weeks during the summer of 1959. The Los Angeles Evening Citizen News says MF “heads for Europe this summer, where he will film a series of 26 quarter-hour jazz shows for TV viewing next winter.” [36] The Linton Daily Citizen says the band “will fly by jet to Europe for a six weeks’ entertainment tour.” [37] But based on known concert dates and locations, it does not appear that this tour took place.
The remainder of the summer and fall of 1959 were spent finishing up summer jazz festivals and stints at Birdland. During October, a lot of time was spent touring in the Pennsylvania area.
Philadelphia Inquirer
October 8, 1959, p.18.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1959-07-31 | French Lick Jazz Festival — Sheraton Hotel, French Lick, IN |
| 1959-08-14 | American Jazz Festival — State Fair Grounds, Detroit, MI |
| 1959-08-29 | Bushnell Memorial Auditorium, Hartford, CT |
| 1959-09-04 thru 07 | Red Hill Inn, Pennsauken, NJ |
| 1959-09-11 thru 14 | Red Hill Inn, Pennsauken, NJ |
| 1959-09-17 thru 10-08 | Birdland, New York, NY |
| 1959-09-20 | Oakdale Musical Theatre, Wallingford, CT |
| 1959-10-09 | Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, PA |
| 1959-10-10 | Sunnybrook Ballroom, Pottstown, PA |
| 1959-10-11 | Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA |
| 1959-10-16 | Connie Mack Stadium, Philadelphia, PA |
| 1959-10-17 | Fall Festival — Olean Armory, St. Bonaventure, NY |
| 1959-10-18 | Ritz Ballroom, Bridgeport, CT |
| 1959-10-19 thru 22 | Town House, Pittsburgh, PA |
| 1959-10-21 | Appearance at Gimbel’s |
| 1959-10-23 | University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA |
| 1959-10-28 | Plays Jazz For Dancing recording session |
| 1959-10-31 | University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA |
On October 28, the group went into the studio and recorded four tracks, which ended up on the Jazz for Dancing LP and a 45 rpm single. Two of the tunes were vocals for Ann Marie Moss. The personnel for this session:
Jimmy Ford (as), Lin Halliday, Willie Maiden (ts), Frank Hittner (bar), Don Ellis, Chet Ferretti, Paul Fontaine (t), Bill Byers, Charles Greenlea (tb), Jaki Byard (p), Gene Cherico (b), Frankie Dunlop (d), Ann Marie Moss (v)
After this, the band went on the Jazz for Moderns tour of 1959. The lineup for the tour included the Dave Brubeck Quartet, the Chico Hamilton Quintet, Chris Connor, Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross, and the Maynard Ferguson Orchestra. Leonard Feather again served as master of ceremonies. The year finished out with some ballroom dates and a return New Year’s engagement at the Red Hill Inn.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1959-11-06 thru 08 | Pass of the North Jazz Festival — Coliseum, El Paso, TX |
| 1959-11-08 (1 pm) | Municipal Auditorium, Austin, TX |
| 1959-11-09 | Johnson Gymnasium, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM |
| 1959-11-10 | Tulsa Municipal Theatre, Tulsa, OK |
| 1959-11-11 | Auditorium, Kansas City, MO |
| 1959-11-12 | Civic Center, Lansing, MI |
| 1959-11-13 | East Genesee Street Armory, Syracuse, NY |
| 1959-11-15 | North Carolina State Fair Arena, Raleigh, NC |
| 1959-11-16 | Fifth Regiment Armory, Baltimore, MD |
| 1959-11-17 | Bushnell Memorial Auditorium, Hartford, CT |
| 1959-11-18 | Zembo Mosque, Harrisburg, PA |
| 1959-11-19 | New Haven Arena, New Haven, CT |
| 1959-11-20 | Carnegie Hall, New York, NY |
| 1959-11-21 | Lafayette Theatre, Buffalo, NY |
| 1959-11-22 | Masonic Auditorium, Cleveland, OH |
| 1959-11-23 | Field House, West Virginia State University, Morgantown, WV |
| 1959-11-24 | Memorial Auditorium, Louisville, KY |
| 1959-11-25 | Indiana Theatre, Indianapolis, IN |
| 1959-11-26 | Opera House, Chicago, IL |
| 1959-11-27 | Masonic Temple, Detroit, MI |
| 1959-11-28 | Carnegie Music Hall, Pittsburgh, PA |
| 1959-11-29 | Academy of Music, Philadelphia, PA |
| 1959-12-04 | Mid-winter Ball — Alumni Gym, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA |
| 1959-12-05 | Roseland Ballroom, Taunton, MA |
| 1959-12-06 | Ritz Ballroom, Bridgeport, CT |
| 1959-12-10 | Scottish Rite Temple, Bloomington, IL |
| 1959-12-19 | Sunnybrook Ballroom, Pottstown, PA |
| 1959-12-25 thru 27 | Red Hill Inn, Pennsauken, NJ |
| 1959-12-31 | Red Hill Inn, Pennsauken, NJ |
Ferguson and the band headed into 1960 as a successful and active name-brand band. This peak would last a little longer than two more years, when the band added even more performance dates and a series of albums resulting in what would be considered the zenith of this band’s existence, if not Ferguson’s entire career. These peak years will be covered in the next installment of the chronology.
Full 1956–1959 Chronology with References
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Maynard leaves Hollywood to headline an all-star big band at Birdland | |
| 1956-08-30 thru 09-12 | Birdland, New York, NY | New York Daily News 8/31/56 p.42 |
| 1956-09-07 and 11 | Dream Band recording sessions | The Jazz Discography Online |
| 1956-09-24 and 25 | Dream Band recording sessions | The Jazz Discography Online |
| 1956-09-26 | Steve Allen Show (TV) | Miami Herald 9/26/56 p.29 |
| 1956-10-02 | Musical Salute to Ike — Rockland Palace, New York, NY | New York Daily News 10/2/56 p.49 |
| Back to Hollywood for remainder of 1956 | ||
| 1956-10-06 | Jerry Lewis Sings recording session | |
| 1956-10-14 | Peacock Lane, Los Angeles, CA | Oakland Tribune 10/14/56 p.110 |
| 1956-10-29 and 31 | Pete Rugolo recording sessions | The Jazz Discography Online |
| 1956-11-02 | Russ Garcia recording session | The Jazz Discography Online |
| 1956-11-08 | Charlie Barnet recording session | The Jazz Discography Online |
| 1956-11 | Donna Fuller with Pete Rugolo recording session | The Jazz Discography Online |
| 1956-11-14 | MF held over at Peacock Lane | Down Beat 11/14/56 p. 41 |
| 1956-11-21 | Pete Rugolo recording session | The Jazz Discography Online |
| 1956-12-12 | MF to film Universal short (Swingin’ and Singin’) | Down Beat 12/12/56 p.55 |
| 1956-12-18 | Swingin’ and Singin’ recording session | Herb Geller Discography |
| 1956-12-20 | Buddy Bregman recording session | The Jazz Discography Online |
| 1957 | ||
| 1957-01-04 thru 06 | Peacock Lane, Los Angeles, CA (location recordings made by Wally Heider) | The Jazz Discography Online |
| 1957-01-06 | MF at Peacock Lane | Oakland Tribune 1/6/57 p.66 |
| 1957-01-18 | Elmer Bernstein recording session | The Decca Labels |
| 1957-01 | Axidentals recording sessions | |
| 1957-01-30 | Shorty Rogers recording session | The Jazz Discography Online |
| 1957-02 | Several Shorty Rogers recording sessions | The Jazz Discography Online |
| 1957-02 | Francis Faye–Russ Garcia sessions | The Jazz Discography Online |
| 1957-02-11 | Elmer Bernstein recording session | The Decca Labels |
| 1957-02-15 | Junior prom — New Union, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT | Daily Utah Chronicle 2/1/57 p.1 |
| 1957-02-16 | Rainbow Randevu, Salt Lake City, UT | Salt Lake Tribune 2/12/57 p.9 |
| 1957-02-20 | MF confirmed to appear 12 weeks a year at Birdland | Down Beat 2/20/57 p.36 |
| 1957-02-22 | DeCastro Sisters recording session | |
| 1957-03 | Francis Faye–Russ Garcia sessions | The Jazz Discography Online |
| 1957-03-23 | University of Arizona Greek Week — Scottish Rite Cathedral, Tucson, AZ | Arizona Daily Star 3/23/57 p.9 |
| Modern Jazz for ’57 tour | ||
| 1957-03-28 | City Auditorium, Omaha, NE | Down Beat 4/4/57 p.11 |
| 1957-03-29 | Kiel Opera House, St. Louis, MO | St. Louis Globe-Democrat 3/10/57 p.75 |
| 1957-03-30 | Municipal Auditorium Music Hall, Kansas City, MO | Kansas City Times 3/23/57 p.29 |
| 1957-03-31 | Lyceum Theater, Minneapolis, MN | Minneapolis Star Tribune 3/17/57 p.57 |
| 1957-04-04 thru 04-17 | Birdland, New York, NY | New York Daily News 4/4/57 p.15 |
| 1957-04-22 thru 04-27 | Pep’s, Philadelphia, PA | Down Beat 5/4/57 p.42 |
| 1957-05-01 thru 05-12 | Blue Note, Chicago, IL | Down Beat 5/18/57 p.72 |
| 1957-05-13 thru 05-19 | Modern Jazz Room, Cleveland, OH | Down Beat 5/2/57 p.42 |
| 1957-05-21 thru 05-26 | Red Hill Inn, Pennsauken, NJ | Down Beat 5/2/57 p.42 |
| 1957-05-23 | Community Center Field, Conshohocken, PA | Conshohocken Recorder 5/23/57 p.4 |
| 1957-05-27 thru 06-02 | Storyville, Boston, MA | Boston Globe 5/27/57 p.10 |
| 1957-06-06 thru 06-19 | Birdland, New York, NY | New York Age 6/8/57 p.17 |
| 1957-07-05 thru 07-11 | Steel Pier, Atlantic City, NJ | Down Beat 7/13/57 p.42 |
| 1957-07-13 | Starlight Ballroom, Hershey Park, Hershey, PA | New York Daily News 7/10/57 p.13 |
| 1957-07-14 | Pleasure Beach Park Ballroom, Bridgeport, CT | Bridgeport Post 7/14/57 p.36 |
| 1957-07-18 thru 31 | Birdland, New York, NY | New York Daily News 7/19/57 p.38 |
| 1957-07-29 and 08-02 | Boy with Lots of Brass recording sessions | The Jazz Discography Online |
| 1957-08-05 thru 08-25 | Theatre Under the Stars — Wollman Memorial Theatre, Central Park, New York, NY | New York Daily News 8/5/57 p.36; New York Daily News 8/12/57 p.332; New York Daily News 8/20/57 p.274 |
| 1957-08-23 | New York Jazz Festival — Randall’s Island Stadium, New York, NY | New York Daily News 8/19/57 p.88 |
| 1957-08-24 | North Shore Jazz Festival — Manning Bowl, Lynn, MA | Boston Globe 7/18/57 p.16 |
| 1957-08-29 thru 09-11 | Birdland, New York, NY | New York Daily News 8/27/57 p.39 |
| 1957-10-07 thru | Modern Jazz Room, Cleveland, OH | Call & Post 10/5/57 p.6C |
| 1957-10-09 | Bud Wendell show on KYW radio, Cleveland, OH | Call & Post 10/5/57 p.6C |
| 1957-10-10 | Dorothy Fuldheim show on WEWS-TV, Cleveland, OH | Call & Post 10/5/57 p.6C |
| 1957-12-02 thru 07 | Storyville, Boston, MA | Boston Globe 12/2/57 p.8 |
| 1957-12-27,28,31 | Cork ’n Bib, Westbury, NY | Village Voice 12/4/57 p.8 |
| 1958 | ||
| 1958-01-03 thru 05 | Red Hill Inn, Pennsauken, NJ | Philadelphia Inquirer 1/3/58 p.8 |
| 1958-01-23 | Embassy House Of Jazz, Allentown, PA | Plain Speaker 1/22/58 p.18 |
| 1958-02-06 | Mehary Hall, DePauw University, Greencastle, IN | DePauw 1/8/58 p.1 |
| 1958-02-20 thru 03-05 | Birdland, New York, NY | New York Daily News 2/22/58 p.36 |
| 1958-03-06 | Embassy House Of Jazz, Allentown, PA | Plain Speaker 3/5/58 p.20 |
| 1958-03-08 | Lafayette College, Easton, PA | Morning Call 3/7/58 p.38 |
| 1958-03-27 | Tony Perkins–Urbie Green recording session | The Jazz Discography Online |
| 1958-04-03 thru 23 | Birdland, New York, NY | New York Daily News 4/4/58 p.43 |
| 1958-04-12 | NAACP Concert — Convention Hall, Philadelphia, PA | Philadelphia Tribune 3/25/58 p.1 |
| 1958-04-21 and 23 | Sal Salvador recording sessions | The Decca Labels |
| 1958-04-24 | Music Makers ’58 broadcast | Ottawa Citizen 4/19/58 p.15 |
| 1958-04-25 thru 26 | Cork ’n Bib, Westbury, NY (“coming in April” for a Friday and Saturday) | Village Voice 4/2/58 p.16 |
| 1958-04-28 | Sal Salvador recording session | The Decca Labels |
| 1958-05-03 | Dance — Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY | RIT Reporter 5/2/58 p.2 |
| 1958-05-04 | Concert — Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY | RIT Reporter 5/2/58 p.2 |
| 1958-05-06 thru 08 | Message From Newport recording sessions | Mosaic set |
| 1958-05-11 | Leon’s Supper Club, Richmond, VA | Richmond Times Dispatch 5/11/58 p.157 |
| 1958-05-13 thru 18 | Red Hill Inn, Pennsauken, NJ | Philadelphia Inquirer 5/16/58 p.35 |
| 1958-05-24 | Carnegie Hall, New York, NY | New York Daily News 5/4/58 p.711 |
| 1958-06-12 thru 25 | Birdland, New York, NY | Down Beat 7/12/58 p.8 |
| 1958-07-05 | Newport Jazz Festival, Newport, RI | Newport Daily News 5/5/58 p.1 |
| 1958-07-01 thru 07 | Sea Isle Casino, Wildwood, NJ | Down Beat 8/7/58 p.10 |
| 1958-07? | Bill Russo with strings recording session | Down Beat 7/24/58 p.52 |
| 1958-07-24 | Summertime ’58 broadcast | Ottawa Citizen 7/24/58 p.26 |
| 1958-08-02 | Stratford Festival, Toronto, Ont. | Ottawa Citizen 6/10/58 p.35 |
| 1958-08-07 thru 09? | Long Island Jazz Festival — Island Garden, West Hempstead, NY | New York Daily News 8/7/58 p.53 |
| 1958-08-21 thru 09-03 | Birdland, New York, NY | Down Beat 7/24/58 p.52 |
| 1958-09-21 | Virginia State Fair, Richmond, VA | Richmond Times Dispatch 9/28/58 p.103 |
| 1958-09-27 and 28 | Spotlite Room, Washington, DC | Washington Post 9/27/58 p.C18 |
| 1958-10-02 thru 15 | Birdland, New York, NY (probable date for Treasury of Music broadcasts #55, #65, #66) | New York Daily News 9/30/58 p.63 |
| 1958-10-09 | Sammy Davis, Jr. recording session for Buddy Bregman — Decca Studios, Los Angeles, CA | The Decca Labels |
| 1958-10-16 | Music Makers ’58 | Vancouver Sun 10/16/58 p.65 |
| 1958-10-18 | Memorial Chapel, Union College, Schenectady, NY | Concordiensis 10/10/58 p.2, 10/24/58 p.2 |
| 1958-10-24 thru 26 | Red Hill Inn, Pennsauken, NJ | Courier Post 10/17/58 p.19 |
| 1958-10-28 | Sammy Davis, Jr. recording session for Buddy Bregman — Decca Studios, Los Angeles, CA | The Decca Labels |
| Jazz for Moderns tour | ||
| 1958-10-31 | Symphony Hall, Boston, MA | Boston Globe 10/30/58 p.12 |
| 1958-11-01 | Smith College, Northhampton, MA | Berkshire Eagle 10/28/58 p.8 |
| 1958-11-02 | Agricultural Hall, Allentown, PA | Morning Call 10/28/58 p.33 |
| 1958-11-04 | Zembo Mosque, Harrisburg, PA | York Dispatch 11/3/58 p.23 |
| 1958-11-05 | Syria Mosque, Pittsburgh, PA | Pittsburgh Sun Telegraph 11/2/58 p.25 |
| 1958-11-06 | Massey Hall, Toronto, Ont. | Massey Hall events list |
| 1958-11-07 | Carnegie Hall, New York, NY | New York Daily News 10/29/58 p.68 |
| 1958-11-08 | Memorial Gymnasium, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA | Daily Tar Heel 11/2/58 p.1 |
| 1958-11-08 | Burras Hall, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, VA | concert poster |
| 1958-11-09 | North Carolina State Fair Arena, Raleigh, NC | Daily Tar Heel 10/13/58 p.4 |
| 1958-11-10 | Indiana Theatre, Indianapolis, IN | Indianapolis Star 11/10/58 p.20 |
| 1958-11-11 | Kiel Opera House, St. Louis, MO | St. Louis Dispatch 11/9/58 p.91 |
| 1958-11-12 | Fieldhouse, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA | Muscatine Journal 11/7/5/58 p.2 |
| 1958-11-13 | Northrop Auditorium, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN | Minneapolis Star Tribune 11/9/58 p.62 |
| 1958-11-14 | Orpheum Theatre, Madison, WI | Wisconsin State Journal 11/13/58 p.38 |
| 1958-11-15 | Medinah Temple, Chicago, IL | Chicago Tribune 11/5/58 p.37 |
| 1958-11-16 | Masonic Temple, Detroit, MI | Detroit Free Press 11/9/58 p.11 |
| 1958-11-18 | War Memorial, Rochester, NY | Democrat and Chronicle 11/9/58 p.106 |
| 1958-11-19 | Sports Arena, Toledo, OH | concert poster |
| 1958-11-20 | Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, Louisville, KY | Courier Journal 11/15/58 p.110 |
| 1958-11-21 | Masonic Auditorium, Cleveland, OH | Down Beat 9/3/59 p.38 |
| 1958-11-22 | Kleinhans Auditorium, Buffalo, NY | Down Beat 9/3/59 p.38 |
| 1958-11-23 | Academy of Music, Philadelphia, PA | Philadelphia Inquirer 11/23/58 p.89 |
| 1958-11-24 | Franklin Junior High School, Ridgewood, NJ | Record 11/25/58 p.7 |
| 1958-11 and 12 | Esquivel recording sessions | |
| 1958-12-04 thru 06 | Birdland, New York, NY | Down Beat 11/27/58 p.52 |
| 1958-12-15 thru 17 | Swingin My Way Through College recording sessions | Mosaic set |
| 1958-12-25 | Ritz Ballroom, Bridgeport, CT | Bridgeport Post 12/24/58 p.7 |
| 1958-12-26 thru 28 | Red Hill Inn, Pennsauken, NJ | Down Beat 2/5/59 p.41 |
| 1958-12-31 | Red Hill Inn, Pennsauken, NJ | Philadelphia Inquirer 12/26/58 p.20 |
| 1959 | ||
| 1959-01-01 thru 14 | Birdland, New York, NY | New York Daily News 1/1/59 p.13 |
| 1959-01-23 thru 29 | Apollo Theater, New York, NY | New York Amsterdam News 1/24/59 p.14 |
| 1959-02-05 thru 07 | Instrumental Conductors Conference — Mississippi Southern College, Hattiesburg, MS | Clarion Ledger 2/3/59 p.6 |
| 1959-02-06 | Lions Club, Hattiesburg, MS | Hattiesburg American 2/7/59 p.27 |
| 1959-02-15 | University of Connecticut, Mansfield, CT | Hartford Courant 2/3/59 p.10 |
| 1959-02-20 (1–5 pm) | Kake Walk Jazz Concert — Memorial Auditorium, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT | Burlington Free Press 2/20/59 p.2 |
| 1959-02-20 (9 pm) | Norwich University Carnival Ball — Armory, Northfield, VT | Rutland Daily Herald 2/11/59 p.6 |
| 1959-02-21 | Winter Carnival — St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY | Hill News 2/18/59 p.1 |
| 1959-02-21 thru 27 | Apollo Theater, New York, NY | Down Beat 1/22/59 p.49 |
| 1959-02-23,25,26 | Plays Jazz For Dancing recording sessions | Mosaic set |
| 1959-02-27 (2 shows — 7:30 and 9:30 pm) | Inter-Fraternity Council Weekend — Barton Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY | Cornell Daily Sun 2/19/59 p.2 |
| 1959-03-08 | Hank’s Evergreen, Bloomfield, NJ | Metronome 3/59 p.37 |
| 1959-03-15 | Ritz Ballroom, Bridgeport, CT | Bridgeport Post 3/12/59 p.23 |
| 1959-03-19 thru 04-01 | Birdland, New York, NY | New York Daily News 3/19/59 p.71 |
| 1959-03-30 | Lakewood Theatre, Barnesville, PA | Plain Speaker 3/27/59 p.24 |
| 1959-03-31 | Plays Jazz For Dancing recording session | Mosaic set |
| 1959-04-11 | Reynolds Coliseum, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC | Rocky Mount Telegram 4/10/59 p.6 |
| 1959-04-12 and 13 | Magnolia Ballroom, Atlanta, GA | Atlanta Constitution 4/6/59 p.32 |
| 1959-04-16 thru 19 | New York Philharmonic The Titans — Carnegie Hall, New York, NY | New York Daily News 3/28/59 p.51 |
| 1959-04-17 thru 19 | Hank’s Evergreen, Bloomfield, NJ | Metronome 6/59 p.33 |
| 1959-04-22 | U.S.S. Leyte gala — Sheraton–Astor Hotel, New York, NY | CVS 32 US Navy Cruise Books |
| 1959-04-25 | Relay Jazz Festival — Convention Hall, Philadelphia, PA | Baltimore Afro-American 4/18/59 p.27 |
| 1959-04-26 | Ritz Ballroom, Bridgeport, CT | Bridgeport Post 4/23/59 p.33 |
| 1959-05-01 | Junior–Senior Prom — Somerville High School, Somerville, NJ | Courier News 4/30/59 p.16 |
| 1959-05-08 | ROTC Ball — College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA | Flat Hat 3/17/59 p.1 |
| 1959-05-09 | Spring Dance — Millheiser Gymnasium, University of Richmond, VA | Collegian 2/20/59 p.1 |
| 1959-05-15 | Colonial Tavern, Toronto, Ont. | Toronto Gazette 5/15/59 p.4 |
| 1959-05-17 | Old Main Auditorium, Fredonia Teachers College, Fredonia, NY | Dunkirk Evening Observer 5/8/59 p.11 |
| 1959-05-23 (midnight) | Carnegie Hall, New York, NY | New York Daily News 5/23/59 p.26 |
| 1959-05-27 | Country House, Banksville, NY | Patent Trader 05-17-59 p.17 |
| 1959-06-02 | All-Canadian Jazz Show aired on television (Timex) | Ottawa Journal 5/23/59 p.51 |
| 1959-06-04 thru 17 | Birdland, New York, NY | Down Beat 5/28/59 p.45 |
| 1959-06-17 | A Message From Birdland location recording | Mosaic set |
| 1959-06-20 | Starlight Ballroom, Hershey Park, Hershey, PA | Lebanon Daily News 6/18/59 p.37 |
| 1959-06-30 | Lake Compounce, Bristol, CT | Hartford Courant 5/29/59 p.9 |
| 1959-07-03 (afternoon) | Newport Jazz Festival — Freebody Park, Newport, RI | Hartford Courant 6/3/59 p.10 |
| 1959-07-03 thru 08 | Peps’s, Philadelphia, PA | Philadelphia Inquirer 7/3/59 p.9 |
| 1959-07-16 thru 22? | Birdland, New York, NY | New York Daily News 7/15/59 p.39 |
| 1959-07-23 | Canadian Jazz Festival — Toronto, Ont. | Democrat and Chronicle 6/22/59 p.10 |
| 1959-07-25 | Starlight Ballroom, Hershey Park, Hershey, PA | York Dispatch 7/24/59 p.10 |
| 1959-07-30 thru 08-12 | Birdland, New York, NY | New York Daily News 7/29/59 p.60 |
| 1959-07-31 | French Lick Jazz Festival — Sheraton Hotel, French Lick, IN | Courier Journal 8/1/59 p.13 |
| 1959-08-14 | American Jazz Festival — State Fair Grounds, Detroit, MI | Detroit Free Press 7/5/59 p.15 |
| 1959-08-29 | Bushnell Memorial Auditorium, Hartford, Connecticut | Hartford Courant 8/23/59 p.41 |
| 1959-09-04 thru 07 | Red Hill Inn, Pennsauken, NJ | Philadelphia Inquirer 9/4/59 p.13 |
| 1959-09-11 thru 14 | Red Hill Inn, Pennsauken, NJ | Philadelphia Inquirer 9/11/59 p.21 |
| 1959-09-17 thru 10-08 | Birdland, New York, NY | New York Daily News 9/15/59 p.45 |
| 1959-09-20 | Oakdale Musical Theatre, Wallingford, CT | Bridgeport Telegram 9/11/59 p.20 |
| 1959-10-09 | Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, PA | Philadelphia Inquirer 9/6/59 p.67 |
| 1959-10-10 | Sunnybrook Ballroom, Pottstown, PA | Pottstown Mercury 10/8/59 p.18 |
| 1959-10-11 | Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA | Philadelphia Inquirer 9/6/59 p.67 |
| 1959-10-16 | Connie Mack Stadium, Philadelphia, PA | Pottstown Mercury 9/30/59 p.10 |
| 1959-10-17 | Fall Festival — Olean Armory, St. Bonaventure, NY | Wellsville Daily Reporter 10/15/59 p.7 |
| 1959-10-18 | Ritz Ballroom, Bridgeport, CT | Bridgeport Post 10/18/59 p.47 |
| 1959-10-19 thru 22 | Town House, Pittsburgh, PA | Pittsburgh Post Gazette 10/19/59 p.31 |
| 1959-10-21 | Appearance at Gimbel’s department store, Pittsburgh, PA | Pittsburgh Press 10/18/59 p.16 |
| 1959-10-23 | University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA | Philadelphia Inquirer 9/6/59 p.67 |
| 1959-10-28 | Plays Jazz For Dancing recording session | Mosaic set |
| 1959-10-31 | University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA | Pittsburgh Press 10/21/59 p.28 |
| Jazz for Moderns tour | ||
| 1959-11-06 thru 08 | Pass of the North Jazz Festival — Coliseum, El Paso, TX | El Paso Herald-Post 11/7/59 p.8; Daily Texan 11/5/59 p.4, Georgetown Megaphone 11/6/59 p.1 |
| 1959-11-08 (1 pm) | Municipal Auditorium, Austin, TX | Austin American 11/7/59 p.8 |
| 1959-11-09 | Johnson Gymnasium, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM | Albuquerque Journal 11/1/59 p.13 |
| 1959-11-10 | Tulsa Municipal Theatre, Tulsa, OK | Muskogee Daily Phoenix 11/5/59 p.2 |
| 1959-11-11 | Auditorium, Kansas City, MO | Kansas City Times 10/29/59 p.22 |
| 1959-11-12 | Civic Center, Lansing, MI | Lansing State Journal 10/30/59 p.20 |
| 1959-11-13 | East Genesee Street Armory, Syracuse, NY | Down Beat 11/26/59 p.25 |
| 1959-11-15 | North Carolina State Fair Arena, Raleigh, NC | Daily Tar Heel 11/11/59 p.3 |
| 1959-11-16 | Fifth Regiment Armory, Baltimore, MD | Baltimore Sun 11/8/59 p.53 |
| 1959-11-17 | Bushnell Memorial Auditorium, Hartford, CT | Hartford Courant 11/8/59 p.50 |
| 1959-11-18 | Zembo Mosque, Harrisburg, PA | York Dispatch 11/10/59 p.23 |
| 1959-11-19 | New Haven Arena, New Haven, CT | Bridgeport Post 11/1/59 p.49 |
| 1959-11-20 | Carnegie Hall, New York, NY | Down Beat 11/26/59 p.25 |
| 1959-11-21 | Lafayette Theatre, Buffalo, NY | Down Beat 11/26/59 p.25 |
| 1959-11-22 | Masonic Auditorium, Cleveland, OH | Down Beat 11/26/59 p.25 |
| 1959-11-23 | Field House, West Virginia State University, Morgantown, WV | Morning Herald 11/14/59 p.6 |
| 1959-11-24 | Memorial Auditorium, Louisville, KY | Courier Journal 11/8/59 p.102 |
| 1959-11-25 | Indiana Theatre, Indianapolis, IN | Down Beat 11/26/59 p.25 |
| 1959-11-26 | Opera House, Chicago, IL | Chicago Tribune 11/8/59 p.146 |
| 1959-11-27 | Masonic Temple, Detroit, MI | Down Beat 11/26/59 p.25 |
| 1959-11-28 | Carnegie Music Hall, Pittsburgh, PA | Pittsburgh Post Gazette 11/6/59 p.19 |
| 1959-11-29 | Academy of Music, Philadelphia, PA | Philadelphia Inquirer 11/29/59 p.91 |
| 1959-12-04 | Mid-winter Ball — Alumni Gym, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA | Daily Senator 12/3/59 p.1 |
| 1959-12-05 | Roseland Ballroom, Taunton, MA | Newport Daily News 12/2/59 p.11 |
| 1959-12-06 | Ritz Ballroom, Bridgeport, CT | Bridgeport Telegram 11/26/59 p.44 |
| 1959-12-10 | Scottish Rite Temple, Bloomington, IL | Pantagraph 12/7/59 p.3 |
| 1959-12-19 | Sunnybrook Ballroom, Pottstown, PA | Morning Call 12/3/59 p.54 |
| 1959-12-25 thru 27 | Red Hill Inn, Pennsauken, NJ | Philadelphia Inquirer 12/18/59 p.42 |
| 1959-12-31 | Red Hill Inn, Pennsauken, NJ | Philadelphia Inquirer 12/18/59 p.42 |
Bibliography
The chronology references were collected from several online databases, including RIPM Jazz Periodicals, NewspaperArchive, Newspapers.com, and ProQuest Historical Black Newspapers.
- Carner, Gary. Pepper Adams’ Joy Road: An Annotated Discography. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2012.
- Cohen, Noal. Herb Geller Discography. https://attictoys.com/herb-geller/. Accessed December 27, 2020.
- Harkins, Edwin. Maynard Ferguson: A Discography. [s.l.]: Edwin Harkins, 1976.
- Jungheim, Ralph. Maynard!. Marina del Rey, CA: Buster Ann Music, 2009.
- Lee, William F. MF Horn: Maynard Ferguson’s Life in Music. Ojai, CA: M.F. Music U.S.A., 1997.
- Lord, Tom. The Jazz Discography Online. Chilliwack, BC: Lord Music Reference, Inc., 2020.
- Primack, Bret. notes to The Complete Roulette Recordings of the Maynard Ferguson Orchestra. Mosaic Records, 1993.
- Ruppli, Michel. The Decca Labels: A Discography. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1996.
References
[1] “Film Studios Grab Off More Jazzmen.” Down Beat 23, no. 6 (March 21, 1956): 39.
[2] Primack, Bret. Notes to The Complete Roulette Recordings of the Maynard Ferguson Orchestra, Mosaic Records, 1993.
[3] Lee, William F. MF Horn: Maynard Ferguson’s Life in Music, Ojai, CA: M.F. Music U.S.A., 1997.
[4] Harkins, Edwin. Maynard Ferguson: A Discography, [s.l.]: Edwin Harkins, 1976.
[5] Jungheim, Ralph. Maynard!, Marina del Rey, CA: Buster Ann Music, 2009.
[6] Primack, Bret. Notes to The Complete Roulette Recordings of the Maynard Ferguson Orchestra, Mosaic Records, 1993.
[7] “Ferguson Band in Great Debut.” Down Beat 23, no. 21 (October 17, 1956): 12.
[8] Wilson, Russ. “World of Jazz.” Oakland Tribune, October 14, 1956.
[9] “Strictly Ad Lib: Hollywood.” Down Beat 23, no. 23 (November 14, 1956): 41.
[10] Holly, Hal. “Filmland Upbeat.” Down Beat 23, no. 25 (December 12, 1956): 55. The complete film may be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAj1g1RAc_U. Accessed December 27, 2020.
[11] “Strictly Ad Lib: Hollywood.” Down Beat 24, no. 4 (February 20, 1957): 36.
[12] “Ferguson’s 13-Piecer On Road With Dates ’Til July” Down Beat 24, no. 6 (March 21, 1957): 11.
[13] Goddard, Bob. “In Our Town.” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, March 25, 1957: 5B.
[14] Lee, William F. MF Horn: Maynard Ferguson’s Life in Music, Ojai, CA: M.F. Music U.S.A., 1997: 66.
[15] “Ferguson Forms Big Band.” Cash Box, March 23, 1957: 30.
[16] Carner, Gary. Pepper Adams’ Joy Road: An Annotated Discography, Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2012: 35.
[17] “Strictly Ad Lib: New York.” Down Beat 24, no. 21 (October 17, 1957): 8.
[18] “Strictly Ad Lib: New York.” Down Beat 25, no. 8 (April 17, 1958): 61.
[19] “Strictly Ad Lib: New York.” Down Beat 25, no. 10 (May 15, 1958): 8.
[20] “Strictly Ad Lib: Detroit.” Down Beat 25, no. 13 (June 26, 1958): 38.
[21] Irene Kral tells a story in the book Maynard! about how she, her future husband Joe Burnett, and Bobby Timmons all were fired on the same night. Since neither Burnett nor Timmons are listed on the Message from Newport album, Kral must no longer have been part of the band either.
[22] “Strictly Ad Lib: New York.” Down Beat 25, no. 15 (July 24, 1958): 52.
[23] The Jazz Discography Online, compiled by Tom Lord, lists the session (with personnel as only “Maynard Ferguson (tp) acc by large band incl. strings”) as from September 1958. The Down Beat article specifies ten strings and eight brass.
[24] Library of Congress Recorded Sound Section. Sound Online Inventory Catalog (SONIC). https://star1.loc.gov/cgi-bin/starfinder/0. Accessed December 27, 2020.
[25] “Maynard Ferguson Tenderly,” video file, 4:12, YouTube, posted by MF_LivingInThePast, January 3, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDZOIN6p0qU. Accessed December 27, 2020.
[26] “Personals...” Linton Daily Citizen, September 18, 1958.
[27] Feather, Leonard. “Life on a Jazz Tour, U.S.A.” Down Beat 26, no. 18 (September 3, 1959): 21, 36–38.
[28] “Top Brass.” Down Beat 26, no. 1 (January 8, 1959): 20.
[29] “Strictly Ad Lib: New York.” Down Beat 26, no. 2 (January 22, 1959): 8.
[30] New York Philharmonic - Leon Levy Digital Archives. “1959 Apr 16, 17, 18, 19 / Subscription Season / Bernstein.” https://archives.nyphil.org/index.php/artifact/442d4167-1fb7-41dd-ae1c-1f001b27a473-0.1/fullview. Accessed December 7, 2020.
[31] “In Person: Maynard Ferguson.” Metronome 76, no. 6 (June 1959): 33.
[32] Carnegie Hall. “Midnight Performance: Jack Humphrey Septet/Maynard Ferguson and His Orchestra/Sarah Vaughan/Modern Jazz Quartet” https://collections.carnegiehall.org/CS.aspx?VP3=SearchResult&VBID=2RRMLBHT1EQZ&PN=1&IID=2RRM1TT69T43. Accessed December 27, 2020.
[33] Primack, Bret. Notes to The Complete Roulette Recordings of the Maynard Ferguson Orchestra, Mosaic Records, 1993.
[34] Collin, Kasper. I Called Him Morgan (2016; Brooklyn, NY: Fisher Klingenstein Ventures, LLC, 2017), DVD.
[35] “On the Dotted Line.” Down Beat 26, no. 17 (August 20, 1959): 19.
[36] Los Angeles Evening Citizen News, June 6, 1959.
[37] Linton Daily Citizen, July 10, 1959.
Author Information:
Thomas Herb currently serves as Professor of Music Education and as the Director of the Graduate Music Education program at Southern Utah University. He has published articles in several music education books, including the Teaching Music through Performance in Band series (GIA Publications), and his own book Teaching Improvisation...in Concert Band?!? (MVP Publishing). An avid jazz devotee, he performs over fifty times a year with local jazz combos and is the Founder/Director of The Jazz Alliance of Cedar City which brings jazz performances to Cedar City. He also considers himself an enthusiastic amateur in regards to jazz research, with bandleader Maynard Ferguson as his specialty. He lives in Cedar City, Utah with his wife and four young children.
Abstract:
The article presents the day-to-day activities of Canadian trumpeter and bandleader Maynard Ferguson during the years 1956 to 1959, beginning from the point when Ferguson initially planned to form his own jazz orchestra. Based on listings, advertisements, and reviews published in contemporary newspapers and periodicals, Ferguson’s concert, dance, and nightclub appearances are included. The performance chronology also includes recording sessions and identifies orchestra personnel when known.
Keywords:
Maynard Ferguson, Birdland Dream Band, jazz, chronology
How to cite this article:
- Chicago 17th ed.: Herb, Thomas. “Maynard Ferguson’s Birdland Dream Band: A Performance Chronology of the Years 1956–1959.” Current Research in Jazz 12 (2020). Accessed [date of access]. http://www.crj-online.org/v12/CRJ-FergusonChronology.php.
- MLA 8th ed.: Herb, Thomas. “Maynard Ferguson’s Birdland Dream Band: A Performance Chronology of the Years 1956–1959.” Current Research in Jazz vol. 12, 2020, www.crj-online.org/v12/CRJ-FergusonChronology.php. Accessed [date of access].
- APA 7th ed.: Herb, T. (2020). Maynard Ferguson’s Birdland Dream Band: A Performance Chronology of the Years 1956–1959. Current Research in Jazz, 12. http://www.crj-online.org/v12/CRJ-FergusonChronology.php
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