Maynard Ferguson, Danny and Me..

***Daniel Joseph Callahan IV (1957-2010)***

Happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful for my faith, family and friends, especially those who are no longer with us. At the top of my list is my great friend, Danny Callahan. He was the life of every party, pegged the fun meter, and always turned it up way past eleven. He was a brilliant storyteller and I miss his enthusiasm, counsel, and most of all, his company. The holidays, and most days, shine a little dimmer without DJC IV. This Maynard Ferguson story, and so many others, could not happen without him.

Change is always happening. That's one of the wonderful things about Jazz.

Maynard Ferguson

***Hollywood Party (1954) signed by Maynard***

Born in Canada, Maynard Ferguson was a child prodigy on violin, who switched to cornet and trumpet, and was playing on the CBC by the time he was thirteen. Maynard made his bones in the big bands of the day, especially with Charlie Barnett and Stan Kenton. He went solo in 1956 and became best known for playing in an upper register, a high C was nothing for Maynard's powerful playing. Maynard also made the transition from Big Bands to Jazz-Rock Fusion, and had a top 40 hit with "Gonna Fly Now" from the Rocky movie, which became a staple at his live shows thereafter.

***A Message From Newport (1958) signed by Maynard, Slide Hampton***

Back in the late 1980s, Maynard was playing a week long gig at Blue Alley in Washington, DC. On Sunday night, my friend Danny Callahan called me and told me to get to the club right away. "I've been talking to Maynard about you and all your records. He wants to meet you. And Larry's cousin is his bass player. You gotta come now." I told Danny that I've been hitting it hard all week, and I gotta get up early for work, so I'm out. Danny says, "I'm bringing them back to your house after the show." I hang up. No shot they're coming, I went to bed.

***Jazz For Dancing (1959) signed by Maynard, Slide Hampton***

Sure enough, 'round midnight, I get a knock on my door. The door opens: there stand Danny, Larry, and Larry's cousin the bass player. ‘Where's Maynard?’ I ask. " You know I worked him as hard as I could,” Danny tells me. I believed him. Danny was as persuasive a salesman as I have ever met. Maynard told Danny, "You know, I like you a lot and you're a lot of fun. But we've been on tour for a long time and this is the last night. As soon as this show ends, I have a car taking me to the airport and I'm going back home to California. So I don't give a fuck about your friend's pissant record collection."

***So! Si, M.F. (1962) signed by Maynard, Slide Hampton***

Fortunately, Larry's cousin the bass player was more enthusiastic. In those days, my bar was always open and we drank and played records till the wee hours. I remember playing Duke Ellington and Ray Brown's extraordinary "This One's For Blanton", the only duet album Duke ever recorded. It was a tribute to his bassist, Jimmy Blanton who died at age 23 in 1942 from TB. Blanton, hugely influential, was the first jazz bassist to perform bass solos. Ray Brown was the perfect musician to complement Duke's inspired playing. Larry's cousin the bass player was very impressed, and there were many other records we played that night that Larry's cousin the bass player had never heard before.

***This One’s For Blanton (1972) signed by Ray Brown***

Years later, I saw Maynard at the Blue Note in New York City. He was very kind as he signed a bunch of albums. He had a steady stream of visitors come by to pay homage, former colleagues and great jazz players like Slide Hampton, Jonah Jones, and Jimmy Owens. Maynard was still able to hit all the high notes, and the Rocky theme never sounded so good.