I’m Old Fashioned
I originally wrote this arrangement for the great Maynard Ferguson and his early 21st Century Big Bop Nouveau lineup:
Maynard Ferguson (trumpet)
Ernie Hammes, Peter Ferguson, Patrick Hession (trumpets)
Reggie Watkins (trombone)
Denis DiBlasio, Julio Monterrey, Matt Parker (saxophones)
Jeff Lashaway (piano), Craig Butterfield (bass), Stockton Helbing (drums)
MF Horn IV: Live at Ronnie’s was recorded live in the storied Ronnie Scott’s club in London.
It was always such a treat to hear Boss and his band play this chart! So much so, in fact, thst after Maynard passed in 2006, I expanded it and tweaked it a bit for full large jazz ensemble so tht I could play it for guest artist appearances. I’ve used that adapted version for Maynard Ferguson tribute shows and also recorded it with Art Bouton’s wonderful ensemble, the Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra on their album Invitation.
On the CJRO version, you get to her the opening cadenza performed by one of my all-time favorite pianists Eric Gunnison, as well as the gret lead playing of Greg “Gizzy” Gisbert, nd the perfect drumming of Mike Marlier. Here is the entire lineup from tht CJRO refording:
Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra
Directed by: Art Bouton
Greg Gisbert – Trumpet
Jake Boldman – Trumpet
Al Hood – Trumpet
Dawn Kramer – Trumpet
Art Bouton – Sax
Sam Williams – Sax
Eric Erhardt – Sax
Tom Myer – Sax
Wil Swindler – Sax
Steve Wiest – Trombone
Paul McKee – Trombone
Scott Bean – Trombone
Greg Harper – Trombone
Eric Gunnison – Piano
Mike Abbott – Guitar
Bijoux Barbosa – Bass
Mike Marlier – Drums
Heidi Schmidt – Vocals
An interesting anecdote from when I was epanding the chart for full modern large jazz ensemble: At the time, the great Slide Hampton was still with us and a constant mentor of mine who I spoke with quite a bit. I realized while orchestrating the double shout chorus that I was moving from homage territory uncomfortably into plagiarizing land as I was SO inspired by Slide’s chart “Frame for the Blues.” (as an aside, I have loved this chart for YEARS and it has shown up in MUCH of my writing. In fact, I’m hoping to have Slide’s double shout chorus on “Frame” playing when I arrive in the afterlife!)
