M.F. (X-Posted from OD)
I think I can remember the first time I heard Maynard Ferguson -- yeah, it was his rendition of "Sesame Street." I remember sitting there, in my high school's band room, mouth agape, trying to figure out how in the hell someone could play THAT note on trumpet, THAT loud! Obviously, intrigued, I downloaded a bunch of Maynard songs off of Napster (this was almost two years ago), and it all went "up" (in range, of course), from there.
When I walked into the UM band office the other day, I picked up a flyer that said, "Maynard Ferguson, In Concert, February 4, 2002 @ 7:30 PM. G. Holmes Braddock High School Auditorium, 3601 SW 147th Avenue, Miami, FL." I couldn't believe my eyes, figured it had to be some kind of scam, but called the information number anyway! "Really? Maynard Ferguson is coming to Miami? Yes, and the tickets are how much? ONLY $15? OH MY GOD." Told my mom about the concert and she got the evening off..
So tonight, I found myself listening to one of the most amazing jazz trumpet players to ever walk on this green earth. I sat about four rows from the front, wondering, "How is it possible for a band to be THAT tight? . . . Is he REALLY playing that? . . . Can he possibly play ANY louder?" I could hardly sit still! Anyway, mid-concert, Maynard says, "So, you guys came here to hear the best trumpet player on earth, right?" And of course, the crowd goes nuts.. and then Maynard says, "Well, here he is!! Mr. Arturo Sandoval!!" Okay, okay.. I'd seen Arturo walk in, but I hadn't DREAMED that he would actually play.
So tonight, I found myself listening to TWO of the most amazing trumpet players to ever walk on this green earth. With Maynard's volume, Arturo's technique and range, I nearly thought I was dreaming. They were absolute MONSTERS!! And Jeff Rupert on tenor (I've seen him before.. when I played at IAJE, he played in the big band there)? I really must have been dreaming.. well, no, I wasn't.. because my ears still hurt! :)
Well, so my mom decides to be nice to me, and after the concert, gets me the souvenir Maynard T-Shirt to help me really remember the most phenomenal concert of my life! And if the concert (and the T-shirt, of course) weren't enough to send me through the floor.. or ceiling (whichever you prefer), afterward, my mom and I decided to go have dinner at a little Cuban restaurant, "La Carreta." As we're placing our orders, my mom says, "Um, Lila.. you won't believe who just walked in." So, of course, being me, I turn around. Who's there, you ask? Well, none other than Maynard himself, WITH Arturo and wife!
Big deal, you say? Nonono. You don't understand! Arturo Sandoval and Maynard Ferguson, playing on stage, TOGETHER, and then seeing them in the restaurant where I'm having dinner just an hour later? Nonono, you still don't understand! Okay. So I can't really describe it yet, as I haven't collected myself, but I know that my stomach turned as I approached their table, sheepishly holding that same flyer that I saw in the band office just a few evenings before, hoping that I wouldn't burden them or disturb them by asking for them to sign. I stand by the table, waiting for someone to acknowledge me, when Arturo looks up, "Eh, man, Maynard, she's wearin' jur chirt, guy!" (I'd already put the shirt on) It just went from there -- I told them how I'm a student at UM (Arturo seemed to think it was DEFINITELY one of the best jazz schools in the country.. now if only I were a music/jazz major), that I play the saxophone (told Maynard I've heard his sax playing, too, and he said, "oh no, poor dear."), that I've seen Arturo live several times but it was my first time seeing Maynard and that they were just awesome. I really don't even remember what else I said.. but finally Maynard noticed that I was wearing his shirt and he smiled his biggoofysmile. If only I'd have had a camera.. dammit. I should have learned to carry a camera around everywhere like a certain someone that I met just a few months back.. I could've remembered that moment, exactly as it looked, for as long as I live. Now it's just a sketchy mental picture that will soon fade.. probably just as my excitement will.
But I met Nestor Torres again yesterday, Ed Calle the night before.. and now, tonight.. I met "M.F.".. nono, what are you thinking? M.F. stands for Maynard Ferguson, of course. And I also met Arturo Sandoval. I have the flyer to prove it.. as well as the inspiration that will go with me for awhile (hopefully, longer than I expect it will). They both praise eachother for being the "best trumpet player in the world," calling one another "the boss" or "the chief," but they're both gods of their instrument, and I'm so very glad that I wandered up into the band office last week, or I would've missed tonight.. would've missed meeting them perchance in "La Carreta," after just whining about how I didn't get either of them to sign my flyer. Maybe this is the hint.. I'm meeting all of these musicians for a reason, right?
Hard to explain the magic I experienced tonight. I think you would have had to have been there, but for me to say is was truly the most amazing concert I've ever been to means something.
When I walked into the UM band office the other day, I picked up a flyer that said, "Maynard Ferguson, In Concert, February 4, 2002 @ 7:30 PM. G. Holmes Braddock High School Auditorium, 3601 SW 147th Avenue, Miami, FL." I couldn't believe my eyes, figured it had to be some kind of scam, but called the information number anyway! "Really? Maynard Ferguson is coming to Miami? Yes, and the tickets are how much? ONLY $15? OH MY GOD." Told my mom about the concert and she got the evening off..
So tonight, I found myself listening to one of the most amazing jazz trumpet players to ever walk on this green earth. I sat about four rows from the front, wondering, "How is it possible for a band to be THAT tight? . . . Is he REALLY playing that? . . . Can he possibly play ANY louder?" I could hardly sit still! Anyway, mid-concert, Maynard says, "So, you guys came here to hear the best trumpet player on earth, right?" And of course, the crowd goes nuts.. and then Maynard says, "Well, here he is!! Mr. Arturo Sandoval!!" Okay, okay.. I'd seen Arturo walk in, but I hadn't DREAMED that he would actually play.
So tonight, I found myself listening to TWO of the most amazing trumpet players to ever walk on this green earth. With Maynard's volume, Arturo's technique and range, I nearly thought I was dreaming. They were absolute MONSTERS!! And Jeff Rupert on tenor (I've seen him before.. when I played at IAJE, he played in the big band there)? I really must have been dreaming.. well, no, I wasn't.. because my ears still hurt! :)
Well, so my mom decides to be nice to me, and after the concert, gets me the souvenir Maynard T-Shirt to help me really remember the most phenomenal concert of my life! And if the concert (and the T-shirt, of course) weren't enough to send me through the floor.. or ceiling (whichever you prefer), afterward, my mom and I decided to go have dinner at a little Cuban restaurant, "La Carreta." As we're placing our orders, my mom says, "Um, Lila.. you won't believe who just walked in." So, of course, being me, I turn around. Who's there, you ask? Well, none other than Maynard himself, WITH Arturo and wife!
Big deal, you say? Nonono. You don't understand! Arturo Sandoval and Maynard Ferguson, playing on stage, TOGETHER, and then seeing them in the restaurant where I'm having dinner just an hour later? Nonono, you still don't understand! Okay. So I can't really describe it yet, as I haven't collected myself, but I know that my stomach turned as I approached their table, sheepishly holding that same flyer that I saw in the band office just a few evenings before, hoping that I wouldn't burden them or disturb them by asking for them to sign. I stand by the table, waiting for someone to acknowledge me, when Arturo looks up, "Eh, man, Maynard, she's wearin' jur chirt, guy!" (I'd already put the shirt on) It just went from there -- I told them how I'm a student at UM (Arturo seemed to think it was DEFINITELY one of the best jazz schools in the country.. now if only I were a music/jazz major), that I play the saxophone (told Maynard I've heard his sax playing, too, and he said, "oh no, poor dear."), that I've seen Arturo live several times but it was my first time seeing Maynard and that they were just awesome. I really don't even remember what else I said.. but finally Maynard noticed that I was wearing his shirt and he smiled his biggoofysmile. If only I'd have had a camera.. dammit. I should have learned to carry a camera around everywhere like a certain someone that I met just a few months back.. I could've remembered that moment, exactly as it looked, for as long as I live. Now it's just a sketchy mental picture that will soon fade.. probably just as my excitement will.
But I met Nestor Torres again yesterday, Ed Calle the night before.. and now, tonight.. I met "M.F.".. nono, what are you thinking? M.F. stands for Maynard Ferguson, of course. And I also met Arturo Sandoval. I have the flyer to prove it.. as well as the inspiration that will go with me for awhile (hopefully, longer than I expect it will). They both praise eachother for being the "best trumpet player in the world," calling one another "the boss" or "the chief," but they're both gods of their instrument, and I'm so very glad that I wandered up into the band office last week, or I would've missed tonight.. would've missed meeting them perchance in "La Carreta," after just whining about how I didn't get either of them to sign my flyer. Maybe this is the hint.. I'm meeting all of these musicians for a reason, right?
Hard to explain the magic I experienced tonight. I think you would have had to have been there, but for me to say is was truly the most amazing concert I've ever been to means something.