Customer Reviews

Conquistador

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There are many trumpet players in the history of jazz. Only a hand few of those could reach such high notes. Maynard Ferguson ruled them all! Some people I know don't like his high pitched, loud, but rather impressive trumpet playing. But as for me, I love hearing Maynard show his chops. This man was capable of anything!

This album, probaly Maynard's most famous album of his 1970's funk/jazz days. One of my favorites on this disk is, Conquistador. This spanish tinged tune starts off with parade drums and mellow trumpet playing. The tune soon takes off and Maynard blows right on.

Soar Like An Eagle is pretty funky. Maynard's band was perfect on this recording. A pretty impressive tune that follows is The Fly, which was written by Ferguson himself. It's fast paced and hosts magnificent trumpet playing.

The tune that opens up the album is a movie theme from Rocky, (you're gonna fly now) Not the best tune on the album, but rather fun to hear Maynard do. Soar Like An Eagle is a mellow tune that reminds of some things Chuck Mangione was doing, another one of my favorite trumpet players.

The last track, is with Rocky, the theme from Star Treck. It has some awesome flute solo by now Dave Brubeck's saxophonist, Bobby Militello.

IF you dig 1970's fusion/funk/jazz, like I do, than this album will probaly be a pleasent listen for you. I put it on to have some listening pleasure, because usually I prefer to listen mostly to newer jazz records to not get lost in the past, but this album is tremendous!

Conquistador is only one of his many albums that are all good. The album features a lot of top named talent on every track, which helped to make ths album a smash hit . From the smooth guitar of George Benson to the keyboard of Bob James along with others , and to THE MAN himself with his stratospheric trumphet, this effort will leave any jazz-cat in awe with appreciation!

This album was a favorite of my fathers. His jazz collection was second to none. Many Saturday mornings this and other jazz albums would be playing in our living room. I call this "inclusive " because even at an early age I knew that this was great music and great music has no boundaries. I gave it only 4 stars because the album is way to short.

Maynard Ferguson
Conquistador
Original Release: 1977

1. Gonna Fly Now (4:22)
2. Mister Mellow (6:33)
3. Theme From Star Trek (4:30)
4. Conquistador (7:34)
5. Soar Like An Eagle (6:27)
6. The Fly (6:17)

Distributed by Columbia Records
CK 34457

Maynard Ferguson is without a doubt a great trumpet player, a great band leader, and a wonderful judge of talent as evidenced by his ability to surround himself with some of the best jazz musicians in the world. What he lacked during the 1970's was a clear vision of what he wanted to be. Just when he had built a strong momentum with M.F Horn 4 & 5 - Live at Jimmy's and Chameleon he takes a left turn into "Primal Scream" and then this collection. "Conquistador" shows Maynard at his indecisive best (or worst). A great version of Theme from Rocky (which actually got a lot of air-play on top 40 radio) is then followed by a trite ditty called Mister Mellow. There's even lyrics ("Mister Mellow, Mister Meeellllooow"). Star Trek is OK if only to hear the awesome flute of Bobby Militelo(?). The title song is hauntingly good, but was MUCH better when heard live in concert, and The Fly isn't too bad as a device to let Mark Colby out to wow you on sax. The biggest problem this album had was the success it had due to Rocky. For the next three or so albums Maynard tried to duplicate that success using other movie themes (Star Wars, Rocky II, and a quick re-release of Star Trek when they started making movies of it again). It wasn't until after the albums "Festival" and "Hot" that he started to retrace his routes and get back to just playing the music he liked. This isn't a bad collection, it's just not where I would recommend you start if looking for your first Maynard CD.

It reminds me of when I played a gig with him in El Paso in the 1980's.

I am getting so old it just isn't funny. I remember being in an embrace with my girlfriend in high school one night when a track from this album came over the FM station and she was upset that I was paying more attention to Maynard than to her! Tough choice, truthfully: Her lips or Maynard's? Conquistador had only been out for a few months. Mixed bag on this one, truthfully. I thought that the arrangement for the Star Trek theme was lame. Why not include the classic Enterprise fanfare within... you know, the music we heard every time the ship flew by? It was, afterall, part of the Star Trek theme.
Best without a doubt was theme from Rocky and title track "Conquistador". Maynard's lung power on "Conquistador" opening solo was just incredible! Theme from Rocky brought him so much recognition that in concert he would have to remind the audience that his friend Bill Conti composed it! Those two alone are worth the price of the CD. I would describe Maynard's "Gonna' Fly Now" as supercharged from start to finish.
I'll admit I am biased when it comes to Maynard's work, if only because he gave us so much great stuff for so many year and I played so many of his albums to death. He had his share of clunker tracks, to be sure, but overall he would be a valuable addition to your jazz music collection, with the caveat being that his '70s and early '80s releases were Maynard trying to adapt to mainstream--i.e. "disco"--to satisfy his studio to sell more albums. I think Maynard won out in the end, however. You be the judge, and welcome to the Wonderful World of Maynard Ferguson!!!

i love conquistador!i bought this album 31 years ago in college.the sound is very good on cd and i will purchase more Maynard Ferguson music soon.

The best maynard ferguson cd ever cause it shows maynard at perfection the musicians playing on this album are simply extraordinaire, The quality of sound on the cd are the best. After his death in 2006, Maynard left behind a piece of legacy for generations to come. Thank you maynard