Customer Reviews

Band Ain't Draggin

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Collectors of recordings from Maynard's early years, some of the most unique trumpet playing in the history of jazz, are confronted with choices between CD collections that have overlapping selections. If you have the recent release "Wow! The Formative Years" (which has 24 tracks) then you don't need to pick up this one (which overlaps "Wow!" with 11 of its 18 tracks). Nonetheless, there is some excellent material here and the audio quality is great.
Tracks 11 to 18 are from a 1954 octet session featuring Willie Maiden arrangements that showcase a tight ensemble sound and impressive solos from Maynard and his sidemen. Track 4, a 1950 recording of "Take the A Train", is a different arrangement than the one Maynard recorded in 1964, and this one is not to be missed. Maynard's solo convincingly demonstrates his prowess both as a jazz player and a master of the upper register. Track 6, a 1951 rendition of "The Hot Canary", is a novelty that belongs in every MF collection - his version of a tune intended for violin.
Less remarkable is the title track, which has Maynard singing with gang vocal backup. His trumpet solo has ample high-register screaming, but doesn't make up for the mediocrity of the rest of the track. Also unremarkable are the four vocal tracks featuring Maynard's then-wife Kay Brown. Maynard solos - briefly - on only one of these tracks.
Overall, this is a very good collection with at least 13 tracks that are keepers, giving it an iPod worthiness rating of over 70 percent.