Customer Reviews

M.F. Horn

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's about time this album appeared on CD; thanks to Wounded Bird for making it happen. A great CD with Maynard's all British Band paving the way for his big comeback in the USA. Great arrangements including a beautiful ballad penned by the always underrated Kenny Wheeler. The whole album shines.

MacArther Park and L-Dopa were Maynard classics that he played for years and the band really opens up both for unique interludes and solos.

Special mention should go to the big band SOUND of this album. Maynard is beginning to Rock Out! Much bigger and more impressive than Maynard's small bands from the early 60s. Even in vinyl form this was an excellently engineered album. One of the best recorded big bands ever!

BILL

I grew up on this album, and learned what jazz big band sounded like from it.

It was only later I realized that a.) these are really great arrangements and b.) Peter King (alto sax) is a revelation. This is best Peter King I've heard yet on record -- an amazing lead alto and saxophone solo sound. (and you thought everyone was listening to the lead trumpet)

The recorded sound is what it is, and not ideal.

Now, when is MF Horn II coming out?

Unlike some of the MF releases in the 70's, this one has all great cuts including the original classic MF treatment of MacArthur Park.

Eli's Comin' is a fire-filled chart as well.

The only thing that degrades this one is the terrible recording techniques used at the time in the studio making MF and the band soundlike they were 50 yards away from the mics at times.

Despite that, a definite recommendation.

Maynard Ferguson passed away just a few days ago. A sad day for jazz, he was probably one of the last of the old jazz greats. I'm so glad that I was able to take the family to see him live - front row center, it was a great experience. When I was in high school in the 70s he and his band played at our auditorium, our high school jazz band opened for him. Prior to the show he and his band sat in with us for our rehearsal and it was one of those experiences I'll never forgot. He was not only a great musician, he was a very fine person.

I've been looking for this album on CD for years. On hearing the news I pulled out some of my old albums for a listen. MF Horn has always been a real favorite. I've about worn it out. Today I thought I'd check again and it's available! I will be buying it. So should you.

It has a mood to it that always leaves me feeling real good. The musicianship is great across the board. The various pieces all work together. There's no need to explain the particulars of each song. This is simply a great, great recording. Get this, get it now.

I just hope CDs don't wear out because I'll be playing this one a lot.

I've been waiting for MF Horm 1 and MF Horn 2 to come out for more than a decade now.

Trust me, these two albums define MF. Eli's Comin' is the track you'll loop for hours without ever getting sick of it. Keep an eye out for MF Horn 2, specifically the "Give It One" track.

Get this almub -- you won't regret it!

This album was my introduction to Maynard. As a high school trumpet player this LP simply blew my mind. I have given up trumpet playing but not my love for Maynard and his music. His albums dominate my record collection. Bravo to Wounded Bird for putting this on CD. I am waiting for rest of the MF horn series to come out on CD. This album rocks as does the whole MF series.

If you like screaming trumpet this album is the one.

Ballad to Max has to be one of, if not the most, beautiful thing Maynard Ferguson has ever recorded. His Flugelhorn is flawless and absolutely "liquid". The rest of the album is straight ahead for the times when this was made over in Europe, but the Ballad (mentioned) is easily worth the price of the album if ever you put a horn to your mouth. This is the ultimate phrasing and one of a kind sound. Others play just as high, but not just as well nor as musical as Maynard does up there. At an age approaching 80, his double high C is still as big as a Buick. He remains, after these six plus decades, entirely in a class by himself.

This long-awaited CD re-release of M.F. Horn is a must-have for anyone interested in Maynard Ferguson. The Boss and his band sizzle. The sound quality of the CD is excellent. My thanks to Wounded Bird for making this re-release happen.

Classic MF album of Maynard and band in their early 1970's prime before over-commercialized packaging later in the decade. Why they took so long to re-release this album is a mystery. "Eli's Comin'" and "MacArthur Park" are classic trumpet screamer numbers worth the price of admission. CD audio is a clean transfer with decent punch, showing Maynard at his stratospheric best.

Anyone who grew up with the sounds of Maynard doesn't need to read these reviews. MF Horn is awsome. Several years ago I bought a high end album-to-digital-CD converter just to hear these tunes again, but since I listened to them so often back in the days, the conversions carry the scratches of the vinyl medium. Cant wait for MF II, and (can we hope) live a Jimmy's???