Omnivore Records continue their MAYNARD FERGUSON reissue programme with two albums from the explosive trumpeter’s back catalogue… 1986’s ‘Body And Soul’ and ‘Big Bop Nouveau’ from 1989.
Ferguson himself always considered ‘Body And Soul’ one of his best albums because the band he used was what he called “really fresh” and of a slightly different formation to his previous ensembles. Out went some of the brass to be replaced with more guitars and more percussion. The album was a mix of original material alongside the jazz standard title track.
This reissue adds three bonus cuts to the original album…. three previously unissued tunes from the album sessions – while the sleeve notes include contributions from band members Denis DiBasio and Steve Wiest.
Three years after the success of ‘Body And Soul’, Ferguson issued ‘Big Bop Nouveau’ which he conceived as the album to celebrate his 60th birthday. The long player is a seven tracker with five of the cuts presented as live recordings. They include an epic ‘Maynard Ferguson Hit Medley’. The 12 minute track offers a mash of ‘Chameleon, ‘MacArthur Park’, ‘Frame For The Blues’, ‘Maria’ and the ever-wonderful ‘Birdland’.
This new reissue has the bonus of the previously unissued ‘Compared To You’ which features a growling vocal from Luther Kent.
