Chameleon (Maynard Ferguson album)

Chameleon
Studio album by
Maynard Ferguson
Released1974
RecordedApril 1–4, 1974
GenreJazz
Length40:16
LabelColumbia
ProducerTeo Macero
Maynard Ferguson chronology
M.F. Horn 4&5: Live At Jimmy's
(1974) 		Chameleon
(1974) 		Primal Scream
(1976)

Chameleon is a 1974 big band jazz album by Canadian jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson. It features cover versions of many songs that were popular in the years leading up to its production, including: "Jet" by Paul McCartney and Wings, "The Way We Were" – which was popularized by Barbra Streisand, and "Livin' for the City" by Stevie Wonder.[1] He also pays tribute to trumpeter Bunny Berigan with his own take on "I Can't Get Started".

Reviews

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings[3]

Writing for the All Music Guide to Jazz, Scott Yanow said of the album that "His version of Herbie Hancock's "Chameleon" is enjoyable, and he does a good job on Chick Corea's "La Fiesta".[4]

Reissues

Chameleon was reissued on CD by Sony on July 1, 2003 in the U.S. with the album "Conquistador" paired with it as a double re-release and contains remastered sound as well as an extended essay within the 12-page liner booklet.[5]

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Chameleon"Paul Jackson, Harvey Mason, Bennie Maupin, Herbie Hancock4:35
2."Gospel John"Jeffrey Steinberg6:02
3."The Way We Were"Marvin Hamlisch, Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman3:25
4."Jet"Paul McCartney3:55
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."La Fiesta"Chick Corea8:04
2."I Can't Get Started" (vocals by Maynard Ferguson)Ira Gershwin, Vernon Duke3:42
3."Livin' for the City"Stevie Wonder4:55
4."Superbone Meets the Bad Man"Jay Chattaway5:08

Musicians

  • Maynard Ferguson – Leader, trumpet, baritone horn, superbone and vocal.
  • Stan Mark, Dennis Noday, Lynn Nicholson, Bob Summers – trumpets, flugelhorn, Latin American instruments
  • Randy Purcell, Jerry Johnson – trombones
  • Andy Mackintosh – alto sax, flute, soprano, cowbell
  • Brian Smith – tenor sax, flute, tambourine
  • Bruce Johnstone – baritone sax, flute, vibraslap
  • Rick Petrone – bass
  • Allan Zavod – piano, electric piano
  • Dan D'Imperio - drums
  • Joe Beck - guitar
  • Jerry Johnson - trombone, played all bass trombone parts using "false-pedaltones" on a 2B, arranged La Fiesta [citation needed]

Production

  • Teo Macero –Producer
  • Stan Tonkel –Recording Engineer
  • John Guerriere, Tim Geelan –Re-Mix Engineers
  • Jack Ashkinazy –Mastering Engineer
  • Karenlee Grant –Cover Design
  • Frank Laffitte –Cover photographs
  • Ernie Garside –Sleeve notes, contracting-co-ordination

References

  1. ^ Columbia LP KC-33007, 1974
  2. ^ AllMusic review
  3. ^ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 483. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
  4. ^ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide to Jazz, ISBN 0-87930-530-4
  5. ^ Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide



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