Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, I currently reside in Central Florida. I received my Bachelor of Music degree form the University of North Texas, where I was a member of the internationally renowned One O'clock Lab Band. Aside from performing full-time at Walt Disney World, I play lead trombone with The Sam Rivers RivBea Orchestra, The Chuck Owen Jazz Surge Big Band, and perform with Latin Artist Tito Nieves. I have been a member of The Maynard Ferguson Big Bop Nouveau Band, The Woody Herman Orchestra, and The Harry Connick, Jr. Big Band; and have performed at numerous jazz festivals throughout the United States, Japan, and Europe. I play Warburton Mouthpieces and King Trombones exclusively, in addition to being an artist-clinician for the Conn-Selmer Company. On a side note, I have been training in the Japanese martial art of Aikido for more than 12 years, and hold a black belt rank.
JAZZ FESTIVALS PERFORMED: Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland- Dallas Jazz Orchestra
Weisen Jazz Festival, Vienna, Austria- Maynard Ferguson
North Sea Jazz Festival, The Hague, Holland- Maynard Ferguson
Imatra Jazz Festival, Imatra, Finland- Maynard Ferguson
Wigan Jazz Festival, Wigan, England- Maynard Ferguson
Quebec City Jazz Festival, Quebec City, Ontario, Canada- Maynard Ferguson
Montreal Jazz Festival, Montreal, Ontario, Canada- Maynard Ferguson
Villanova Jazz Festival, Villanova, PA- Maynard Ferguson
Milwaukee Summer Festival, Milwaukee, WI- Maynard Ferguson
New River Jazz Festival, Fort Lauderdale, FL- Maynard Ferguson
Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Jacksonville, FL- Maynard Ferguson
Okayama Music Festival, Okayama, Japan- Future Corps
Terrassa Jazz Festival, Terrassa, Spain- Woody Herman Orchestra
Hoor Jazz Festival, Hoor, Sweden- Woody Herman Orchestra
Rochester International Jazz Festival, Rochester, NY- Woody Herman Orchestra
Stockholm Jazz Festival, Stockholm, Sweden- Woody Herman Orchestra
Linkoping Jazz & Blues Festival, Linkoping, Sweden- Woody Herman Orchestra
Mellon Jazz Festival, Philadelphia, PA- Harry Connick Jr. Big Band
Clearwater Jazz Festival, Clearwater, FL- Chuck Owen Jazz Surge
Matosinhos Jazz Festival, Matosinhos, Portugal- Sam Rivers Rivbea Orchestra
Vision Festival XI, New York City, NY- Sam Rivers Rivbea Orchestra
SOME ARTISTS AND BANDS I HAVE PERFORMED WITH AND/OR BEEN A MEMBER OF:
MY THOUGHTS ON MAYNARD FERGUSON:
I started playing the trombone in 1976, when I was 10 years old. Sometime during the following year, an older friend of mine gave me a vinyl record LP called "Conquistador". On the back cover, there was a happy, wild-haired, smiling guy holding the trumpet. His name was a bit strange. The name Ferguson was not odd to me, but his given name of Maynard was. All I did that particular Saturday was listen to that album over, and over, and over. I remember my mother telling me to take a break to come to the dinner table. I was hooked. I suppose I could be a lead trumpet player at heart. Why else when I played 'jazz band' with my stuffed animals, would I put my favorite Snoopy on lead trumpet, and not lead trombone? Hmmm....I would put records on, and my 'animal band' would have rehearsals, or give concerts.
I was very fortunate to grow up in the Bay Area of Northern California. It seemed like Maynard's band came through more than a few times a year. I was also blessed and still am, with the most supportive parents. Even at that early age, my folks understood my passion for music, and especially for Maynard. Anytime he and his band were playing within a 3 hour drive, my parents took me to see him. On some afternoons, it was homework in the car to the concert, and sleeping on the back seat on the way home. Of course I joined the MF Fan Club, and received the newsletters, discography, and tour schedule. Like most MF fans, it was the start of a quest to see just how many Maynard albums I could find. An interesting note: My best friend growing up is Airmen of Note trumpet player Rich Sigler. He has been in the Note for 18 years! We would spend the entire weekend at one of our homes, staying up all night listening to Maynard albums, and playing Atari. We went to high school together, and were room mates in college. Frank Greene grew up in the area, but because he was a few years older than Rich and I, we only heard of him, and didn't meet him until we went to college. I probably saw the Boss and his band more than 40 times before I got on the band.
I attended the University of North Texas. As you know, there are many MF alumnus from NT. During my tenure there, I went to school and played with: Frank Greene, Craig Johnson, Chris Brown, Nathan Berg, Glenn Kostur, Steve Wiest(he was my arranging TA), Joe Jackson, and Jim White. I am sure I am forgetting many others. I was working on my Master's Degree when I got the call. I joined the band and was reunited with Chris Brown, Nathan Berg, Craig Johnson, and Glenn Kostur. It was truly a phenomenal experience. Another interesting note: I never got to meet Maynard any of the 40+ times seeing him in concert. I just never tried. I never stayed around long enough after the show to see him. Had I known how easy it was, and how nice he was to stay after most shows to meet and greet his fans, I would have done so for sure.
It was early in 1990 when I joined the band. Chris Brown and I joined up at the same time. We spent a few days in Ojai, CA. rehearsing at the local Women's Club. I remember the first time meeting Boss. The band was set up in a big 'U' and we had our music on 6 foot long banquet tables. We were playing "A Night in Tunisia" when Maynard walked in. We made eye contact, and I pretty much crapped my pants. All these years, and now we were in the same room! After hearing the tune, he came up to me, told me I sounded great, and we shook hands. He welcomed me into the band, and chuckled with his infectious laugh. He did the same with Chris. Interesting note #3: It was weird to me to see Maynard driving a car. I was so used to seeing him being chauffeured around or riding on a bus. It was actually funny to me to see him driving up in a Chrysler New Yorker.
I went with him once to the dry cleaners to pick up some clothes. He told me a funny story about the lady who worked there. She knew he played the trumpet, but she had no idea how famous he was. He told me she always talked about Doc Severinsen, and how wonderful he was. She thought Doc was the best, and Maynard agreed of course. She asked Maynard if he knew Doc, and he humbly replied yes. Well, according to Boss, she asked him if he could get an autographed picture of Doc for her!! Of course he delivered!
The above is a perfect example of what an incredible human being Maynard was. We all know what he meant to us, musically. His contribution to Jazz, the trumpet, big bands, and music education were tremendous. He is in my opinion, the greatest brass player of the 20th Century, and beyond. Even more than his music, it was his love for others, his caring, his compassion, his giving, his love of Life that was the most wonderful. It goes without saying that getting to be on his stage with him was the greatest honor. Never did a night go by where I didn't pinch myself during "Blue Birdland", when he was announced to the stage. I truly got to live a lifelong dream.
One more story about Maynard the person. The band flew out for a really short tour, maybe only 4 days. We met in Phoenix, then we went on to Las Vegas. I don't think we even had the bus for this one. Anyway...because of the short tour, Maynard's valet didn't fly out. I volunteered to help out Ed with taking care of Boss. When we arrived at the Aladdin Hotel, I remember helping Maynard up to his room with his bags. Interesting note #4: We stopped in the lobby to hear Carl Fontana! All the way up to his room, I noticed a cool leather luggage tag on one of his MANY suitcases. It was em bossed with the MF Logo, and his silhouette. When we got to his room, I commented on how cool it was. We made small talk about it, and that was it. Now check this out...Later that night, when I got on stage, that MF luggage tag was on my stand.
In my early years with him, my bunk was right across from his. Because of our close proximity, we had many memorable talks. Just the two of us. Sometimes a hand would come through my privacy curtain, and he would offer me some of what he was eating. I carry with me the look on his face when I crawled out of my bunk after a long hit and run. Never did a sad sigh come out of his mouth...even when he was tired, sick, or sick and tired. He would just lick his lips, and nod to me, while putting on his shoes.
It seems totally surreal to have him gone from this Earth. I cannot imagine life without him, yet we are all forced to. It is truly a loss of a family member. I am blessed to have had the honor, privilege, and extreme pleasure of having a life that included Maynard Ferguson.
To Maynard and Ed Sargent, my Big Daddy: Thank you so much for having me. My words cannot express how much I appreciate all that you have given me in life. I have been blessed beyond my wildest dreams.