Customer Rating: 
Summary: An essential chapter in Maynard's career
Comment: In the mid-1950s, after leaving the Stan Kenton band, Maynard set out to prove that he was a jazz player as well as a powerful high-note player. He started out by doing some jam session recordings and by the end of the decade was winning jazz polls and leading one of the best big bands in the business. This octet recording from 1955 is somewhere in between - it has the feeling of a jam session but with the tightly performed and well-written arrangements (by Bill Holman) that were characteristic of his later big band.
In addition to Maynard on trumpet and valve trombone, the all-star roster includes Conte Candoli (trumpet), Milt Bernhart (trombone), Herb Geller (alto sax), Georgie Auld (tenor sax), Bob Gordon (baritone sax), Ian Bernhard (piano), Red Callendar (bass), and Shelly Manne (drums). Those who are familiar with west coast jazz of this era will notice that Maynard called on a few of his old Kenton band colleagues to join him on this session.
The great solos on these eight tracks are fun to listen to, and you may be tempted to play along. The price is reasonable, so I recommend adding it to your Maynard collection.
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