monetteB4L wrote:
Many of the alumni who post on this forum are from varried points of Maynard's long and fruitful career. I am sure that many of you have been with Maynard during some of his best and not so best moments in front of the microphone. Have any of the alumni out there ever been with the man one night (or several) in which he just played so amazingly well that he even rivaled some of his greatest and most creative moments from his recordings of the 50s and 60s? I have heard some of the best (and I mean BEST) and some rough nights of the Boss during his final decade or so with us on the planet, but sadly I was born too late to really know what the man was all about in his truest prime and element. Who would like to shed some light on some of the greatest nights they remember while with the Boss on the road? Like others, I always seem to get a small high from reading stories about our favorite trumpeter.

John P.
The first time I ever saw Maynard was at the New Haven Coliseum in CT. It was a 'three' big band concert. Thad Jones/Mel Lewis band, the Stan Kenton band, and last was Maynards band. It was right after MF Horn two was recorded. I'd mentioned this particular concert to Ernie Garside, and to Maynard. They both remembered it well but had two completely different recollections of the day. I was told by my first trumpet teacher that this was the first concert Maynard did back in the USA, after forming the new band. In retrospect I think that was my favorite MF show ever ... the first one I ever saw, and my introduction to big band jazz.

Michael Manthey - Trumpet/valet 2006