[And was Sass and Brass out of his comfort zone or the Arsenio show or the others?]

Absolutely. Maynard was absolutely not comfortable on "Sass and Brass" and the Arsenio show and Late Night, and the Big Band Bash night thingy with Paul Schaffer - he was not comfortable at all at those events. It is easy to see how uncomfortable he was, and his playing often suffered, as well.

Certainly players, throughout their careers, make a lot of guest appearances at gigs where they are "backed" by bands unfamiliar to them. Maynard was much more comfortable EARLY in his career accepting those type of gigs, but once he hit-his-stride, so-to-speak, with his over-the-top powerful and contemporary big band, it became painfully evident gigs outside his comfort zone were work, not fun. In fact, he stated to me in person he really disliked that whole Paul Schaffer all-star band gig. Waited around for hours for his short number, and then had to play really HARD. He did not enjoy that gig at all, he told me.

He certainly put on a great show - for instance, on Sass & Brass - but he wasn't himself on that show and he was overcompensating... In fact, I simply can't watch that tape because Maynard is working way too hard to "fit in." Fact is, he didn't fit in and it showed. In the finale, "Watermelon Man," if he HAD been himself he simply would have buried all the rest the players and he wouldn't do that. So, he offers up a half-hearted chorus or two, and then on the last note is simply confused about how to handle being the only person on stage who can crush the ending, chooses not to, and ends up not playing any last note at all. Watch the damn tape - does he look "comfortable" in that tune? Hardly.

Maynard was a showman. His playing and his antics were suited to leading HIS big band. Past that, from the mid-60s on, it wasn't usually very pretty when he stepped out of that M-O. He was and is my absolute hero, but sometimes people should have made a suggestion as to what guest appearances to accept and what ones to walk away from. His management sucked. Sucked big ones and I would say it to their faces today. It is my distinct belief most of his non-front-his-own-bigband appearances actually hurt his popularity rather than achieving the desired "drive people to his concerts" result.

Of course, sometimes I'm mistaken - just not this time... JP

Last Edited By: JPZANK Apr 4 12 5:08 PM. Edited 2 times.