I was looking through my old emails and came across the first one I had sent to friends during our initial conversation about Maynards' passing. That
moment brought out expressed feelings that many of us may have similarly expressed at that time. Many did so via threads on this forum, while those same
people, along with others, may have shared some touching words in an email conversation. Perhaps it would be a nice thing to see a few of those emails if you
have them. The following is one of mine to several friends from 8/30/06 in response to their replies to Matt's email.
Thanks for taking the time to email your thoughts, guys. I've taken his passing harder than I thought I would, breaking down the first day and quite sad the following days. Now I'm able to celebrate the magnitude of his legacy and what he meant to me personally.
It's amazing how many lives he's touched and inspired. Maynard reminded me of my dad with his over-the-top musical ability and humility with such, and that I wanted to believe he would always be there. MF toured so much that I expected to be able to make plans to see him one more time, always aware that it could be the last due to his age.
He not only inspired me to play trumpet in the formative years, but also many times after I had backed off from playing. Recently, after not playing for a long time, I was inspired to take up the horn more seriously after finding out that I could play better than ever using an MF mouthpiece. I started listening to CD's and watching MF videos more than ever lately, as he once again inspired my to play. Thanks for that, Maynard.
I recall the first time I saw his live show where it gave me that popular confused feeling of either wanting to practice or give up playing. He was to many trumpet players what Eddie Van Halen is to rock guitarists...the most notable innovator in the genre of high energy flamboyancy and power on the instrument and with his band, whether or not he was respected by some critics or jazz purists. He was not afraid to honestly express himself through music, knowing he would be loved by many but not all...a wonderful way to live in general.
Thanks to (my friends) for sharing all that MF music with me many years ago (don't count...it will make you feel old). He's one of the main reasons I continued playing all those years and have continued to do so recently. Many others experienced the same.
He never stopped doing what he did so well, including helping young people gain interest in music. The last note MF plays at his shows is usually a high one to please the crowd and to follow the old saying of "ending on a high note", which he most certainly also did with his life.
So grab a glass of coconut champagne and let's toast...
To Maynard Ferguson - May we always remember him at his best and forever be inspired by his spirit.
- Jon
Thanks for taking the time to email your thoughts, guys. I've taken his passing harder than I thought I would, breaking down the first day and quite sad the following days. Now I'm able to celebrate the magnitude of his legacy and what he meant to me personally.
It's amazing how many lives he's touched and inspired. Maynard reminded me of my dad with his over-the-top musical ability and humility with such, and that I wanted to believe he would always be there. MF toured so much that I expected to be able to make plans to see him one more time, always aware that it could be the last due to his age.
He not only inspired me to play trumpet in the formative years, but also many times after I had backed off from playing. Recently, after not playing for a long time, I was inspired to take up the horn more seriously after finding out that I could play better than ever using an MF mouthpiece. I started listening to CD's and watching MF videos more than ever lately, as he once again inspired my to play. Thanks for that, Maynard.
I recall the first time I saw his live show where it gave me that popular confused feeling of either wanting to practice or give up playing. He was to many trumpet players what Eddie Van Halen is to rock guitarists...the most notable innovator in the genre of high energy flamboyancy and power on the instrument and with his band, whether or not he was respected by some critics or jazz purists. He was not afraid to honestly express himself through music, knowing he would be loved by many but not all...a wonderful way to live in general.
Thanks to (my friends) for sharing all that MF music with me many years ago (don't count...it will make you feel old). He's one of the main reasons I continued playing all those years and have continued to do so recently. Many others experienced the same.
He never stopped doing what he did so well, including helping young people gain interest in music. The last note MF plays at his shows is usually a high one to please the crowd and to follow the old saying of "ending on a high note", which he most certainly also did with his life.
So grab a glass of coconut champagne and let's toast...
To Maynard Ferguson - May we always remember him at his best and forever be inspired by his spirit.
- Jon
