Chameleon is a 1974 big band jazz album by Canadian jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson. It features cover versions of many songs that were popular in the years leading up to its production, including: "Jet" by Paul McCartney and Wings, "The Way We Were" – which was popularized by Barbra Streisand, and "Livin' for the City" by Stevie Wonder.[1] He also pays tribute to trumpeter Bunny Berigan with his own take on "I Can't Get Started".
| Chameleon | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1974 | |||
| Recorded | April 1–4, 1974 | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 40:16 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Producer | Teo Macero | |||
| Maynard Ferguson chronology | ||||
| ||||
Reviews
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [2] |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings | [3] |
Writing for the All Music Guide to Jazz, Scott Yanow said of the album that "His version of Herbie Hancock's "Chameleon" is enjoyable, and he does a good job on Chick Corea's "La Fiesta".[4]
Reissues
editChameleon was reissued on CD by Sony on July 1, 2003 in the U.S. with the album "Conquistador" paired with it as a double re-release and contains remastered sound as well as an extended essay within the 12-page liner booklet.[5]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Chameleon" | Paul Jackson, Harvey Mason, Bennie Maupin, Herbie Hancock | 4:35 |
| 2. | "Gospel John" | Jeffrey Steinberg | 6:02 |
| 3. | "The Way We Were" | Marvin Hamlisch, Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman | 3:25 |
| 4. | "Jet" | Paul McCartney | 3:55 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "La Fiesta" | Chick Corea | 8:04 |
| 2. | "I Can't Get Started" (vocals by Maynard Ferguson) | Ira Gershwin, Vernon Duke | 3:42 |
| 3. | "Livin' for the City" | Stevie Wonder | 4:55 |
| 4. | "Superbone Meets the Bad Man" | Jay Chattaway | 5:08 |
Musicians
edit- Maynard Ferguson – Leader, trumpet, baritone horn, superbone and vocal.
- Stan Mark, Dennis Noday, Lynn Nicholson, Bob Summers – trumpets, flugelhorn, Latin American instruments
- Randy Purcell, Jerry Johnson – trombones
- Andy Mackintosh – alto sax, flute, soprano, cowbell
- Brian Smith – tenor sax, flute, tambourine
- Bruce Johnstone – baritone sax, flute, vibraslap
- Rick Petrone – bass
- Allan Zavod – piano, electric piano
- Dan D'Imperio - drums
- Joe Beck - guitar
- Jerry Johnson - trombone, played all bass trombone parts using "false-pedaltones" on a 2B, arranged La Fiesta
Production
edit- Teo Macero –Producer
- Stan Tonkel –Recording Engineer
- John Guerriere, Tim Geelan –Re-Mix Engineers
- Jack Ashkinazy –Mastering Engineer
- Karenlee Grant –Cover Design
- Frank Laffitte –Cover photographs
- Ernie Garside –Sleeve notes, contracting-co-ordination
References
edit- ^ Columbia LP KC-33007, 1974
- ^ AllMusic review
- ^ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 483. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
- ^ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide to Jazz, ISBN 0-87930-530-4
- ^ Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide
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