Maynard Ferguson and his Big Bop Nouveau Band
  Live in Concert Feb. 16h, 2004   8:00pm
  Chapel Hill High School
  Tyler, Texas

YEAH .... I was there!

It was a dream come true for my family and I to be able to attend this Concert
in Tyler, Texas. 

 After a 2 1/2 hour drive we made it to Tyler, Texas.  After a quick stop at
to local McDonald's to refuel we were off to Chapel Hill High School ...
The High School is really nice.  A beautiful new auditorium and no waiting in
line.  The doors opened around 7:15pm and we made our way down to
front row seats without any problems. 

  The Concert started on time .... I always like that ....  Opening the show
was Carl Fischer with Reggie Watkins and the BBNB's rhythm section.
They played a cut off Reggie's CD and another tune off Carl Fischer's CD. 
Carl's tune was titled "Hangin' with Nat" and it was really cool.  I don't
recall Reggie's tune but it was very good also. That dude can "WHAIL"
on slide Trombone!
  

  The other Band members then made their way on stage and opened
with Maynard's theme song, "Blue Birdland" .....  some of the featured
tunes were, "It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing",  "Girl
from Ipanema" which was a Reggie Watkins arrangement ... I loved it!
"Misra-Dhenuka" which featured Maynard on Trumpet, Flugelhorn and
Soprano Saxophone ...... also on vocals and a brass bowl with a
mallet.  Sorry, I don't know the official name of that instrument. The tune
was based on a melody from India.  The Band also performed the
hugely popular "MF Hit Medley" ....  Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me",
"Gonna Fly Now (Rocky), "Hey Jude",  "Birdland", "Chameleon",
"McArthur Park" and other songs.  Some people say the MF Band
has lost it .... heck if they play like that when they've "Lost it" .....
I'll never have half as much as what they have left!  
The Band was "AWESOME" ....
 

   Katie .... my 6 year old told me about 30 seconds into the Concert...
 "NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL A BAND" ....   made me proud!

  Katie said to me the next day .. "Dad, I hate to tell you
 this but Maynard Ferguson is a lot better  trumpet player than you. 
 Those other guys in his band are better  than you too ...."    

The Big Bop Nouveau Band:

LEADER/TRUMPET - Maynard Ferguson

TRUMPET - Patrick Hession

TRUMPET - Carl Fischer

TRUMPET - Kevin Meads

TROMBONE/MUSIC DIRECTOR - Reggie Watkins

TENOR SAXOPHONE - Juan Turros

ALTO SAXOPHONE  - Matt Blostein

PIANO - William Bonness
BASS - Craig Butterfield
DRUMS - Stockton Helbing

TOUR MANAGER - Ed Sargent
SOUND ENGINEER - Mike Freeland

Below are some Pictures I took while at the Maynard Ferguson - Big Bop Nouveau Band
in Tyler, Texas on Feb. 16th, 2004!