Background and production
In preparing for this album, Maynard proved once again just how keenly aware he was of what was going on in the world of music ("Fantasy" and "Baker Street" had become hits mere months before entering the studio, and "Birdland" was still growing in popularity after its debut the year before), but he was having trouble converting these sensibilities into chart success. Having taken over the reins as producer, he hedged his bets by including a couple of songs from his past, re-recording the Slide Hampton arrangement of "Stella by Starlight" (originally on his 1959 release "A Message from Birdland", which featured Joe Zawinul in one of his earliest US appearances), and a new arrangement of "Over the Rainbow" (the original was recorded for the 1956 release "Dimensions", after recording it as part of Charlie Barnet's band years before).[3]
Track listing
- Maynard Ferguson: Trumpet solos on all tracks except "Baker Street" (Flugelhorn)
|
|
1. | "M. F. Carnival" (Arranged by Nick Lane, Guitar Solo: John Qdini, Micromooog Synthesizer: Biff Hannon, Piccolo: Bob Militello) | Maynard Ferguson, Nick Lane | 6:05 |
2. | "Fantasy" (Arranged by Gordon Johnson, Piccolo Trumpet: Joe Mosello) | Maurice White, Eddie del Barrio, Verdine White | 4:21 |
3. | "Theme from Battlestar Galactica" (Arranged by Nick Lane, Flute: Militello) | Stu Phillips, Glen A. Larson | 5:56 |
4. | "Stella By Starlight" (Arranged by Slide Hampton, Trombone Solo: Phil Gray, Alto Solo: Mike Migliore) | Victor Young, Ned Washington | 7:15 |
Total length: | 23:37 |
Personnel
The MF Band
- Maynard Ferguson: MF Holton Trumpets, Firebird, Superbone, Flugelhorn
- Eric Traub: Tenor & Soprano Saxophone
- Mike Migliore: Alto & Soprano Saxophone, Flute
- Bob Militello: Baritone Saxophone, Flute, Alto flute, Piccolo
- Nick Lane: Trombone
- Phil Gray: Trombone
- Stan Mark: Trumpet, Flugelhorn
- Joe "Loon" Mosello: Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Piccolo trumpet, Percussion
- Dennis Noday: Trumpet, Flugelhorn
- Dan Welty: Trumpet, Flugelhorn
- Ron Tooley: Trumpet, Flugelhorn
- Biff Hannon: Fender Rhodes Electric Piano, Polymoog, Micromoog & Minimoog Synthesizers
- Gordon Johnson: Electric & Acoustic Bass, Flute
- John Qdini: Acoustic & Electric guitar
- Bob Economou: Drums
- Peter Erskine: Drums
- Gordon, Peter, Biff, John, Kim, Tony, Joe & Nick: Handclaps
Vocals
- Maretha Stewart
- Hilda Harris
- Barbara Massey
- Yolanda McCullough
- Vivian Cherry