The thing about Wayne is not only is his range freakish and his tone full and fat, but unlike a lot of screamers (including the older Maynard) his upper register intonation is perfect. What a talent!
Well Maynard never sweated over the small stuff. He tried to have fun while playing. Wayne is more of Van Cliburn when it came to playing it perfect. The 1960's early 70's was probably when Maynard was at his best.
Who the Fuck would dare dislike this...Maynard and Wayne are major role models for not only trumpet players but everybody who plays jazz and anyoe who dislikes them dislikes all of jazz players accross the globe
wayne is freaking amazing my best friends dad went to highschool with him he was second chair because wayne had 1st all the time lol but he said they were around the same lvl and after highschool wayne just got freaking amazing and became big
I played for years, knew Maynard; he gave me one of his horns years ago, and he was truly one of the greats. Yes, there are other amazing players including Wayne who has a really crisp tone even at the highest. Back in the 1970s, Lynn and Stan were also great players for different reasons. I was at Maynard's last concert and at this tribute concert. It was great to see a lot of past players show up to honor Maynard. One of the greatest things about Maynard was the impact he had on young horn players all over the world. He motivated us to be better. I still miss him and think of him often.
Your post touched me at my core. Your statements about MF are spot-on and cannot be overstated .... "One of the greatest things about Maynard was the impact he had on young horn players all over the world. He motivated us to be better. I still miss him and think of him often." ... I too miss him and think of him often. Thank you for your post.
Wayne is such an awesome player. His upper register is just as full as any other notes he plays. I won't make comparisons between him and Maynard though, because both are great in their own ways. Maynard is a legend, and Wayne will no doubt be remembered as one as well. RIP Maynard
This was a really emotional and draining weekend for all these players. Wayne played pretty much non-stop all weekend, and to be able to pull off this performance in this context is simply amazing. And to others that question his versatility, he’s one of the most in demand studio players out there. His legit chops are also really impressive. Great player, super nice guy.
You just know Maynard is smiling about this and giving Wayne an 'atta boy!' For the haters, you've obviously never played high notes in a live setting. Not many pro players could do this. Of those that could, a handful could do this after playing all night. Holy crap this is some amazing playing... The whole band is on fire with great playing across the board.
This is a classic played by a "special" person dedicated to his mentor. Its one of the most beautiful, powerful and moving songs ever played and reminds me of a very special person I know and think of often. I dedicate it to her forever.
I am grateful to my high school music teachers who nurtured my interest in jazz and helped me to develop a love and appreciation of this music!!! My band teacher would bring in albums and everyday, during the last few minutes of class he play cuts of his favorite albums. Maynard was at the top of his list. Wayne and the others are carrying the torch on!!!!
Wow. Wayne Bergeron is the real deal. Every bit able to hold his own against the original. I grew up trying to copy Maynard, Wayne is as good or better.. Can't believe I hadn't heard this until now. Amazing.
Bergerons Performance is absolutely insane :)🎺 But the drummer, sax and the trombone is also incredible 😍 Best version of mc arthur park i've ever heard
No matter how hard I try, I cannot find any other idols and role models like these two. Maynard and Wayne are inspiration for me to keep playing and working hard. Ill be lucky to even be 1/8th as good as either of them. Maynard was one of the best and Wayne is his right hand man to me. Impeccable playing
Just speechless. And when he gives that humble head nod to acknowledge the crowd's approval, his humility is powerful. Like his excellent horn playing. Makes me want to pick up a trumpet again.
Wayne has been a fixture of the LA session scene for years.. and if you've never met a session player before, they are BY FAR some of the best musicians on planet earth. They just don't miss, it's insane.
Very nice! A nice tribute to a true legend of a trumpet player. He is greatly missed and his style will NEVER be duplicated. I have idolized Maynard Ferguson since I first picked up a trumpet when I was 10, his music honestly inspired myself and countless others. I went to EVERY Maynard concert I could, and I remember Matt Wallace on that sax in Omaha back when I was in high school... man, I miss those days. Very nice, Thank You!!
Wayne Bergeron is my over-all favorite trumpet player of all time. Vizzutti is the best technical playing trumpet player. Doc Severinsen is the best entertaining trumpet player. Jerry Hey is also a great writer and player (with Chuck Findley right behind him). Commercially, Herb Alpert and Maynard win.
just had the honor of playing lead for this with Wayne at the Summer Extravaganza festival in Elmhurst, IL with the Elmhurst College jazz band. amazing playing; sound was huge and consistent at all registers of the horn. great guy too
What an awesome video. I've watched it over and over and I never get tired of it. Wayne Bergeron, omg. He's a beast. Nothing else to say about him. Stockton Helbing, probably the greatest jazz drummer I have ever heard, save Buddy Rich and a couple of other oldies. Sounds great! And I think that RU-vid could use some more Wayne Bergeron videos. I love his playing, and I'm jealous of that tenor sax sound.
Agree that this isn't Wayne at his absolute best, but that's still closer to Maynard than 99% of trumpet players could manage. Dig Wayne with Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band-great lead and jazz playing. Very few people can nail both roles.
I could tell Wayne was a little tired, but even so, his chops still are solid enough to just belt such an awesome range with power...; what a great player
what an animal!!! if you walked in front of him during that performance it would probably feel like you were getting hit by a freight train of sound. and shockingly right in the center of every pitch including those Gs As and Bs. what a fantastic musician Wayne is - especially in his prime.
i saw wayne bergeron play this song live and he almost blew me out of my chair - hes damn close to being as insane as maynard (and as a trumpet player im still very jealous)
Wayne is always good, but one of his best, and cleanest performances was with the Wheeling H.S. Jazz Band in a ball room at McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, IL on Dec 18, 2013. This band is from a PUBLIC SCHOOL, not a school for music studies. Wayne later said that this band was one of best HS bands he ever heard. Give it a listen on youtube at Wheeling HS Jazz Band 1 at The Midwest Clinic-2013. Video not the greatest (shot by an amateur), but the audio is excellent.
What I respect and appreciate perhaps more than anything here is how truthful Wayne is to the original recording. Every lip slur, every melisma is such a tribute to not only MF but also his recording of this song. There is something to be said for recording another artist's work in your own mold - but it is another and equally honorable feat to pay tribute to an artist by attempting to recreate that artist's magic in every detail possible. Wayne, particularly from 2:46 - 3:42, absolutely nails what MF was all about. I truly feel his performance here was beyond tribute and very much in the realm of love for MF's mojo - love for MF's bygone style, artistry and personality. Thank you, MF! Thank you, Wayne!
I saw many of these guys in the heyday from 79-89 or with MF. Met him in clinics, backstage, and even one night at dinner in Warsaw IN. They can all kill it! RIP Boss!!
I'll always love Maynard -- He taught me how to "scream"! -- but Mr. Bergeron is much cleaner, and his performance appears to be nearly effortless. Listen to Mr. Bergeron's "O Holy Night"... ...Nothing but "Wow!" Wow.
Thumbs down from all the parents who had to buy new trumpets after the kids threw them in the river after hearing this. Might as well jump in yourself.
I was in the front row. There wasn't a dry eye in the house. People flew in from all over for the tribute in St. Louis. It was amazing, to say the very least.
omfg this is AMAZING dont get me wrong maynard is also AMAZING but this guy has crazy!!! control in the upper range and its sounds amazing i played this song many times in a row just because it was that good
I trained under him because of Bobby Shew, Small World, amazing Men of Jazz, several times times just because of a great University. Maynard Ferguson was there as well, now you know the rest of the Story.
