"Chameleon/Conquistador/Hot" by MAYNARD FERGUSON – Albums from 1974, 1977 and 1979 on Columbia Records (October 2015 UK Beat Goes On Records (BGO) Compilation – 3LPs Remastered onto 2CDs – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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70ts Soul, R 'n' B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
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"...Superbone Horn..."

While many of his Fifties contemporaries would probably have burst a capillary artery rather than succumb to commercialism – Maynard Ferguson donned the bouffant hair – put on a huge-lapels frilly shirt open down to his considerable midriff – took out his 'superbone' sax and went after the burgeoning Jazz Funk market opened by people like Herbie Hancock, Billy Cobham and Donald Byrd with a vengeance. He even (unwisely) sings on the swinging "I Can't Get Satisfied". 

I wish I could say that it's all great fun and worthy of your dollars – but it's mostly  non-no for me. Horribly dated or not - here are the details for fans...

UK and USA released October 2015 – "Chameleon/Conquistador/Hot" by MAYNARD FERGUSON on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1199 (Barcode 5017261211996) offers fans 3LPs Remastered onto 2CDs and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (76:11 minutes):
1. Chameleon
2. Gospel John
3. The Way We Were
4. Jet
5. La Fiesta
6. I Can't Get Started
7. Living For The City
8. Superbone Meets The Bad Man
Tracks 1 to 8 are the album "Chameleon" – released 1974 in the USA on Columbia KC 33007 (No UK release)

9. Gonna Fly Now (Theme From "Rocky")
10. Mister Mellow
11. Theme From Star Trek
12. Conquistador [Side 2]
13. Soar Like An Eagle
14. The Fly
Tracks 9 to 14 are the album "Conquistador" – released 1977 in the USA on Columbia PC 34457 and in the UK on CBS Records S 81839

Disc 2 (41:57 minutes):
1. Rock II Disco
2. Gabriel
3. Om Sai Ram
4. Theme From Star Trek
5. Dayride
6. Naima
7. Topa-Topa Woman
Tracks 1 to 7 are the album "Hot" – released 1979 in the USA on Columbia Records JC 36124 (no UK issue)

You get a card slipcase, a 24-page booklet with new liner notes from noted Mojo Magazine contributor CHARLES WARING with full album credits and some photos and 2015 ANDREW THOMPSON Remasters that sound great.

The first album "Chameleon" is universally awful – not good Jazz and hopelessly dated Jazz Funk. Tackling covers like Paul McCartney’s "Jet" and the woeful Streisand weepy "The Way We Were" – he opens with a butchered version of Herbie Hancock's "Chameleon" (from his "Headhunters" album) but all of it feels dreadfully forced as he screams trumpet notes out through his strangulated horn. The only passable moment is a Guitar/Brass instrumental version of Stevie Wonder's "Living For The City" - but again - even that will give you a headache and a longing for the beauty and genuine social conscience of the "Innervisions" original. Things improve a lot though for album number two...

Ignoring the cheese puff Rocky Theme (sounds so dated now) - the girly smooch of "Mister Mellow" where it feels like slick Herb Alpert on A&M (George Benson guests on Guitar – beautifully played and Produced). "Theme From Star Trek" is just 'so Disco' but not in a good way I'm afraid - while some welcome respite comes with the slow march of "Conquistador" that builds in a Trumpet Funk of seven and half minutes. The album's highlight though is the Soul/Funk dancer "Soar Like An Eagle" written by Bob James with BJ guesting to superb effect on Keyboards (it's superb Jazz Fusion Funk). The "Conquistador" album finishes on a frantic bit of Funk where Ferguson goes toe to toe with Will Lee on Bass and Mike Migliore on Soprano Sax. 

After the farcical first album – at least "Conquistador" has moments of genuine class. Unfortunately album number three "Hot" has its audio dogs too – not least of all is the opener "Rocky II Disco" with Sylvester Stallone guesting on 'punchbag' which is too awful to describe. Even the cod Indian vibes of "Om Sai Ram" is ruined by deadpan vocals. "Dayride" tries its Funky best to Salsa up proceedings with whistles and cha-cha piano while it ends on the slap bass and screaming trumpet of "Topa-Topa Woman".

Fans will love the great Audio and the classy presentation but I'd advise even the most diehard Funk and Jazz Fusion enthusiast to hear first before buying...