| Conquistador | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 1977 | |||
| Recorded | October–December 1976 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | Jazz, jazz fusion, funk, big band | |||
| Length | 35:43 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Producer | Jay Chattaway | |||
| Maynard Ferguson chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Conquistador | ||||
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Conquistador is the ninth album by Canadian jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson on Columbia Records. [1] The album is notable for its inclusion of the hit single "Gonna Fly Now (Theme from "Rocky")".
"Bob James produced it ( Primal Scream ) and made it with all the New York heavies (Steve Gadd, Richard Tee, Eric Gale, et al). It did very well for a crossover album, but the guys on the band were a little upset about the fact that they weren't on it."
– Mark Colby describing the recording of Primal Scream and its aftermath. [2]
After the experience of creating Primal Scream without his touring band, Ferguson was determined to see them become an integral part of his next effort. While Bob James was firmly in control of the production, Ferguson was insistent that his band members would be a part of the proceedings. It became a bi-coastal effort, with the touring band recording in San Francisco between dates, and the James crew recording in New York. Two of the songs were recorded entirely in New York without any participation by Ferguson's band: the themes from Star Trek and Rocky .
"I knew it was going to be a hit. Sylvester Stallone was in the studio when we recorded it. If you listen very close to the original recording, you can hear in the mix the sound of him hitting the small bag."
—Maynard Ferguson describing Sylvester Stallone punching a speed bag to the rhythm of the song as it was recorded. [3]
While Ferguson was known to have an uncanny ability to change with the times, no one suspected that in the Spring of 1977, he would pull off the coup of his life. As AllMusic reviewer Richard Ginell put it: "Maynard was shrewd, and Maynard was quick, and he managed to beat almost everyone to the punch..." [4]
It had been decades since a big band recording had made the charts, but when he released his recording ahead of the soundtrack version, Ferguson scored the biggest hit of his long career. The recording had a 13-week run on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, eventually peaking at number 28 on June 25. [5] It's likely that Ferguson's recording paved the way for the success of the soundtrack version (Bill Conti's own recording would peak at number one the following week). [6] Gonna Fly Now is also unique in that it had recordings by four different artists charting at the same time (Ferguson, Conti, Rhythm Heritage and Current).
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [4] |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings | [7] |
Conquistador was the most successful album of Ferguson's career, earning him his first and only gold record, and a Grammy nomination (Best Pop Instrumental Performance) for "Gonna Fly Now (Theme from "Rocky")". [8] Boosted by the popularity of the single, Conquistador not only went to number one on the Jazz charts, but it became the first big band album to appear on the pop charts in decades, sparking a revival of interest in big band music.
When Conquistador rose to number 22 on the pop album charts, noted Los Angeles Times music critic Leonard Feather noted "Conquistador earned Ferguson a unique place in the big band world: he alone was able to crack the pop charts." [9]
In 2003, Conquistador was reissued by Columbia/Legacy along with 1974's Chameleon , both with remastered sound and new essays. [2]
Maynard Ferguson's arrangement of "Gonna Fly Now" was used for the opening of the Toronto newscast CityPulse from the early 1980s into the 1990s (with newer arrangements keeping the same melody used until the mid 2000s).
Maynard Ferguson's arrangement of "Theme from Star Trek" was used as the opening for The Larry King Show talk radio program on the Mutual Radio Network, focusing on the recording improvisations rather than the main melody, although the piece in full could be heard on occasion at the close of his program. Jay Chattaway, who produced the album and worked on most of the arrangements on the album, would go on to compose music scores for Star Trek: The Next Generation and its respected spinoffs; Deep Space Nine and Voyager, along with the prequel Enterprise.
All songs arranged and conducted by Jay Chattaway except Soar Like an Eagle by Bob James. All trumpet solos by Maynard Ferguson except where noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Gonna Fly Now (Theme from "Rocky")" (Guitar solo – Jeff Layton) | Bill Conti, Carol Connors, Ayn Robbins | 4:22 |
| 2. | "Mister Mellow" (Guitar solo – George Benson) | Jay Chattaway, Maynard Ferguson | 6:27 |
| 3. | "Theme from Star Trek" (Flute solo – Bobby Militello) | Alexander Courage, Gene Roddenberry | 6:17 |
| Total length: | 17:06 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Conquistador" (Tenor sax solo – Mark Colby Trumpet calls – Stan Mark, Dennis Noday, Joe Mosello, Ron Tooley) | Chattaway, Ferguson | 7:34 |
| 2. | "Soar Like an Eagle" (Piano solo – Bob James Tenor sax solo – Mark Colby) | Bob James | 6:33 |
| 3. | "The Fly" (Soprano sax solo – Mike Migliore) | Chattaway, Ferguson | 4:30 |
| Total length: | 18:37 | ||
Walter Maynard Ferguson CM was a Canadian jazz trumpeter and bandleader. He came to prominence in Stan Kenton's orchestra before forming his own big band in 1957. He was noted for his bands, which often served as stepping stones for up-and-coming talent, his versatility on several instruments, and his ability to play in a high register.
"Gonna Fly Now", also known as "Theme from Rocky", is the theme song from the movie Rocky, composed by Bill Conti with lyrics by Carol Connors and Ayn Robbins, and performed by DeEtta West and Nelson Pigford. Released in February 1977 with the movie Rocky, the song became part of American popular culture after main character Rocky Balboa as part of his daily training regimen runs up the 72 stone steps leading to the entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art in Philadelphia and raises his arms in a victory pose, while the song plays. The song was written in Philadelphia. The song is often played at sporting events, especially in Philadelphia. Most notably, the Philadelphia Eagles play the song before the opening kick-off of every home game at Lincoln Financial Field.
Jay Chattaway is an American composer of film and television scores. He is mainly known for his work as composer for several Star Trek television series: Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, and Star Trek: Enterprise.
Out of the Cool is a jazz album by The Gil Evans Orchestra, recorded in 1960 and released on the Impulse! label the following year. The album was one of Impulse!'s first four albums, released together, and featured a gatefold design and high production values.
Mecca for Moderns is the sixth studio album by The Manhattan Transfer. It was released in 1981 by Atlantic Records.
Touchdown is the sixth album by Bob James.
Willis Leonard Holman, known professionally as Bill Holman, is an American composer, arranger, conductor, saxophonist, and songwriter working in jazz and traditional pop. His career is over seven decades long, having started with the Charlie Barnet orchestra in 1950.
Swingin' for Schuur is a 2001 album by American jazz musicians Diane Schuur and Maynard Ferguson, accompanied by his Big Bop Nouveau big band.
Stan Mark is an American trumpet player.
The Spoiler is an album by jazz saxophonist Stanley Turrentine recorded for the Blue Note label in 1966 and performed by Turrentine with Blue Mitchell, James Spaulding, Pepper Adams, McCoy Tyner, Julian Priester, Bob Cranshaw, and Mickey Roker with arrangements by Duke Pearson.
City of Glass, an album originally issued as a 10" LP by Stan Kenton, consists entirely of the music of Bob Graettinger. The original album has been reconstituted in different LP re-issues, and the entire set of Kenton/Graettinger Capitol Records sessions is on the digital CD City of Glass.
This Is Love is a studio album by American guitarist Lee Ritenour released in 1998 on GRP Records. The album reached No. 4 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums chart.
M.F. Horn 4&5: Live at Jimmy's is the 6th big band album by Canadian jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson for Columbia Records. Live at Jimmy's was recorded during a lunchtime event, where members of the press and record company executives were invited to hear Maynard and his band play a special two-hour mid-day concert.
Primal Scream is the eighth jazz album by Canadian trumpeter Maynard Ferguson on Columbia Records. Primal Scream marks the beginning of the second phase of Ferguson's career with Columbia, where his live big band sound is set aside in favor of lavish studio productions. The album credits reveal an all-star ensemble made up of New York's finest musicians, along with backing vocalists and strings were recruited for this release.
New Vintage is the tenth studio album by Canadian jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson released in 1977 on Columbia Records. The title is likely an allusion to new recordings of two 'vintage' titles included in the track list. "Maria" was first recorded on Maynard '62, and "Airegin" was first recorded in 1964 for the album Color Him Wild. The front cover plays on this theme, presenting a trumpet in an ice bucket in place of a bottle of champagne, while on the back cover, the cork is seen popping out of the trumpet's bell.
Carnival is the 11th album by Canadian jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson on Columbia Records. This is yet another attempt to replicate the success of Conquistador. Another big theme song, a couple of originals, a blast from the past, and a cover of "Birdland", which was well received.
The Essence of Maynard Ferguson is the third compilation album by Canadian jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson on Columbia Records. It was released in 1993 as part of Columbia/Legacy's budget line I Like Jazz series. At the time of its release, this was the only Compact disc available containing many of Maynard's recordings for Columbia.
Rocky: Original Motion Picture Score is a soundtrack album for the 1976 film Rocky, composed by Bill Conti. It was released on vinyl in the United States on November 12, 1976, by United Artists Records, followed by a CD release by EMI Records on November 7, 1988. The soundtrack is notable for its inclusion of "Gonna Fly Now", the theme song from Rocky.
This Modern World is an album by pianist and bandleader Stan Kenton featuring performances of compositions by Robert Graettinger recorded between 1951 and 1953 and originally released as a 10-inch LP on Capitol as well as a set of three 7 inch 45 rpm singles.
"Straightaway" Jazz Themes is an album released by Canadian jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson containing music composed for the 1961–1962 television series Straightaway. The album was recorded in 1961 and released by Roulette.
