Until the early 50 s, Maynard Ferguson"s fantastic technique was often said to obscure every other aspect of his work. With the tracks at hand, he revealed himself as a fine all-round musician, band leader and brilliant soloist, both in trumpet and valve trombone. Bill Homan whose works can be considered as some of the most representative of the West Coast school of jazz once said, "I"ve always tried to write things that sound like jazz, not like Bach revisited." Thanks to his arrangements and to the exceptional musicians who perform them, Ferguson expresses himself in a way he had never previously found possible.