Chameleon (Maynard Ferguson album)

Chameleon
Studio album by Maynard Ferguson
Released	1974
Recorded	Apr 1, 1974 –,Apr 4, 1974
Genre	Jazz
Length	40:16
Label	Columbia
Producer	Teo Macero
Maynard Ferguson chronology
M.F. Horn 4&5: Live At Jimmy's (1974) Chameleon (1974) Primal Scream (1976)

Chameleon is a 1974 big band jazz album by Canadian jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson. It features cover versions of many songs that were popular in the years leading up to its production, including: "Jet" by Paul McCartney and Wings, "The Way We Were" – which was popularized by Barbra Streisand, and "Livin’ for the City" by Stevie Wonder.^[1] He also pays tribute to trumpeter Bunny Berigan with his own take on "I Can't Get Started".

Reviews

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]

"His version of Herbie Hancock’s “Chameleon” is enjoyable, and he does a good job on Chick Corea’s “La Fiesta”… ^[3]

Reissues

Chameleon was reissued on CD by Sony on July 1, 2003 in the U.S. with the album “Conquistador” paired with it as a double re-release and contains remastered sound as well as an extended essay within the 12-page liner booklet.^[4]

Track listing

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Chameleon"	Paul Jackson, Harvey Mason, Bennie Maupin, Herbie Hancock	4:35
2.	"Gospel John"	Jeffrey Steinberg	6:02
3.	"The Way We Were"	Marvin Hamlisch, Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman	3:25
4.	"Jet"	Paul McCartney	3:55

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"La Fiesta"	Chick Corea	8:04
2.	"I Can't Get Started" (vocals by Maynard Ferguson)	Ira Gershwin, Vernon Duke	3:42
3.	"Livin' for the City"	Stevie Wonder	4:55
4.	"Superbone Meets the Bad Man"	Jay Chattaway	5:08

Musicians

• Maynard Ferguson –Leader, trumpet, baritone horn, superbone and vocal.
• Stan Mark, Dennis Noday, Lynn Nicholson, Bob Summers –trumpets, flugelhorn, Latin American instruments
• Randy Purcell, Jerry Johnson –trombones
• Andy Mackintosh –alto sax, flute, soprano, cowbell
• Brian Smith –tenor sax, flute, tambourine
• Bruce Johnstone –baritone sax, flute, vibraslap
• Rick Petrone –Bass
• Allan Zavod –piano, electric piano
• Dan D’Imperio -drums
• Joe Beck -guitar
• Jerry Johnson - trombone, played all bass trombone parts using "false-pedaltones" on a 2B, arranged La Fiesta

Production

• Teo Macero –Producer
• Stan Tonkel –Recording Engineer
• John Guerriere, Tim Geelan –Re-Mix Engineers
• Jack Ashkinazy –Mastering Engineer
• Karenlee Grant –Cover Design
• Frank Laffitte –Cover photographs
• Ernie Garside –Sleeve notes, contracting-co-ordination

References

1. Columbia LP KC-33007, 1974
2. AllMusic review
3. Scott Yanow, All Music Guide to Jazz, ISBN 0-87930-530-4
4. Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide