Bergeron (L) and Shew really cook in Maynard and Waynard

On Monday, March 17, trumpeters Wayne Bergeron and Bobby Shew performed in a concert to benefit Manzano High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Hundreds turned out (nearly filling the school’s performing arts center auditorium) to hear the show, which opened with the Manzano High School Jazz Band performing Tom Garling’s And Another Thing… and Frank Mantooth’s Long in the Tooth.

The Albuquerque Jazz Orchestra then took the stage, and performed Passion Dance (arr. Mackrel) and Kong’s Garden (Bert Joris).

Bobby Shew (who now lives in the local area and serves as the AJO’s Artistic Director) was then introduced, and performed three numbers with the orchestra: Magic Box and For the Time Being (Bert Joris), and a Latin/Salsa piece, Terrestris (arr. Washut).

Wayne Bergeron was then introduced, and performed Friend Like Me (from Disney’s Aladdin, arr. Liston), You Go To My Head (arr. Kubis), and High Clouds and a Chance of Wayne (arr. Kubis).

Bobby Shew returned to the stage at this point, and the audience was treated to three pieces featuring both the trumpet giants. Starting with a piece originally written as a duet for Bergeron and Maynard Ferguson, Maynard and Waynard gave the two an opportunity to really show off, and resulted in a standing ovation upon completion. The next piece, a bit of an endurance test which had Bergeron inquiring about the lack of oxygen here in 5000’ MSL Albuquerque, was Over the Rainbow (arr. Baylock), a piece with very wide range which sent both trumpeters well over any rainbows that might have been lurking about. The final piece of the evening, Rhythm Method (arr. Kubis), closed out an amazing performance with the guys really showing what they were made of.

Both of these excellent players entertained the audience with their top-level musicianship, along with an easygoing manner in talking to the audience, introducing numbers, telling the stories behind some of the pieces, and sharing anecdotes about their careers and music in general.

Everyone had a great time and it was easy to spot the trumpet players in the audience, as they all exited the auditorium with the same stunned expressions. Either of these trumpeters is worth making a trip to hear in performance, but both together comprised a real treat for the jazz trumpet aficionado.

Links:
Bobby Shew
Wayne Bergeron
Manzano High School