AMG Review of This Is Jazz, Vol. 16

Thom Owens
All Music Guide

Though purists will find Maynard Ferguson's This Is Jazz, Vol. 16 frustratingly incomplete, it isn't designed for them. The entire This is Jazz series is targeted at casual fans and neophytes, who only want a sampling of a famous jazz artist. In that sense, this disc does its job quite well, featuring both his crossover hits ("Gonna Fly Now," "McArthur Park") and his stabs at big band and bop. Of course, this only is the tip of the iceberg as far as Ferguson's work goes -- after all, it only features his music for Columbia -- but it's enough to spark the interest of anyone wanting to explore his catalog.