Ernie, sounds like Maynard?

As no doubt many of you know I was trumpet player and manager for the truly great trumpet legend MAYNARD FERGUSON. I first met Maynard in 1967 and you might say "I recycled him" during my 9 years in the above post.
Since Maynard's passing in August last year (2006), I have been inundated with many many wonderful trumpet artists asking me to form a Ferguson tribute band. Up to now I have not felt the urge to attempt what appears to be a monumental task, BUT THEN I HEARD A MOST REMARKABLE trumpeter, not from The United States but from Sweden,Scandinavia.
This fabulous musician impressed me so much that I made him a present of Maynards Conn Constellation trumpet, -the horn that Maynard gave me shortly after me first met, and the instrument he made most of his great recordings during the late 50s and mid 60s.
On top of that I copied, for him, a number of arrangements, for what we now know as "THE LL BIG CONSTELLATION". You must be wondering by now who this fabulous brassman is and what is he called ?
His is LASSE LINDGREN. The band is "THE LASSE LINDGREN BIG CONNSTELATION" The Ultimate Tribute to Maynard Ferguson. Definitely a new trumpet name and one to be watched... the best as yet to come!
Sincerely, Ernie Garside

WOW!!! PULL UP A CHAIR AND LISTEN TO THIS SUPERB TRUMPETER, LASSE LINDGREN. THIS WILL BE SOME VERY PLEASUREABLE LISTENING FOR ANY BIG BAND FANS AND ESPECIALLY IF YOU LIKE A LOT OF HIGH—POWERED TRUMPET ACROBATICS. LASSE LINDGREN IS ONE OF THE NEW BREED OF YOUNG PLAYERS WHO HAS SPENT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TIME LEARNING ALOT ABOUT THE VARIOUS STYLES OF TRUMPET PLAYING THROUGHOUT HISTORY. YOU'LL HEAR A LYRICAL BALLAD STYLE ALA HARRY JAMES; YOU'LL HEAR TREMENDOUS TECHNICAL FACILITY ALA DOC SEVERINSEN; YOU'LL HEAR INFLUENCES OF MAYNARD FERGUSON AND ARTURO SANDOVAL'S UPPER REGISTER SKILLS; AND TUCKED AWAY IN THERE ARE SWING AND BE—BOP INFLUENCES OF DIZZY GILLESPIE AND ESPECIALLY CLARK TERRY AND ROY ELDRIGE. AS A TRUMPET PLAYER MYSELF, I CAN TELL YOU HE IS REALLY SOMTHING ELSE!!

2 Reviews from Falkenberg Jazz Days Festival 19/7/2007

Trumpet Fireworks with Dynamic Big Band!

Trumpet king Lasse Lindgren played strong and high and with feeling, totally in the spirit of Maynard Ferguson, backed by a big band with two drummers, David Sundby and Goran Kroon. I was there, I saw it, and I stand as witness!! Out of Lasse Lindgren's trumpet came smoke!! Talk about a burning enthusiasm a trumpeter can have for his music (or perhaps it could just have been the warm air blown through the instrument on a chilly summer's evening). After having listened to the CD with Lasse Lindgren Big Constellation, I thought that I was prepared. But "live" there is yet another level! Besides playing supremely beautifully, high and strong, Lasse conducted his 14-piece ensemble with his whole body, danced around the stage and got the audience and band to clap their hands while he banged his gongs.
The rolling rhythm that the band achieved was strengthened by the two drummers. Goran Kroon was for the most part in the role of the dynamo while the genial eccentric David Sundby was left to play more freely, which he took full advantage of. Trumpeter Fredrik Davidsson shone brightly in "It Don't Mean A Thing" as did the whole saxophone section in "It's You Or No One". Sometimes Lasse switched to valve trombone or to Maynard Ferguson's very own trumpet, a Conn Constellation, which had been given to him by Maynard's English manager Ernie Garside. The fact that Maynard Ferguson (1928 – 2006) is Lindgren's icon should be no secret and can be heard when Lasse produces notes over double-high C. But the 45-year-old Gothenburg trumpeter can also interpret ballads with warmth and sensitivity, as could be heard in "Stardust", although it was the fast, playful numbers that brought me to my feet.
I wonder how Glenn Miller worshippers would have reacted to the madly swinging version that led to a veritable slaughter of "In The Mood". Laugh or cry? If the Falkenberg Jazz Festival consisted of Lasse Lindgren Big Constellation for three sets every night, you wouldn't find me complaining!!
Martin Erlandsson, Hallands Nyheter

THE HWITAN GARDENS SWUNG TO THE SOUNDS OF BIG BAND JAZZ!

Gothenburg-based trumpeter Lasse Lindgren, with a background in many Swedish professional big bands, has started a 14-piece big band of his own with fantastic dynamics. The ensemble sounds are powerful, the rhythm strongly accented, thanks not least to the two drummers who created a fiery pulse in the band. His own and colleagues' original compositions were mixed with standard tunes, all skillfully arranged. The modern, hip bop-version of the Glenn Miller classic "In The Mood" had the whole audience at the Hwitan Gardens jumping! Lasse Lindgren himself has a strong sound, he attains heights that are associated with Maynard Ferguson. Other excellent soloists were saxophonists Bjorn "Skáne" Cedergren, Erik Kristoffersson and Johan Borgstriim. The leader himself hopped around amongst the musicians spurring them on to greater things. Seldom does one see a bandleader so engaged and a band swinging like mad in response.

THE LEGACY AFTER MAYNARD

The passing of trumpet legend Maynard Ferguson in August 2006 resulted in many talented trumpet players over the world endeavouring to find the best and most appropriate way in which his name should be celebrated. One man who can confirm this is Ernie Garside, who from 1967 and for the following nine years was Ferguson's manager when the trumpeter settled with his family in Great Britain.
"I recycled him," says Ernie Garside and laughs. Maynard's intention with the move to England was to develop his music and himself as a musician.
Ernie Garside, who through the years has not only worked with Ferguson but even Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry and Harry "Sweets" Edison as well as being road manager for Freddie Hubbard, has always kept his ears open for new trumpet talents. A few years ago he was made aware of Lasse Lindgren through recommendations from trumpet colleagues. In 2005 he invited Lasse to play at the Wigan International jazz Festival. There a dialogue between them began about Lasse being given access to Maynard's arrangements. Lasse was a little hesitant at the time to this generous offer as Maynard was still alive. However after August 2006 when Lasse was asked to talk on the radio about the great trumpet player, the idea was born for a way to pay tribute to him. Not least to show that Ferguson was not only a high note specialist but also a truly great jazz personality. As Ernie Garside's offer was still standing, Lasse took the first best low-price flight to London to check things out.
The meeting was to have an unexpected outcome. Ernie Garside had collected all the arrangements he had from Maynard's 50$ and 60s period. "And what I don't have I can get hold of" says Garside. As both Lasse and Ernie are trumpet players (Ernie played in Maynard's trumpet section while also acting as his manager) it was inevitable that after a while the talk began to concentrate more on trumpets than on arrangements.
There were, according to Ernie Garside, a collection of trumpets lying on the table but Lasse suddenly caught sight of an old Conn Constellation that Ernie had brought down from the attic. It was Maynard's classic horn that he had played from the end of the 50s until the middle of the 60s. But Lasse didn't know that, he just saw that it was a good instrument and wanted to try it out. He started playing a few bars of Stardust- and Ernie nearly fell off his chair. "I thought I had heard everything but I was just stunned. He sounded so good that I decided there and then to give it to Lasse. You must have that horn!" he said.
"It's in excellent condition and has lain un-played since I was given it personally by Maynard. It was with that instrument that he made his now classic recordings from the end of the 50s until the middle of the 60s. I rounded off the present with a bunch of arrangements that I would like Lasse to perform with his own band, Big Constellation." In recent months Ernie Garside has been contacted by many genuinely good trumpet players to engage him in plans around a Tribute to Maynard Ferguson.
"But" says Ernie, "I honestly haven't felt particularly inspired. There are many who can play high and fast but Maynard was so very much more than that. But now I have got a kick and I want to do "The Ultimate Tribute to Maynard" with Lasse Lindgren. Lasse is not only a remarkable trumpet player but he is also a fantastic jazz artist. Of course he is not Maynard and that's the way it should be. He has his very own strong jazz personality and is a trumpet name that should absolutely be better known - he's the best yet!"
Lasse Lindgren was of course completely taken aback by the outcome of events from this meeting. Grateful and honoured, as he says, he now rehearses his Big Constellation every Monday in Gothenburg. There are plans in the autumn to be able to present a Maynard Ferguson tribute in collaboration with Ernie Garside who wants to launch a tour of Europe and perhaps even a visit to the United States for "The Ultimate Tribute". It is hoped that there will be sufficient interest and opportunities to perform in Sweden and Scandinavia too. Maynard Ferguson was not only a legendary high register specialist but also a fine, often underestimated, jazz musician, artist and personality who deserves to be remembered and honoured.
Ernie Garside presides over the production company "The World's Greatest Talents". Besides having such historic clients as the ones already named, he now books such artists as Bobby Shew, the Woody Herman Band, Frank Sinatra Junior, and Charles McPherson among many others and now also Lasse Lindgren can be booked through him. Ernie has taken it a little easier recently after a by-pass operation.
But now he has been given new inspiration and is back in form again. Ernie says about Lasses latest CD "In The Mood For Standards": "It's good, but I know that Lasse can do even better. I also want to make a CD with "The Ultimate Tribute to Maynard".