The trumpet master-blaster and his tentet put serious attitudinal spins on standards and new compositions. “Just Friends” stars two superbone players, Carl Fischer and arranger Tom Garling. “I Love You” is delivered with a Latin accent and includes an exciting interplay between the horns and drummer Dave Throckmorton.
Ferguson is sparkling throughout, at 70 still playing sky-high runs and punctuations with crystal clarity. The expected East-Indian track is a stirring 16-minute suite, “Misra-Dhenuka.”
The catchiest retrospect, a Louis Prima classic, “The Lip,” features alumnus Denis DiBlasio guesting on vocal, scat and baritone sax. An original, “Milk of the Moon,” is romantic with an uplifting spirit. The most unusual chart is “Caruso,” the Italian pop hit performed as an aria by Ferguson and Oswanski. MF still sizzles, and so does his band.
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