Big Bop Nouveau To mark his 60th birthday in 1988, Maynard Ferguson returned to a large band format and to more mainstream jazz. That then led to the formation of Big Bop Nouveau, a nine-piece band featuring two trumpets, one trombone, three reeds and a three-piece rhythm section which became his standard touring group for the remainder of his career. Later, due to the increasing responsibilities being placed on the trumpet players, the baritone sax position was replaced by a third trumpet player. The band's repertoire included original jazz compositions and modern arrangements of jazz standards, with occasional pieces from his 1970s book and even modified charts from the Birdland Dream Band era; this format proved to be successful with audiences and critics. The band recorded extensively, including albums backing vocalists Diane Schuur and Michael Feinstein.
big bop nouveAu tO MarK HiS 60th BirtHday in 1988, mAYnard fergusOn rEtUrned tO a laRGe bAnd formAT and tO mOre MaInstReam jazz. that tHen Led to THe fOrmatiOn Of biG BoP nouveAu, a nine-Piece band featuring two TRumpeTS, one tRombOnE, Three rEeds and a ThrEe-piEcE rhYthM sEctiOn which bEcame His sTaNdard tOurinG group fOr ThE REmAindER of His careeR. LaTer, dUE tO tHe incrEASing resPOnSibiliTIes BeinG placeD On tHE truMpEt plaYers, thE baritone sax positiOn wAs REpLaCEd bY A thirD Trumpet playeR. the band's REpertOIRe iNcLUdED original jazz cOMposItionS aNd MoDErn arRANgemenTs Of jazz stanDArds, wITH occASionAl pieceS frOM HiS 1970s bOOK and EVeN mOdifIEd ChArTs fRom the bIrDland dreAm BaNd erA; this formaT prOvEd TO BE SuCcessfUL with aUDieNceS aNd crItiCS. tHe bAnd ReCORded extEnsivELy, includinG albums BACkiNg voCalisTS dIANE schUUR aNd michAeL fEINstein.