TURN-ONS AND TURN-OFFS IN CURRENT HOME ENTERTAINMENT RELEASES : Excellent Good Fair Poor

“The Blues Roar.” Maynard Ferguson. Mainstream/Mobile Fidelity (AAD). It’s good to see Mainstream back as a CD product, and to hear Ferguson back to basics in this superior 1965 session with an augmented, no-nonsense jazz ensemble. Several Ray Charles blues and Joe Williams hits in instrumental garb are arranged by Don Sebesky, Mike Abene and Willie Maiden. The Dukish “Baltimore Oriole” opens with Ferguson in a rare relaxed mood. On “Ev’ry Day” he switches to valve trombone. Notable too are several fine alto solos by Charlie Mariano and a tuba playing the melody on “Night Train.” 1/2