ANDY VIRGIL (1925-1980)
Maynard Ferguson

Signed (along the lower edge) Pencil and gouache on board Framed 61 x 55,8 cm Executed in 1960 Provenance: Private collection, Italy Mayland Ferguson, who is portrayed in this picture, was one of the biggest jazzmen from Canada. Ferguson won the Down Beat Readers’ Poll for the best trumpeter, and in 1992, he was inducted into the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame. He also formed Big Bop Nouveau. This illustration was painted by Andrew Virgil Calafatello, who was born in New York in the family of Sicilian immigrant parents. He did commercial drawings, w hich allowed him to survive, and painted his favorite jazz artist. He graduated from Pratt, then went on to Cooper Union. Andy continued to pursue his studies under Reginald Marsh at the Art Students’ League. After that, he worked in the Cooper Studios and Ralph Studios. Virgil suffered from tuberculosis, which he managed to cure.