World War II and big-band pop-era compilations are released almost as regularly as Christmas albums, and the glut has caused more harm than good; it seems any good ones are quickly swallowed up by the racks full of short, ill-advised, uninformative collections. Though any single label could never do justice to the war years, with a little clever ...
This CD contains one of the classic Stan Kenton albums, a six-part suite composed and arranged by Johnny Richards. The Kenton orchestra was expanded to 27 pieces for these dates including six percussionists, two French horns and six trumpets. With such soloists as tenor-great Lucky Thompson (on "Fuego Cubano,") trombonist Carl Fontana, altoist ...
This excellent outing by the 1961 edition of Stan Kenton's orchestra has one classic (Bill Holman's arrangement of "Malaguena"), a superior solo by altoist Gabe Baltazar on "Stairway to the Stars," a feature for Ray Starling's Mellophonium ("Misty"), a good workout by veteran tenor Sam Donahue on "Body and Soul," Holman's reworking of "Limehouse ...
After years of big band experimentation, Stan Kenton seemed to settle into a more grounded groove on 1956's In Hi-Fi. To his credit, Kenton did keep things swinging before, even in the midst of high brow bombast like the string-laden, 39 piece Innovations in Modern Music orchestra and numerous jazz meets Stravinsky projects. This uncanny balance ...
This LP contains six Bill Russo arrangements, five from Stan Kenton, and one by Lennie Niehaus. The repertoire features many songs not associated with Kenton (such as "Sophisticated Lady," "Pennies from Heaven," and "Over the Rainbow"), but the inventive yet melodic treatments certainly sound like the Kenton band. The main soloists are altoist Lee ...
When bandleader Stan Kenton was approached to record an album of holiday music in 1961 he agreed, on one condition -- no songs about singing snowmen or flying reindeer. The resulting album, A Merry Christmas, is a polyphonic masterpiece that is at once progressive and traditional. Included are such well-known classics as "O Tannenbaum" and "The ...
While most of Stan Kenton's recordings in the 1950s tend to be complex and sometimes bombastic, his versions of standards could often be sentimental and very melodic. This LP from the Creative World catalog (music originally released by Capitol) alternates between ballads and boppish romps, mostly featuring the 1953-1954 orchestra, a band that ...
When the producers of the film West Side Story heard a sampling of what the Stan Kenton Orchestra had done to their score, they were disappointed that they had not thought to ask the band to play on the soundtrack. Johnny Richards's arrangements of ten of the famous play's melodies are alternately dramatic and tender with plenty of the passion ...
Christmas Cocktails, Vol. 2 is an entertaining but unspectacular collection of classic carols performed in a lounge fashion. For connoisseurs of kitsch, it's an entertaining disc, but other listeners might find the camp a little too much to take. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
This double album is pretty definitive of Stan Kenton's later orchestras. Few of the musicians ever became even minor names; not counting veteran saxophonist Willie Maiden, trumpeters Mike Vax and Warren Gale, trombonist Dick Shearer and drummer John Von Ohlen are the only recognizable players. The arrangements are generally workmanlike and ...
Stan Kenton's early arrangements set the tone for his orchestra, but through the years, he generally farmed out the writing chores to other talented arrangers who could move the big band forward. However, he did arrange occasional ballad charts, and this 1958 album (reissued on CD in 1997) showcases Kenton's writing. The Ballad Style of Stan ...
Contemporary Concepts is one of the less-important Stan Kenton LP reissues on Creative World. Six veteran standards (all arranged by Bill Holman) and Gerry Mulligan's "Limelight" (with a chart from its composer) were adapted for the 1955 Stan Kenton & His Orchestra; all but "Limelight" are available on CD. The music swings well (with drummer Mel ...
Between 1943-1961, the Stan Kenton Orchestra paved the way for a progressive style of big-band jazz that marked a departure from previous groups. For many, they epitomized their generation of jazz music, with Duke Ellington's bands and an emerging Gil Evans being clear exceptions. As a centerpiece for the Capitol label, Kenton's hitmaking machine ...
This recording is a ballad date by Stan Kenton's 1959 orchestra. Although many of Kenton's top sidemen of a few years earlier had departed, a few of the youngsters in their place included future greats such as trumpeters Rolf Ericson and Bill Chase, trombonist Don Sebesky and baritonist Jack Nimitz. Best known among the soloists is altoist Charlie ...
This two-CD set is an unusually successful sampler. Although there are a few hits among the 40 selections, many obscurities are also included, and not all of the big bands represented are major names, such as Tiny Bradshaw, Noble Sissle, Spud Murphy, Teddy Powell and Jan Savitt. The emphasis is very much on jazz, and this worthy reissue is ...
This recording contains eight compositions apiece by Bill Russo and Bill Holman for the Stan Kenton Orchestra of 1953-54. All of the inventive music has since been reissued on CD by Mosaic but those Kenton collectors not having that deluxe set will want to pick this up. Quite a few different soloists have their spots (including trumpeters Sam Noto ...
The Stan Kenton Orchestra of the 1970s featured high-level musicianship, dramatic arrangements, forceful ensembles and workmanlike solos. The 19-piece band heard on this album is mostly filled with forgotten youngsters; the exceptions are veteran saxophonist Willie Maiden, trombonist Dick Shearer and the then-unknown drummer Peter Erskine. The ...
In 2007 Michael Cuscuna produced a carefully remixed reissue of Stan Kenton's 1968 Capitol LP The Jazz Compositions of Dee Barton. Recorded on December 19 and 20, 1967, this album is devoted to the music of Dewells Barton, Jr., Kenton's trombonist and drummer (as well as composer and arranger) from 1961-1963 and from 1967-1969. Barton's featured ...
This three-CD box set does an excellent job of covering the big-band era through 66 recordings (by almost as many orchestras) owned by Columbia. The selections (programmed in chronological order), although emphasizing the 1934-45 era, also include 18 earlier and six later recordings. The 60 Columbia/Okeh sides, which include the real rarities, are ...
Comprehensive boxed set showcasing the complete range of Capitol as a jazz label. The set includes intimate piano trio work, big bands, cool jazz, torch and nightclub singers, even some hard bop and a little free music, plus fusion. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
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Spirit of the Moment: Live at the Village Vanguard
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