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Stan Kenton

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Wikimp3 information about the music of Stan Kenton. On our website we have 70 albums and 70 collections of artist Stan Kenton. You can find useful information and download songs of this artist. We also know that Stan Kenton represents Jazz genres.

Biography

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There have been few jazz musicians as consistently controversial as Stan Kenton. Dismissed by purists of various genres while loved by many others, Kenton ranks up there with Chet Baker and Sun Ra as jazz's top cult figure. He led a succession of highly original bands that often emphasized emotion, power, and advanced harmonies over swing, and this upset listeners who felt that all big bands should aim to sound like Count Basie. Kenton always had a different vision.

Kenton played in the 1930s in the dance bands of Vido Musso and Gus Arnheim, but he was born to be a leader. In 1941 he formed his first orchestra, which later was named after his theme song "Artistry in Rhythm." A decent Earl Hines-influenced pianist, Kenton was much more important in the early days as an arranger and inspiration for his loyal sidemen. Although there were no major names in his first band (bassist Howard Rumsey and trumpeter Chico Alvarez come the closest), Kenton spent the summer of 1941 playing regularly before a very appreciative audience at the Rendezvous Ballroom in Balboa Beach, CA. Influenced by Jimmie Lunceford (who, like Kenton, enjoyed high-note trumpeters and thick-toned tenors), the Stan Kenton Orchestra struggled a bit after its initial success. Its Decca recordings were not big sellers and a stint as Bob Hope's backup radio band was an unhappy experience; Les Brown permanently took Kenton's place.

By late 1943 with a Capitol contract, a popular record in "Eager Beaver," and growing recognition, the Stan Kenton Orchestra was gradually catching on. Its soloists during the war years included Art Pepper, briefly Stan Getz, altoist Boots Mussulli, and singer Anita O'Day. By 1945 the band had evolved quite a bit. Pete Rugolo became the chief arranger (extending Kenton's ideas), Bob Cooper and Vido Musso offered very different tenor styles, and June Christy was Kenton's new singer; her popular hits (including "Tampico" and "Across the Alley From the Alamo") made it possible for Kenton to finance his more ambitious projects. Calling his music "progressive jazz," Kenton sought to lead a concert orchestra as opposed to a dance band at a time when most big bands were starting to break up. By 1947 Kai Winding was greatly influencing the sound of Kenton's trombonists, the trumpet section included such screamers as Buddy Childers, Ray Wetzel, and Al Porcino, Jack Costanzo's bongos were bringing Latin rhythms into Kenton's sound, and a riotous version of "The Peanut Vendor" contrasted with the somber "Elegy for Alto." Kenton had succeeded in forming a radical and very original band that gained its own audience.

In 1949 Kenton took a year off. In 1950 he put together his most advanced band, the 39-piece Innovations in Modern Music Orchestra that included 16 strings, a woodwind section, and two French horns. Its music ranged from the unique and very dense modern classical charts of Bob Graettinger to works that somehow swung despite the weight. Such major players as Maynard Ferguson (whose high-note acrobatics set new standards), Shorty Rogers, Milt Bernhart, John Graas, Art Pepper, Bud Shank, Bob Cooper, Laurindo Almeida, Shelly Manne, and June Christy were part of this remarkable project, but from a commercial standpoint, it was really impossible. Kenton managed two tours during 1950-1951 but soon reverted to his usual 19-piece lineup. Then quite unexpectedly, Kenton went through a swinging period. The charts of such arrangers as Shorty Rogers, Gerry Mulligan, Lennie Niehaus, Marty Paich, Johnny Richards, and particularly Bill Holman and Bill Russo began to dominate the repertoire. Such talented players (in addition to the ones already named) as Lee Konitz, Conte Candoli, Sal Salvador, Stan Levey, Frank Rosolino, Richie Kamuca, Zoot Sims, Sam Noto, Bill Perkins, Charlie Mariano, Mel Lewis, Pete Candoli, Lucky Thompson, Carl Fontana, Pepper Adams, and Jack Sheldon made strong contributions. The music was never predictable and could get quite bombastic, but it managed to swing while still keeping the Kenton sound.

Kenton's last successful experiment was his mellophonium band of 1960-1963. Despite the difficulties in keeping the four mellophoniums (which formed their own separate section) in tune, this particular Kenton orchestra had its exciting moments. However from 1963 on, the flavor of the Kenton big band began to change. Rather than using talented soloists, Kenton emphasized relatively inexpensive youth at the cost of originality. While the arrangements (including those of Hank Levy) continued to be quite challenging, after Gabe Baltazar's "graduation" in 1965, there were few new important Kenton alumni (other than Peter Erskine and Tim Hagans). For many of the young players, touring with Kenton would be the high point of their careers rather than just an important early step. Kenton Plays Wagner (1964) was an important project, but by then the bandleader's attention was on jazz education. By conducting a countless number of clinics and making his charts available to college and high-school stage bands, Kenton insured that there would be many bands that sounded like his, and the inverse result was that his own young orchestra sounded like a professional college band! Kenton continued leading and touring with his big band up until his death in 1979.

Kenton recorded for Capitol for 25 years (1943-1968) and in the 1970s formed his Creative World label to reissue most of his Capitol output and record his current band. In recent times Capitol has begun reissuing Kenton's legacy on CD and there have been two impressive Mosaic box sets.

Title: Always The Best Hits

Artist: Stan Kenton

Genre: Jazz

Title: Sheet Music

Artist: Stan Kenton

Genre: Jazz

Title: The Ferris Wheel

Artist: Stan Kenton

Genre: Jazz

Title: In Concert

Artist: Stan Kenton

Genre: Jazz

Title: Hit It

Artist: Stan Kenton

Genre: Jazz

Title: The Stage Door Swings

Artist: Stan Kenton

Genre: Jazz, Pop

Title: cool Hot & Swingin'

Artist: Stan Kenton

Genre: Jazz, Pop

Title: Mellophonium Memoirs

Artist: Stan Kenton

Genre: Jazz

Title: Festive Tones

Artist: Stan Kenton

Genre: Jazz

Title: Xmas Angel

Artist: Stan Kenton

Genre: Jazz

Title: The Romantic Approach

Artist: Stan Kenton

Genre: Jazz

Title: International Earwig

Artist: Stan Kenton

Genre: Jazz

Title: Cheerful Sleigh Ride

Artist: Stan Kenton

Genre: Jazz

Title: Santas Favorite Hits

Artist: Stan Kenton

Genre: Jazz

Title: Artistry in Rhythm

Artist: Stan Kenton

Genre: Blues, Jazz

Title: Diamonds Club

Artist: Stan Kenton

Genre: Jazz

Title: One Night Stand

Artist: Stan Kenton

Genre: Jazz, Pop

Title: Let It Snow

Artist: Stan Kenton

Genre: Jazz

Title: Inspires

Artist: Stan Kenton

Genre: Jazz

Title: Our Starlet

Artist: Stan Kenton

Genre: Jazz

Title: The Kenton Touch

Artist: Stan Kenton

Genre: Jazz

Title: Spring Awakening

Artist: Stan Kenton

Genre: Jazz

Title: Cuban Fire

Artist: Stan Kenton

Genre: Jazz, Pop

Title: The Party's Over

Artist: Stan Kenton

Genre: Jazz

Title: Swing House

Artist: Stan Kenton

Genre: Jazz

Title: Golden Days

Artist: Stan Kenton

Genre: Jazz

Title: V-disc

Artist: Stan Kenton

Genre: Jazz, Pop

Title: Sketches On Standards

Artist: Stan Kenton

Genre: Jazz, Pop

Title: Carnival King

Artist: Stan Kenton

Genre: Jazz

Title: Transcriptions

Artist: Stan Kenton

Genre: Jazz, Pop

Title: Timeless

Artist: Stan Kenton

Genre: Jazz

Collections

Title: Jukebox Hits of 1951

Genre: Pop

Title: 100 Songs Sax Lounge

Genre:

Title: Classic Jazz Party

Genre: Jazz

Title: 40's Dance Party

Genre: Jazz

Title: Pure Essential Jazz

Genre: Jazz

Title: 101 Big Bands Swing

Genre: Jazz

Title: 50 Best Jazz

Genre: Jazz

Title: Cool Jazz Saxophone

Genre: Jazz

Title: Dance to the Bands!

Genre: Pop

Title: Perfect Big Bands

Genre: Jazz

Title: Indian Love Call

Genre: Jazz

Featuring albums

Title: Pure Jazz

Artist: Various Artists

Genre: Jazz

Title: Jazz Master Files

Artist: Various Artists

Genre: Jazz

Title: Brooklyn Boogie

Artist: Various Artists

Genre: Jazz

Title: Blue Berlin

Artist: Various Artists

Genre: Jazz, Pop

Title: Play - Swing

Artist: Various Artists

Genre: Jazz

Title: All American Jazz

Artist: Various Artists

Genre: Jazz

Title: Stockholm Jazz

Artist: Various Artists

Genre: Jazz

Title: Afro-Cuban 101

Artist: Various Artists

Genre: Jazz

Title: Latin Jazz 101

Artist: Various Artists

Genre: Jazz

Genres