Stan Kenton
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Biography
[Edit]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: The Complete Capitol Recordings Of The Holman And Russo Charts (CD1)
Artist: Stan Kenton
Genre: Jazz
Title: 1948 Live Click Club, Philadelphia (Live)
Artist: Stan Kenton
Genre: Jazz, Dancefloor, Pop, Dance Pop
Collections
Title: A Jazzy Christmas Time
Genre: Jazz, Traditional Pop Music
Title: Christmas Jazz Greats - Smooth and Swinging
Genre: Jazz, Traditional Pop Music
Title: Happy New Year - Jazz
Genre: Jazz
Title: Fabulous 50's Pop & Doo Wop, Vol. 7
Genre: Pop
Title: Classic Essential Hits, Vol. 11
Genre: Pop
Title: The 50s: Reasons to Dance, Vol. 5
Genre: Pop
Title: Jukebox Hits of 1951
Genre: Pop
Title: The Great Jukebox Hits, Vol. 1
Genre: Pop
Title: Marilyn Monroe & Burlesque Classics
Genre: Jazz
Title: The Rodgers and Hammerstein Jazz Book
Genre: Jazz
Title: Winter Kisses - Jazz for Young Lovers (Extended Version)
Genre: Jazz
Title: 50 Big Bands and the Best Swing for Dancing
Genre: Jazz
Title: 100 Songs Sax Lounge
Genre:
Title: Classic Hollywood Jazz Era
Genre: Jazz
Title: Oldies Mega Hits of the Jazz Era
Genre: Jazz, Contemporary Jazz
Title: Original Hits: Bands of Always
Genre: Jazz
Title: Classic Jazz Party
Genre: Jazz
Title: Vintage Jazz, Vol. 8
Genre: Jazz
Title: Jazz Legends
Genre: Jazz, Drum & Bass, Dancefloor, Dance Pop
Title: A Retrospective Jule Styne (Volume 2)
Genre: Pop
Title: Shades of Jazz & Blues - 50 Classics
Genre: Blues
Title: Sexy Lounge Vintage Era
Genre: Jazz
Title: Smooth Jazz Christmas 2013
Genre: Jazz, Traditional Pop Music
Title: The Jazz Story - Close to Heaven
Genre: Jazz
Title: West Coast Cool Jazz
Genre: Jazz
Title: 40's Dance Party
Genre: Jazz
Title: Greatest Latin Jazz & Dance Classics
Genre: World Music
Title: Pure Essential Jazz
Genre: Jazz
Title: For Men Only
Genre: House, Jazz, Rock, Rock & Roll, Dancefloor, Dance Pop
Title: Legends of the Big Band Era
Genre: Alternative
Title: Legends of Big Band Swing
Genre: Jazz
Title: 101 Big Bands Swing
Genre: Jazz
Title: The Horace Silver Songbook
Genre: Jazz
Title: 50 Best Jazz
Genre: Jazz
Title: New York, Jazz City USA
Genre: Jazz
Title: A Big Mix of Hits, Vol. 10
Genre: Pop
Title: Afro-Cuban Jazz Grooves
Genre: Jazz
Title: Jazz Legends: The Essential Women of Jazz
Genre: Jazz
Title: Music & The Moon Vol. 1
Genre: Pop
Title: Best of the Big Bands (Digital Version)
Genre: Jazz
Title: The Cole Porter Songbook: 40 Greatest Hits
Genre: Jazz
Title: The Greatest Bossa Nova
Genre: Jazz
Title: Ultimate American Jazz
Genre: Jazz
Title: Cool Jazz Saxophone
Genre: Jazz
Title: The Finest Jazz Ballads
Genre: Jazz
Title: Dance to the Bands!
Genre: Pop
Title: Golden Hits of the 30s & 40s
Title: American Hit Parade the Hits Of 1944
Genre: Jazz, Vocal Jazz
Title: Grandes Bandas: 20 Éxitos / Grandes Bandas: 20 Exitos
Genre: Jazz
Title: Ultra Lounge Christmas Cocktails, Vol. 4
Genre:
Title: 100 Classic 1940s Memories
Genre: Jazz
Title: Perfect Big Bands
Genre: Jazz
Title: V-Disc Jazz Essentials
Genre: Jazz
Title: Soda Shop Songs of the 50s, Vol. 5
Genre: Pop
Title: Indian Love Call
Genre: Jazz
Title: Jazz Hits of the Early 40's, Vol. 1
Genre: Jazz
Title: The Orchestra Legends, Vol. 1
Genre: Jazz
Title: Cool Jazz Essentials
Genre: Jazz
Title: Selections From LA Noire
Genre: Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: The Greatest American Swing Jazz
Genre: Jazz
Title: Jazz of the Forties - Swing Into Bebop
Genre: Jazz
Title: Jazz Songs That Changed the World
Genre: Jazz
Title: Jazz Goes To Broadway
Genre: Jazz
Title: Jubilee Lounge Classics
Genre: Jazz
Title: 100 Vintage Jazz Favorites
Genre: Jazz
Featuring albums
Title: Smooth Jazz (New Stereo Recordings by the Original Artists)
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Jazz
Title: It’s All Swing! - Vol. 4 / It's All Swing! - Vol. 4
Artist: Stan Kenton And His Orchestra
Genre: Jazz
Title: 77 Big Band Masterworks (The Best of Stan Kenton)
Artist: Stan Kenton And His Orchestra
Genre: Jazz
Title: Stan Kenton & His Orchestra Vol 5 (1945-47)
Artist: Stan Kenton And His Orchestra
Genre: Jazz
Title: The World of Nat King Cole (His Very Best) [Remastered]
Artist: Nat King Cole
Genre: Blues, Jazz, Vocal Jazz, Pop
Title: Ultra-Lounge / Christmas Cocktails Volume II
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Traditional Pop Music
Title: The World Of Nat King Cole - His Very Best (UK Import Edition)
Artist: Nat King Cole
Genre: Pop
Title: The World Of Nat King Cole - His Very Best (Essential Edition)
Artist: Nat King Cole
Genre: Pop
Title: The Ultimate Jazz Archive (Set 41: Vocalists, Disc 1: June Christy)
Artist: June Christy
Genre: Jazz
Title: The Ultimate Jazz Archive (Set 40: Vocalists, Disc 1: Anita O'Day)
Artist: Anita O'Day
Genre: Jazz