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Review 1
The 1956 edition of the Kenton Orchestra is one of its last and greatest manifestations before the juggernaut era and attendant beaurocracy set in with rigor mortis. The concept for the date is an updating of the Kenton book from the 78 to the 33 RPM era, and to breathe fresh life into many of the lean, mean hits of the band’s early Balboa period (1945-48) a decade later with some charts and more muscle. The idea works well on many levels, because of Pete Rugolo’s super charts (reflecting sectional integrity yet flexibility), power and depth in trumpet (Maynard Ferguson, Sam Noto, et al) and reed (Lennie Niehaus, Bill Perkins, et al) sections, and a raft of fine soloists. “Intermission Riff” has some glorious sectional riffing surrounding mellow, but driving solos for Vido Musso’s adenoidal tenor sax (a cross between Louis Prima and Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis) and Carl Fontana’s trombone, with clean and chugging comping by the Boss.
There are fine Kenton melodies (read “riffs”): “Painted Rhythm” captures some of the breadth of Ferde Grofe’s “Grand Canyon Suite”; “Southern Scandal” is a riffer based on “I’m An Old Cowhand”; the catchy “Eager Beaver” gains momentum along with volume. The Kenton panoply here include stompers – “Peanut Vendor” has screeching brass and irresistible timbales, fun play (Kenton and Bagley on “Artistry In Boogie” and “Lover” ‘s transition from Carmen Cavallaro to Charge of the Light Brigade), posturing (“Concerto To End All Concertos” kinda says it with its Stravinskian trumpet interlude), and lush string charts (with a tribute to Cuban bandleader Machito) but the Kenton Band was the one that most efficiently spearheaded America’s uneasy transition from jitterbuggers to concert potatoes. If you dig big bands and only own a few Kenton albums, this is a must-have. |
Players
Stan Kenton (piano), Skeets Herfurt, Lennie Niehaus (alto saxophones), Billy Perkins, Spence Sinatra, Vido Musso (tenor saxophones), Jack Nimitz (baritone saxophone), Maynard Ferguson, Pete Candoli, Sam Noto, Ed Leddy, Vinnie Tanno, Don Paladino (trumpets), Jim Amlotte, Kenny Shroyer (trombones), Bud Shank (flutes), Dan Lube, Nathan Ross, Paul Shure, Marshall Sosson, Erno Neufeld, Israel Baker, Lou Raderman, Murray Kellner, Lew Klass, Benny Gill, Al Lustgarten, David Frisina (violins), Sanford Schonbach, Alex Neimann, Virginia Majewski, David Sterkin (violas), Armand Kaproff, Kurt Reher, Joseph Saxon, Eleanor Slatkin, Robert La Marcina (cellos), Ralph Blaze, Laurinda Almeida (guitars), Don Kelly, Milt Bernhart, Carl Fontana, Bob Fitzpatrick, Milt Berhart, Bob Fitzpatrick, Kent Larsen, Don Bagley, Red Mitchell, Joe Mondragon (bass), Mel Lewis (drums), Chico Guerrero, Larry Bunker, Shelly Manne, Frank Flynn (percussion). |
Tracks
1. Artistry Jumps
2. Interlude
3. Intermission Riff
4. Minor Riff
5. Minor Riff - (stereo, alternate take)
6. Collaboration
7. Painted Rhythm
8. Southern Scandal
9. Peanut Vendor
10. Eager Beaver
11. Concerto To End
12. Artistry In Boogie
13. Lover
14. Unison Riff
15. Opus In Pastels - (stereo)
16. Machito - (stereo)
17. Artistry In Rhythm - (stereo) |
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