Search - Stan Kenton :: Stan Kenton Today

This glorious album

Gary P. Husband | London, England | 12/03/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"
Absolutely thrilling, breathtaking performance. One of the most exhilarating records I've ever heard in my whole life, at last reissued on CD. A classic and one ultimately recommended.



Gary Husband - Musician, London."

Turning back the clock

Peter Mc Bride | france | 04/06/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"AS someone who was privileged to have been at the original concert at the royal festival hall,this brought back not only wonderful memories but also all one associated with the music of stan kenton.This time touring with young talented musicians recruited from colleges and universities throughout the U.S.A.who continued to play in the tight precision one came to expect from their leader but with youthful exuberance.The finale of The National Anthem should have adopted and played throughout the country to show how it should be played!

A true Stan the Man interpretation"

The Kenton comeback album

James A. Vedda | Alexandria, VA USA | 10/18/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This 1972 double album, recorded live in London in front of an enthusiastic audience, launched a resurgence in the Kenton band's popularity that lasted until Stan's death in 1979. Having produced nothing noteworthy since the mid-1960s, the band roared back into the jazz spotlight on this concert tour with a mix of old standards from Stan's book (such as Opus in Pastels, Peanut Vendor, and of course Artistry in Rhythm) and new material (Chiapas, What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life, and others).

This album came out at the time I was finishing high school, and it grabbed me and a whole new generation of fans. College and high school jazz ensembles all over the country wanted to get their hands on these charts, and music students wanted to buy Stan's records, go to his concerts, and attend his week-long summer jazz workshops at universities around the country. (I attended two of these myself.)

The 17 tracks in this set include high-energy crowd pleasers (Malagueña, Malaga, Intermission Riff), nice ballads (Yesterdays, Interlude, Walk Softly), and decent solos. The only tracks that didn't make it onto my iPod are Artistry in Percussion (featuring drummer John von Ohlen), Bogota (featuring conga man Ramon Lopez), and the brief rendition of God Save the Queen, played as a tribute to the British audience. Percussion lovers may enjoy the two drum features more than I did.

A couple of minor flaws: The balance could have been better, but that's often the case with live recordings, especially with a band this large. Also, I was surprised that the CD did not include a complete list of the sidemen or identify the soloists. Kenton fans consider it important to follow the names of those who have been privileged to play in this legendary organization over the years. (Personnel information is partially covered in Ken Hanna's original liner notes.) Nonetheless, this collection will be enjoyable for aficionados of contemporary big band music, and will bring back fond memories for many. If you never made it to a Kenton concert, here's your chance."