Stan lives! If you really want to know what big bands are all about, and why some people remain helplessly enchanted by their near–hypnotic charm, go directly to Track 3 — do not pass go — and listen closely to Bill Holman’s breathtaking arrangement of “What’s New?,” brilliantly interpreted by Lenny King’s superlative Chicago Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra (in whose ranks are some of the area’s finest Jazz musicians). If that doesn’t convince you that the big bands aren’t yet breathing their last, I’d guess that nothing will. I believe my pulse rate must have doubled while the CMJO was reinvigorating that classic Holman chart, and I was grinning from ear to ear (always an indication of unbridled enjoyment). But this is no more than one should anticipate from King’s impressive orchestra, which has been dazzling Chicagoans for nearly four years with its marvelous interpretations of music written by or for Stan Kenton or performed by Stan’s fondly remembered big bands. Now, with Live and Screamin’, recorded in front of a remarkably attentive and well–behaved audience at FitzGerald’s nightclub in suburban Berwyn, the rest of the country — and the world — has a chance to learn what Chicago already knows, namely, that the venerated spirit of Kenton is alive and well in the Windy City thanks to the enterprising and talented CMJO. And not the spirit of Kenton alone, as the orchestra doesn’t confine itself to his music. The high–octane opener, “Magic Flea,” is a Basie chart written by the peerless Sammy Nestico. Woody Herman is represented by Don Rader’s funky “Greasy Sack Blues,” Maynard Ferguson by Don Sebesky’s arrangement of “Maria” and Adrian Drover’s treatment of “MacArthur Park” (each of which features the glass–shattering trumpet of Dennis Noday). Noday also solos on Gordon Brisker’s splendid arrangement of Bobby Shew’s tribute to Blue Mitchell, “Blue.” Besides “What’s New?,” the songs associated with Kenton include “A Time for Love” (arranged by Hank Levy), the Lennie Niehaus tribute “I Remember Stan,” Holman’s enchanting arrangement of “Yesterdays” (featuring the outstanding tenor saxophonist Mark Colby), Gene Roland’s “Fitz” (especially appropriate in light of the venue), Johnny Richards’ fiery “El Congo Valiente,” the Niehaus arrangement of “But Beautiful,” and Dee Barton’s treatment of “Here’s That Rainy Day.” Completing the program is the standard “Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most” (another terrific arrangement, this one by Frank Mantooth), which I believe June Christy or someone else (Chris Connor?) may have sung with the Kenton band. While the Holman charts (the first of which includes galvanizing solos by Colby, Terry Connell, Chris Sarlas and Tim Coffman) are in a class by themselves, everything on this spellbinding disc goes far beyond noteworthy. The ensemble is alert and explosive, the rhythm section alive and kickin’ butt, the soloists (especially Colby, Connell, Sarlas, pianist Don Stille and trombonists Tim Coffman, John Mose and Hary Kozlowski) sharp and resilient, and Noday’s “Maynard impression” almost letter–perfect. Nowhere is the Kenton imprint more conspicuous than on “I Remember Stan,” wherein Stille’s unaccompanied piano is a virtual mirror image of Stan’s, while Niehaus’ perceptive arrangement and Jim Peterson’s soft–flowing flugel solo reframe perfectly the magic that was and always will be Kenton. In one listener’s humble opinion, this is no less than a screamin’ masterpiece, and wherever Stan is, he must be smiling. If you can find a copy, grab it!

Track Listing: Magic Flea; A Time for Love; What’s New?; Maria; I Remember Stan; Fitz; Yesterdays; El Congo Valiente; Blue; Greasy Sack Blues; But Beautiful; Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most; Here’s That Rainy Day; MacArthur Park (68:30).

Personnel: Lenny King, leader; Dennis Noday, guest trumpet soloist; Chris Sarlas, John Irabagon, Kent Lawson, Mark Colby, Frank Catalano, Ken Kistner, saxophones; Joey Tartell, Kirk Garrison, Terry Connell, Jim Peterson, Tom Baker, Amir Elsaffar, Randy Kulik, trumpets; John Mose, Hary Kozlowski, Tim Coffman, Tom Stark, trombones; Joh McAllister, bass trombone, tuba; Don Stille, Ron Mills, piano; David Rothstein, bass; Charlie Braugham, Bob Chmel, drums; Al Keeler, Latin percussion.