This re-release is composed of two Kenton albums from the 1950s
showcasing the arrangements of Bill Russo and Bill Holman. Russo
and Holman were more responsible for defining the Kenton sound than
any other arrangers besides Kenton himself and Peter Rugolo. It is a
testament to the greatest of Kenton's bands that they could acccomodate
both the edgy intellectualism of Russo and the easy going swing of
Holman at the same time.
One of Russo's best compositions, "Egdon Heath" (which
is also found in New World Record's Anthology of Recorded American
Music series), highlights the talents of trombonist Bob Fitzpatrick and the
wonderful but woefully neglected alto saxophonist Davey Schildkraut.
Conga legend Candido makes an appearance in Russo's
"Bacante" while lead trumpeter Buddy Childers (who would
also go on to play lead trumpet in the West Coast version of the Toshiko
Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin Big Band) displays some great jazz chops in
Russo's atypical swinger "Sweets."
The Holman charts feature Kenton's band at its most swinging,
although there is much more harmonic and contrapuntal complexity to his
writing than at first meets the ear. Three great alto saxophonists
dominate Holman's arrangements: Davey Schildkraut, Charlie Mariano
and Lee Konitz. Although Konitz's understated style would seem like a
strange fit against the massive sound of the Kenton ensemble, he
performs some of his best work here. Particularly impressive is Konitz's
amazing display of technique in the hard driving "In Lighter
Vein."
In listening to this album it becomes abundantly clear why the Stan
Kenton Orchestra was the most popular big band of the post-war era and
why it was musically one of the most important jazz groups of all time.
Esoteric, swinging, playing in a dynamic range from triple fortissimo to
triple piano, with virtuosic soloists and section work of symphonic calibre,
the Kenton band had it all and still conntinues to be a powerful presence
in jazz even twenty odd years after the death of its visionary leader.
Stan Kenton at All About Jazz.
Visit Stan Kenton on the web.
Track listing: A Theme of Four Values; A Study for Bass; Blues Before and After;
Bacante; Thisbe; Egdon Heath; Sweets; Dusk; Bags; Hava Havana; Solo
for Buddy; The Opener; Fearless Finlay; Theme and Variations; Kingfish;
In Lighter Vein; Of All Things; Lover Man My Funny Valentine Bags
(alternate take)
Personnel: Stan Kenton, piano; Don Bagley, bass; Buddy Childers, trumpet; Bob
Fitzpatrick, trombone; Charlie Mariano, alto saxophone; Sam Noto,
trumpet; Bill Perkins, tenor saxophone; Frank Rosolino, trombone; Dave
Schildkraut, alto saxophone; Stu Williamson, trumpet; Candido Camero,
conga; Milt Gold, trombone; Lee Konitz, alto saxophone; Bill Holman,
arranger; Bill Russo, arranger
Style: Big Band
Published: October 14, 2002
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This re-release is composed of two Kenton albums from the 1950s
showcasing the arrangements of Bill Russo and Bill Holman. Russo
and Holman were more responsible for defining the Kenton sound than
any other arrangers besides Kenton himself and Peter Rugolo. It is a
testament to the greatest of Kenton's bands that they could acccomodate
both the edgy intellectualism of Russo and the easy going swing of
Holman at the same time.
