Backgrounder: Clarke/Boland - Latin Kaleidoscope

Today, the Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band still doesn't get the respect it deserves. Perhaps that's because the band was comprised of American and European musicians, many of whom were little known to record buyers. The band also did much of its touring abroad.

But there were other reasons. Most of their records were released on smaller labels that lacked the distribution and promotional dollars of the majors. And not being based in New York at the time wasn't a plus for the band. As a result, they didn't get the same level of media attention that other bands did.

The Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band was formed in 1960 after beginning as a sexet and then an octet. The band broke up in 1980. Their first album was released in 1962, and more than 20 albums followed. Many of them were superb.

One of my favorites was Latin Kaleidoscope, a gorgeous LP recorded in Cologne, Germany, on August 28 and 29 in 1968. It was recorded for the German MPS label, which was known for sterling engineering and sound. But even more important is that the album's tracks were composed by Francy Boland and Gary McFarland and arranged by McFarland. Yep, Gary McFarland, at his best.

It's a glorious Latin jazz work in two suites—Latin Kaleidoscope (composed by McFarland) and Cuban Fever (composed by Boland), each with three movements. The album is melodic and sultry, and orchestral jazz at its very best. McFarland's arrangements employ a gentler, hypnotic Johnny Richards feel throughout.

The band (over the two recording sessions):

Benny Bailey, Jimmy Deuchar, Idrees Sulieman, Dusko Goykovich and Milo Pavlovic (tp); Ake Persson, Nat Peck and Eric van Lier (tb); Derek Humble and Phil Woods (as); Johnny Griffin, Tony Coe and Ronnie Scott (ts); Sahib Shihab (bar,as); Francy Boland (p); Jimmy Woode and Jean Warland (b); Kenny Clarke and Kenny Clare (d); and Shake Keane, Albert “Tootie" Heath, Tony Inzalaco and Sabu Martinez (perc), with Gary McFarland (comp,arr).

Here's the full Latin Kaleidoscope, without ad interruptions. Given that the original album runs just over 38 minutes, it appears the person who uploaded the album ran through it twice, which is great. You get over an hour of music and become very familiar with a stupendous LP...