Listen Here
Stan Kenton was renowned as one of the most ambitious, innovative, forward-thinking and musically challenging bandleaders of the swing and big band eras, to the extent that he kept his band going into the post-war era long after others had disbanded. He had his detractors, who accused him of pretentiousness, but that is the nature of jazz, and his approach made him commercially successful where others failed. This 62-track 3-CD collection brings together titles from some of his early albums for Capitol in the post war decade which characterised his innovative and experimental approach. It comprises most of the titles from his albums “Artistry In Rhythm” and “A Presentation of Progressive Jazz”, and all the titles from “Encores”, “Innovations in Modern Music”, “New Concepts of Artistry in Rhythm” and “Stan Kenton In Hi-Fi”. It features June Christy on vocals and compositions and arrangements by Pete Rugolo and Gerry Mulligan, with orchestra members including leading jazz musicians of the day like Ray Wetzel, Kai Winding, Vido Musso, Shelly Manne, Maynard Ferguson, Shorty Rogers, Art Pepper, Bud Shank, Laurindo Almeida, Bill Holman, Lee Konitz and many more. His music from these years always makes for fascinating and sometimes startling listening, and we trust the collection offers an entertaining insight into his highly distinctive approach to big band jazz.
CD 1
1. PEG O' MY HEART Stan Kenton
2. HE'S FUNNY THAT WAY Stan Kenton
3. CAPITOL PUNISHMENT Stan Kenton
4. PAINTED RHYTHM Stan Kenton
5. JOURNEY TO BRAZIL Stan Kenton
6. LOVER Stan Kenton
7. SOMNAMBULISM Stan Kenton
8. ABSTRACTION Stan Kenton
9. CHORALE FOR BRASS, PIANO AND BONGO Stan Kenton
10. PLEASE BE KIND Stan Kenton
11. ECUADOR Stan Kenton From the album “Encores” Capitol H/T155 c. 1947
12. COME BACK TO SORRENTO Stan Kenton & His Orchestra
13. JUST A-SITTIN' AND A-ROCKIN' Stan Kenton & His Orchestra
14. FANTASY Stan Kenton & His Orchestra
15. OPUS IN PASTELS Stan Kenton & His Orchestra
16. SOOTHE ME Stan Kenton & His Orchestra
17. COCKTAILS FOR TWO Stan Kenton & His Orchestra
18. ARTISTRY IN BOLERO Stan Kenton & His Orchestra
19. AIN'T NO MISERY IN ME Stan Kenton & His Orchestra
20. SAFRANSKI Stan Kenton & His Orchestra
21. WILLOW WEEP FOR ME Stan Kenton & His Orchestra
22. ARTISTRY IN PERCUSSION Stan Kenton & His Orchestra From the album “Artistry In Rhythm” Capitol H/T167 c. 1947
23. CUBAN CARNIVAL Stan Kenton & His Orchestra
24. INTRODUCTION TO A LATIN RHYTHM Stan Kenton & His Orchestra From the album “A Presentation of Progressive Jazz” Capitol H/T172 c. 1948
CD 2
1. MONOTONY Stan Kenton & His Orchestra
2. LONELY WOMAN Stan Kenton & His Orchestra
3. LAMENT Stan Kenton & His Orchestra
4. THERMOPOLAE Stan Kenton & His Orchestra
5. THEME FOR ALTO Stan Kenton & His Orchestra
6. IMPRESSIONISM Stan Kenton & His Orchestra
7. ELEGY FOR ALTO Stan Kenton & His Orchestra
8. THIS IS MY THEME Stan Kenton & His Orchestra From the album “A Presentation of Progressive Jazz” Capitol H/T172 c. 1948
9. FUGUE FOR RHYTHM SECTION Stan Kenton & His Orchestra
10. TRAJECTORIES The Creative World Of Stan Kenton
11. THEME FOR SUNDAY The Creative World Of Stan Kenton
12. CONFLICT The Creative World Of Stan Kenton
13. INCIDENT IN JAZZ The Creative World Of Stan Kenton
14. THE LONESOME ROAD The Creative World Of Stan Kenton
15. MIRAGE The Creative World Of Stan Kenton
16. SOLITAIRE The Creative World Of Stan Kenton
17. CUBAN EPISODE The Creative World Of Stan Kenton From the album “Innovations in Modern Music” Capitol P189 1950
18. 23°N — 82°W Stan Kenton
19. PORTRAIT OF A COUNT Stan Kenton
20. INVENTION FOR GUITAR AND TRUMPET Stan Kenton From the album “New Concepts of Artistry in Rhythm” Capitol T383 1953
CD 3
1. MY LADY Stan Kenton
2. YOUNG BLOOD Stan Kenton
3. FRANK SPEAKING Stan Kenton
4. PROLOGUE Stan Kenton
5. IMPROVISATION Stan Kenton From the album “New Concepts of Artistry in Rhythm” Capitol T383 1953
6. ARTISTRY JUMPS Stan Kenton
7. INTERLUDE Stan Kenton
8. INTERMISSION RIFF Stan Kenton
9. MINOR RIFF Stan Kenton
10. COLLABORATION Stan Kenton
11. PAINTED RHYTHM Stan Kenton
12. SOUTHERN SCANDAL Stan Kenton
13. THE PEANUT VENDOR Stan Kenton
14. EAGER BEAVER Stan Kenton
15. CONCERTO TO END ALL CONCERTOS Stan Kenton
16. ARTISTRY IN BOOGIE Stan Kenton
17. LOVER Stan Kenton
18. UNISON RIFF Stan Kenton From the album “Kenton in Hi-Fi” Capitol W/SW724 1956
