Kenton Showcase

Read About This Recording

Stan Kenton had a long and episodic career as a bandleader which started in 1940, at the height of the Swing era. Not content to have a swinging band that played for dances, Kenton's goal was always to lead a concert orchestra for listeners. He encouraged many of the top arrangers of the 1940s, '50s and '60s to write for his ensemble and gave them complete musical freedom.

Two of Kenton's favorite arrangers in the 1950s were Bill Holman and Bill Russo. Kenton Showcase (recorded in 1953-54) has eight of Russo's works (all originals) and 12 Holman arrangements (eight of his pieces, a previously unreleased alternate version of Bags and with two reworkings of standards). Russo's charts are mostly quite complex (he was in some ways Pete Rugolo's successor) including a Don Bagley feature on A Study For Bass, Egdon Heath, Bacante (which showcases Candido on conga), Sweets and Dusk.

Holman's works tend to swing more while still making creative use of the heavy Stan Kenton sound. Highlights include Solo For Buddy (which puts the spotlight on trumpeter Buddy Childers), Fearless Finlay, Kingfish and three features for the cool-toned alto of Lee Konitz. Other soloists heard from include trumpeter Sam Noto, Bill Perkins on tenor and altoists Dave Schildkraut and Charlie Mariano.

Overall, Kenton Showcase has some of the finest music recorded by the Stan Kenton Orchestra during one of its peak periods.

-Scott Yanow

Contents

A Theme Of Four Values; A Study For Bass; Blues Before and After; Bacante; Thisbe; Egdon Heath; Sweets; Dusk; Bags; Hav-A-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 Version).

Stan Kenton Orchestra.