The Kenton Era

The Kenton Era
Compilation album by Stan Kenton
Released	1955
Recorded	November 1, 1940 - December 7, 1954 Various Locations
Genre	Jazz
Length	154:29
Label	Capitol EOX/WDX 569
Stan Kenton chronology
Kenton Showcase (1954) The Kenton Era (1955) Duet (1955)

The Kenton Era is a compilation album by pianist and bandleader Stan Kenton featuring recordings from 1940 to 1954 which was originally released in two limited edition box sets, as fifteen 7 inch 45 rpm discs and four 12 inch LPs, on Capitol in 1955.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]}

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[11]

The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow states "Kenton is heard reminiscing about his first 15 years in the business, there are some selections taken from his famous 1941 stint at the Rendezvous Ballroom in Balboa, CA, numbers from rehearsals in 1944, radio airchecks dating from 1944-48, some startling performances by Kenton's Innovations orchestra of 1950-51 and a few swinging numbers from his 1952-53 big band. Virtually all of the music is rare, making this an essential acquisition for collectors".^[11]

Track listing

Part 1: Prologue

1. Stan Kenton Speaks of the Development of His Music - 11:48

Part 2: Balboa Bandwagon

1. "Artistry in Rhythm (Opening Theme)" (Stan Kenton) - 0:42
2. "Two Moods" (Ralph Yaw) - 2:08
3. "Etude for Saxophones" (Kenton) - 3:15
4. "I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good)" (Duke Ellington, Paul Francis Webster) - 2:59
5. "Lamento Gitano" (Traditional) - 2:54
6. "Reed Rapture" - 2:14
7. "La Cumparsita" (Gerardo Matos Rodríguez) - 3:16
8. "St. James Infirmary" (Joe Primrose) - 3:16
9. "Arkansas Traveler" (Traditional) - 2:03
10. "Artistry in Rhythm (Closing Theme)" (Kenton) - 0:56

Part 3: Growing Pains

1. "Russian Lullaby" (Irving Berlin) - 2:19
2. "I Lost My Sugar in Salt Lake City" (Johnny Lang, Leon René) - 2:05
3. "Opus a Dollar Three Eighty" (Pete Rugolo) - 2:21
4. "I Know That You Know" (Vincent Youmans, Anne Caldwell) - 1:51
5. "I'm Going Mad for a Pad" (Joe Greene, Stan Kenton, Jack Lawrence) - 3:04
6. "Ol' Man River" (Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II) - 3:01
7. "I'll Remember April" (Gene de Paul, Patricia Johnston, Don Raye) - 3:03
8. "Liza" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, Gus Kahn) - 2:09

Part 4: Artistry in Rhythm

1. "One Twenty" (Yaw) - 2:41
2. "Body and Soul" (Johnny Green, Frank Eyton, Edward Heyman, Robert Sour) - 3:14
3. "Tea for Two" (Vincent Youmans, Irving Caesar) - 2:49
4. "I Never Thought I'd Sing the Blues" (Floyd Bean, Eddie Stone) - 2:57
5. "I've Got the World on a String" (Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler) - 3:37
6. "Everybody Swing" (Gene Roland) - 2:13
7. "You May Not Love Me" (Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke) - 2:54
8. "More Than You Know" (Vincent Youmans, Edward Eliscu, Billy Rose) - 2:23

Part 5: Progressive Jazz

1. "Artistry in Harlem Swing" (Roland) - 2:45
2. "If I Could Be with You" (James P. Johnson, Henry Creamer) - 3:41
3. "By the River St. Marie" (Edgar Leslie, Harry Warren) - 1:36
4. "Sophisticated Lady" (Ellington, Mitchell Parish) - 3:11
5. "Interlude" (Rugolo) - 3:54
6. "Over the Rainbow" (Arlen, Yip Harburg) - 3:19
7. "Machito" (Rugolo) - 2:15
8. "Elegy for Alto" (Kenton, Rugolo) - 4:02

Part 6: Innovations

1. "In Veradero" (Neal Hefti) - 4:15
2. "Amazonia" (Laurindo Almeida) - 4:37
3. "Salute" (Rugolo) - 4:02
4. "Coop's Solo" (Shorty Rogers) - 3:39
5. "Ennui" (Bill Russo) - 3:37
6. "Samana" (Manny Albam) - 3:49

Part 7: Contemporary

1. "Swing House" (Gerry Mulligan) - 2:53
2. "You Go to My Head" (J. Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie) - 3:18
3. "Baa-Too-Kee" (Almeida) - 2:40
4. "Stella by Starlight" (Victor Young, Ned Washington) - 3:16
5. "Bill's Blues" (Russo) - 2:51
6. "Modern Opus" (Robert Graettinger) - 3:13
7. "Zoot" (Bill Holman) - 3:16

Part 8: Epilogue

1. Epilogue: Stan Kenton Speaks a Word in Summation and Looks to the Future - 2:10
2. "Artistry in Rhythm (Theme)" (Kenton) - 3:58

Recording locations

• Recorded at Music City, Hollywood, CA on November 1, 1940 (track 2-3), at the Rendezvous Ballroom in Balboa, CA on July 25, 1941 (tracks 2-2 & 2-6), August 17, 1941 (tracks 2-4, 2-7 & 2-9) and September 1, 1941 (tracks 2-1, 2-5, 2-8 & 2-10), at the Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, CA on January 14, 1944 (3-2, 3-6 & 3-8), at Band Rehearsal in Hollywood, CA on April 20, 1944 (3-4 & 3-7), at MacGregor Studio, Hollywood, CA on May 20, 1944 (3-5), at Band Rehearsal in Hollywood, CA on December 6, 1944 (3-1 & 3-3), at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, CA on November 27, 1945 (4-2}, December 20, 1945 (4-1, 4-3 & 4-4) and July 18, 1946 (4-5 & 4-8), July 19, 1946 (4-6 & 4-7) and April 1, 1947 (5-1 to 5-4) at the Commodore Hotel, NYC, NY on December 13, 1947 (5-6), at the Hollywood Bowl, CA on June 12, 1948 (5-5, 5-7 & 5-8), at the Capitol Studios, Melrose Avenue, Hollywood CA on February 3, 1950 (6-2) and February 5, 1950 (6-1), March 19, 1952 (7-5) and March 20, 1952 (7-4), January 28, 1953 (7-4), January 30, 1953 (7-3) and December 7, 1954 (1-1 & 8-1), at the Cornell Rhythm Club Concert, Ithaca, NY on October 14, 1951 (6-3 to 6-6), at Universal Recorders in Chicago, IL on September 15, 1952 (7-1 & 7-2) and July 9, 1953 (8-2) and at The Alhambra in Paris, France on September 18, 1953 (7-7).

Personnel

• Stan Kenton - piano, conductor, narration
• Alfred "Chico" Alvarez (2-1, 2-2, 2-4 to 2-10, 4-5 to 4-8, 5-1 to 5-8, 6-1, 6-2), John Anderson (4-1 to 4-8, 5-1 to 5-4), Frank Beat (2-1, 2-2, 2-4 to 2-10), Ray Borden (3-2, 3-6, 3-8), Russ Burgher (4-1 to 4-4), John Carroll (3-1 to 3-8), Conte Candoli (6-3 to 6-6, 7-1 to 7-7, 8-2), Buddy Childers (3-1 to 3-8, 4-1 to 4-8, 5-1 to 5-8, 6-1, 6-2, 7-1 to 7-7, 8-2), Earl Collier (2-1, 2-2, 2-4 to 2-10), John Coppola (6-3 to 6-6), Don Dennis (7-1 to 7-7, 8-2), Maynard Ferguson (6-1 to 6-6, 7-1 to 7-4), Karl George (3-1 to 3-8), Mel Green (3-1, 3-3), Ken Hanna (4-5 to 4-8, 5-1 to 5-8), John Howell (6-3 to 6-6), Bob Lymperis (4-1 to 4-4), Ruben McFall (7-1 to 7-6), Ziggy Minichelli (7-7), Dick Morse (3-2, 3-6, 3-8), Don Paladino (6-1, 6-2), Al Porcino (5-5 to 5-8), Clyde Reisinger (7-5, 7-6), Gene Roland (3-1, 3-3), Shorty Rogers (6-1, 6-2), Ernie Royal (8-2), Don Smith (7-7, 8-2), Ray Wetzel (4-1 to 4-8, 5-1 to 5-8), Stu Williamson (6-3 to 6-6) - trumpet
• John Graas (6-1 to 6-6), Lloyd Otto (6-1 to 6-6), George Price (6-3 to 6-6) - French horn
• Bill Atkinson (3-5), Milt Bernhart (5-1 to 5-8, 6-1, 6-2), Eddie Bert (5-5 to 5-8), Harry Betts (5-5 to 5-8, 6-1 to 6-6), Bob Burgess (7-1 to 7-4, 7-7, 8-2), Dick Cole (2-1, 2-2, 2-4 to 2-10), George Faye (3-2, 3-4 to 3-8), Jerry Finch (7-5, 7-6), Bob Fitzpatrick (6-1 to 6-6, 7-5, 7-6), Harry Forbes (2-1, 2-2, 2-4 to 2-10, 3-1 to 3-8, 5-1 to 5-8), John Halliburton (7-5, 7-6), Milt Kabak (3-1, 3-3, 4-1 to 4-8), Dick Kenney (6-3 to 6-6), Ray Klein (4-1, 4-2, 4-4), Skip Layton (5-1 to 5-4), Keith Moon (7-1 to 7-4, 7-7, 8-2), Frank Rosolino (7-1 to 7-4, 7-7, 8-2), Bill Russo (6-1 to 6-6, 7-1 to 7-7), Tommy Shepard (8-2), Jimmy Simms (4-1 to 4-4), Miff Sines (4-5 to 4-8), Kai Winding (4-5 to 4-8, 5-1 to 5-4), Fred Zito (3-1, 3-3, 4-1 to 4-4) - trombone
• George Roberts (6-3 to 6-6, 7-1 to 7-6, 8-2), Bill Smiley (7-7), Bart Varsalona (3-1 to 3-8, 4-1 to 4-8, 5-1 to 5-8, 6-1, 6-2) - bass trombone
• Gene Englund (6-1, 6-2), Stan Fletcher (6-3 to 6-6) - tuba
• Al Anthony (4-1 to 4-8), Chet Ball (3-4, 3-5, 3-7), Don Carone (8-2), Vinnie Dean (7-1 to 7-4), Al Harding (2-3), Lee Konitz (7-1 to 7-4, 7-7, 8-2), Bill Leahy (2-1, 2-2 and 2-4 to 2-10), Bob Lively (3-1, 3-3), Dick Meldonian (7-5, 7-6), Eddie Meyers (3-2, 3-4, 3-6 to 3-8, 5-1 to 5-4), Boots Mussulli (3-1, 3-3, 4-1 to 4-8, 5-1 to 5-4), Lennie Niehaus (7-5, 7-6), Jack Ordean (2-1 to 2-10), Art Pepper (3-2, 3-6, 3-8, 5-5 to 5-8, 6-1 to 6-6), Dave Schildkraut (7-7), Bud Shank (6-1 to 6-6), George Weidler (5-5 to 5-8), - alto saxophone
• Morey Beeson (2-3, 3-2, 3-5, 3-6, 3-8), Bart Caldarell (6-1 to 6-6), Bob Cooper (4-1 to 4-8, 5-1 to 5-8. 6-1 to 6-6), Red Dorris (2-1 to 2-10, 3-2, 3-6, 3-8), Lee Elliot (7-5, 7-6), Stan Getz (3-1, 3-3 to 3-5, 3-7), Bill Holman (7-1 to 7-7), Richie Kamuca (7-1 to 7-4), Dave Matthews (3-1 3-3 to 3-5, 3-7), Vido Musso (4-1 to 4-8, 5-1 to 5-4), Zoot Sims (7-7, 8-2), Ted Romersa (2-1, 2-2 and 2-4 to 2-10), Ed Wasserman (8-2), Warner Weidler (5-5 to 5-8) - tenor saxophone
• Tony Ferina (7-7, 8-2), Bob Gioga (2-1 to 2-10, 3-1 to 3-4, 3-6 to 3-8, 4-1 to 4-8, 5-1 to 5-8, 6-1 to 6-6, 7-1 to 7-6) - baritone saxophone
• Bob Ahern (3-1 to 3-8, 4-1 to 4-8, 5-1 to 5-4), Laurindo Almeida (5-5 to 5-8, 6-1, 6-2, 7-5, 7-6), Ralph Blaze (6-3 to 6-6, 7-5, 7-6), Al Costi (2-1, 2-2 and 2-4 to 2-10), Barry Galbraith (7-7), Ralph Leslie (2-3), Sal Salvador (7-5, 7-6, 8-2) - guitar
• Don Bagley (6-1 to 6-6, 7-1 to 7-7, 8-2), Gene Englund (3-2, 3-5, 3-6, 3-8), Bob Kesterson (3-1, 3-3), Buddy Hayes (2-3), Abe Luboff (6-3 to 6-6), Howard Rumsey (2-1, 2-2 and 2-4 to 2-10), Eddie Safranski (4-1 to 4-8, 5-1 to 5-8), Clyde Singleton (3-2, 3-6, 3-8) - bass
• Frank Cappuccio (7-5, 7-6), Ralph Collier (4-1 to 4-4), Jim Falzone (3-1, 3-3), Chauncey Farrer (2-3), Marvin George (2-1, 2-2 and 2-4 to 2-10), Irv Kluger (5-5 to 5-8), Stan Levey (7-1 to 7-4, 7-6, 8-2), Shelly Manne (4-5 to 4-8, 5-1 to 5-4, 5-6, 6-1 to 6-6), Jessie Price (3-5), Joe Vernon (3-2, 3-4, 3-6 to 3-8) - drums
• Jack Costanzo - bongos (5-5 to 5-8)
• Nestor Amaral, (6-1), Ivan Lopes (6-1), Jose Oliveira (6-1), Stenio Ozorio (6-1), Carlos Vidal (6-1, 6-2) - congas
• Jimmy Cathcart (6-1, 6-2), Earl Cornwell (6-1 to 6-6), Phil Davidson (6-3 to 6-6), Anthony Doria (6-1, 6-2), Lewis Elias (6-1, 6-2), Bart Gray (6-3 to 6-6), Jimmy Holmes (6-1, 6-2), George Kast (6-1, 6-2), Maurice Koukel (6-3 to 6-6), Alex Law (6-1 to 6-6), Seb Mercurio (6-3 to 6-6), Dwight Muma (6-3 to 6-6), Danny Napolitano (6-3 to 6-6), Herb Offner (6-1, 6-2), Carl Ottobrino (6-1, 6-2), Charlie Scarle (6-3 to 6-6), Dave Schockne (6-1, 6-2), Ben Zimberoff (6-3 to 6-6) - violin
• Stan Harris (6-1, 6-2), Paul Israel (6-3 to 6-6), Lennie Selic (6-1, 6-2), Aaron Shapiro (6-3 to 6-6), Sam Singer (6-1, 6-2), Dave Smiley (6-3 to 6-6) - viola
• Gregory Bemko, Zach Bock, Jack Wulfe - cello (6-1 to 6-6)
• June Christy (4-4, 5-6), Gene Howard (3-7, 4-7), Dolly Mitchell (3-2), The Pastels (5-3), Anita O'Day (3-5) - vocals

References

1. Vosbein, P. Stan Kenton Discography: The Kenton Era accessed April 19, 2016
2. The Capitol Sessions of Stan Kenton: 1944 accessed April 19, 2016
3. The Capitol Sessions of Stan Kenton: 1945 accessed April 19, 2016
4. The Capitol Sessions of Stan Kenton: 1946 accessed April 19, 2016
5. The Capitol Sessions of Stan Kenton: 1947 accessed April 19, 2016
6. The Capitol Sessions of Stan Kenton: 1950 accessed April 19, 2016
7. The Capitol Sessions of Stan Kenton: 1952 accessed April 19, 2016
8. The Capitol Sessions of Stan Kenton: 1953 accessed April 19, 2016
9. The Capitol Sessions of Stan Kenton: 1954 accessed April 19, 2016
10. Album details accessed April 19, 2016
11. Yanow, Scott. The Kenton Era – Review at AllMusic. Retrieved April 19, 2016.