Kenton's Big Band at Full Throttle
The orchestra sells them with tonal color that Kenton stressed over recent years.
When Stan Kenton released Adventures in Jazz (1962), the record landed hard. Billboard charted it at number 3 on their New Action LPs list, calling out ear-catching performances and big-styled, full-blown arrangements. All About Jazz later called it outstanding. The following year it won a Grammy for Best Jazz Performance – Large Group, Kenton's second win in as many years. This was a record that connected immediately, both commercially and with the academy.
What you hear across these tracks is Kenton's orchestra in full color—brass-heavy, densely arranged, unafraid of volume and space. The band includes Buddy Arnold on tenor saxophone, Gabe Baltazar on alto, Joel Kaye on bass saxophone, and a trumpet section with Norman Baltazar and Bob Behrendt. Dee Barton handles trombone alongside Jim Amlotte on bass trombone. Kenton himself is at the piano, steering the ship. The writing is adventurous without being precious—these are working arrangements designed to let a big group swing and breathe together.
If you know Kenton's reputation for pushing orchestration into modern classical territory, this album sits more comfortably in straight-ahead jazz. It's a record that sold well and satisfied both mainstream jazz listeners and critics. Not a left-turn or a statement piece, but a solid demonstration of what a large ensemble could do when the charts were written with care and the players were locked in.
Who's playing
Jim Amlottebass trombone
Joel Kayebass saxophone
Pat Senatoredouble bass
Dave Wheelerbass trombone
Stan Kentonpiano
Buddy Arnoldtenor saxophone
Gabe Baltazaralto saxophone
Allan Beutlerbaritone saxophone
Paul Renzitenor saxophone
Sam Donahuetenor saxophone
Norman Baltazartrumpet
Bob Behrendttrumpet
Bud Brisboistrumpet
Bob Rolfetrumpet
Dalton Smithtrumpet
Marvin Stammtrumpet
Dee Bartontrombone
Bob Fitzpatricktrombone
Bud Parkertrombone
Jack Spurlocktrombone
Jerry McKenziedrums
Dwight Carvermellophone
Keith LaMottemellophone
Carl Saundersmellophone
Ray Starlingmellophone
Where next?
More by Stan Kenton
All 37 albums →
