Kenton's Laboratory of Orchestral Invention
Bill Russo's compositions pushed the orchestra into territory jazz hadn't seriously explored before.
From the first bars, New Concepts of Artistry in Rhythm feels like walking into a rehearsal where nothing is quite settled. The orchestra is large and restless, full of unexpected instrumental colors—you hear the weight of brass choirs, but also the snap of individual soloists cutting through, conversations between sections that don't resolve the way you'd expect. The tempos shift. The arrangements are lean but never empty. It's orchestral jazz, but not in the swinging big-band sense Kenton's audience might have known. These pieces demand your attention because they're genuinely exploring something.
The album's real strength lies in composer Bill Russo's work. His "Improvisation" piece stands among the highest achievements in orchestral jazz, according to a New York Times writer who reassessed it decades later in 2003. Russo was writing for the orchestra as an instrument itself, not just a backdrop for soloists. There's genuine compositional ambition here—structures that matter, harmonic ideas that weren't obvious. "Invention for Guitar and Trumpet" brings Sal Salvador into the picture with a different kind of spark, more intimate against the larger canvas. The guitarwork feels modern and precise, not decorative.
This is Kenton the serious composer's album, not Kenton the bandleader courting radio play. It sits slightly apart from his more popular work, and it's asking listeners to meet it on its own terms. The Penguin Guide rated it 3.5 out of 4, and that's fair—ambitious and genuinely inventive, even if it doesn't quite cohere into something seamless. Best approached as what it was: an experiment that mostly worked.
Who's playing
Don Bagleybass
George Robertsbass trombone
Stan Kentonpiano
Sal Salvadorguitar
Vinnie Deanalto saxophone
Bob Giogabaritone saxophone
Bill Holmantenor saxophone
Richie Kamucatenor saxophone
Lee Konitzalto saxophone
Conte Candolitrumpet
Buddy Childerstrumpet
Don Dennistrumpet
Maynard Fergusontrumpet
Ruben McFalltrumpet
Bob Fitzpatricktrombone
Keith Moontrombone
Frank Rosolinotrombone
William Russotrombone
Stan Leveydrums
Where next?
More by Stan Kenton
All 37 albums →
The musicians on this record
Their own records, close in time
