STAN KENTON AND HIS ORCHESTRA 1945 (1996)(FULL ALBUM)

Tracklist
00:00 1 Ooh, What I Dreamed About You
02:39 2 I Want A Grown-Up Man
05:25 3 Travellin' Man
08:18 4 Around The Town
11:12 5 Tampico
13:55 6 Southern Scandal
16:59 7 Opus In Pastels
20:04 8 It's Been A Long, Long Time
22:48 9 Don't Let Me Dream
25:31 10 That's The Stuff You Gotta Watch
27:46 11 Southern Scandal
30:53 12 Ride On
33:16 13 I'm A Shy Guy
36:10 14 I Never Thought I'd Sing The Blues
40:09 15 Are You Livin' Old Man
42:36 16 Just A-Sittin' And A-Rockin'
45:11 17 Just A-Sittin' And A-Rockin'
47:59 18 Artistry Jumps
50:37 19 Painted Rhythm
53:32 20 Shoo Fly Pie And Apple Pan Dowdy
56:08 21 I Been Down In Texas
59:14 22 She's Funny That Way
1:02:16 23 Say It Isn't So

Stan Kenton was a unique figure in mid-20th-century jazz. While other big band leaders like Count Basie and Duke Ellington clung more closely to traditional swing, Kenton explored more progressive forms, sometimes bordering on classical music or avant-garde jazz. His 1945 orchestra is one of the most important of his early career, just as Kenton was beginning to shape his personal, ambitious, and sometimes controversial sound.

This volume in the French Classics Chronological Series documents one of Kenton's most fertile and exciting years, both in popularity and musical exploration. The recordings collected here are key to understanding the transition between classical big band and the "progressive jazz" that Kenton would develop in the following years.

🎶 Content and Track Selection
The album includes studio recordings made in Hollywood and New York throughout 1945. Highlights include:

"Tampico" (with June Christy): This was one of Kenton's most successful songs. A playful blend of Latin swing and vocal humor, driven by vibrant percussion and sparkling arrangements, June Christy replaced Anita O'Day and quickly became one of jazz's most beloved singers. Her vocal delivery here is iconic.

"Southern Scandal" / "Painted Rhythm": Intricate compositions by Pete Rugolo, a key arranger in the development of Kenton's sound. These pieces display a more advanced structure than the typical swing song, with bold dissonances and rhythmic shifts.

"It's Been a Long, Long Time": A melancholic ballad that captures the post-World War II spirit. Its inclusion in Kenton's repertoire demonstrated his sensitivity to the popular sentiment of the time.

🎺 Notable Orchestra Lineup
This lineup includes a number of brilliant musicians, many of whom would become figures in their own right:

June Christy (vocals) – As mentioned above, her addition was essential to Kenton's sound.

Art Pepper (alto saxophone) – One of the greats of West Coast jazz, he began his career with Kenton.

Buddy Childers (trumpet) – A virtuoso trumpeter who defined the sound of the band's brass sections.

Bob Cooper (tenor sax) – Another key member of the orchestra's harmonic evolution.

Furthermore, the heavy brass arrangement (sometimes as many as five trombones and five trumpets!) already demonstrated Kenton's penchant for symphonic power, which was quite groundbreaking for a jazz band of that era.

🧠 Musical and artistic value
This album is more than a compilation: it is a testament to a key moment in the history of jazz. It represents the turning point between popular swing and the intellectualized jazz that would define the following decade. Kenton's music was always controversial among purists, but never ignored.

Here, one can hear both the joy of the end of the war and the creative anxiety of an artist who was already looking beyond the standards. The orchestra not only plays, but experiments, takes risks, and pushes the boundaries.

🏁 Conclusion
Stan Kenton And His Orchestra – 1945 is a must-have album for orchestral jazz fans and big band collectors. Beyond its historical value, it offers a rich, complex, and nuanced sonic experience. It's a sonic portrait of an era, but also a roadmap to the future of jazz.

[rayszymarek]

Now we are talking Stan the man so many great people came out of that Kenton big Shelly manne conte candoli Maynard Ferguson the list goes on what makes Kenton so special he changed gears so dramatically went from the standard swing sound into a modern progressive sound he was fifty years ahead of other musicians my brother in law wants to take me golfing told me to wear two pair of trousers in case I get a hole in one I want to get into the swing of things how about some Maynard Ferguson big band from the 1960 s thank you

[JN-ckks]

June Christy’s vest performances with Kenton Band are there. Thanks for pointing.