-- Do you know who Stan Kenton is?

[Baby Lee]

I was sitting in my room this morning thinking about the recent 'do you know' threads, and realized that no one talks about Stan Kenton. I am completely bemused. I can understand that few know who he is. He fits into a unique niche in 20th-century music. Still in the Big Band era and white-bread as fuck. But much too wild for those expecting Benny Goodman or Count Basie. Not was grungy as a Harlem live show, but way more exotic than Lawrence Welk, or Mairsie Doats. Not as revolutionary as rock'n'roll or even crooners of the 50s But vital in expanding the reach and scope of American tastes just the same

Anyone ever heard of this crazy bandleader?



Example:

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[Prison Bitch]

Weird.

[loochy]

no
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[Eleazar]

No, I have not.

[displacedinMN]

Kenton. One of a kind. Heard chords in music that never existed before.

[ptlyon]

No, but I know the way to San Jose

[Oxford]

Kenton. One of a kind. Heard chords in music that never existed before.

Oh and the classic 12/8 time signatures...........

[HonestChieffan]

I was raised listening to my folks big band era albums. Stan Kenton, Artie Shaw, Bennie Goodman....all great WW2 era stuff and after.

[MahiMike]

Nope.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Moved the Rams to LA?

[Pueblo Chieftan]

A sincere question: Is anyone here a member of an order?

[Simply Red]

I don't. I will check him out!

[Baby Lee]

I don't. I will check him out!

You can do worse than diving into big band, at least for a little while.

Ellington, Miller, Kenton, Gene Krupa, brothers Dorsey, Goodman*, Basie, Stan Getz, Artie Shaw, Lionel Hampton, on down to Louis Prima and the like thereafter.


* - and now you have me on another Sing Sing Sing jag. Thanks. . . .

[Mama Hip Rockets]

Yes.

[Bugeater]

No

[Simply Red]

You can do worse than diving into big band, at least for a little while.

Ellington, Miller, Kenton, Gene Krupa, brothers Dorsey, Goodman*, Basie, Stan Getz, Artie Shaw, Lionel Hampton, on down to Louis Prima and the like thereafter.


* - and now you have me on another Sing Sing Sing jag. Thanks. . . .

Oh I love Louis Prima!

[EPodolak]

I'm batting a thousand in these threads. Full disclosure: I recently purchased a tan automobile and have '40s Junction on my fav list.

[Baby Lee]

Oh I love Louis Prima!

Since my Sing Sing Sing jag hasn't subsided [and probably won't in my life, TBH].

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[displacedinMN]

Somewhere, I have a recording of Kenton doing intros of his band members. Maynard Ferguson is the lead trumpet player-pulls out a Psycho rip during the "song"

Found it on youtube.

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[Baby Lee]

Maynard Ferguson is the lead trumpet player-pulls out a Psycho rip during the "song"

Maynard was a mad man, to the end more obsessed with playing high and loud than controlled. I think he was my HS band teacher's personal hero. Said Maynard taught him to play a trumpet solo by imagining that you're moving the clock hands at the back of the venue with your breath.

Got to meet him in the late 80s.

Here's what happens when you're a big band leader in the 70s

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Could still throw down a decent Birdland or MacArthur Park, though.

[T-post Tom]

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