The Best of Stan Kenton

Stan Kenton | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 7, 1995)
• Original Release Date: March 7, 1995
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B000005GZ1
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,572 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #1 in Music > Indie Music > Pop > Instrumental Pop & Lounge
  • #5 in Music > Indie Music > Jazz > Swing Jazz
  • #12 in Music > Jazz > Orchestral Jazz

Editorial Reviews

Personnel includes: Stan Kenton (piano), Art Pepper, Lee Konitz, Bud Shank, Vido Musso, Sam Donahue (saxophone), Maynard Ferguson, Marvin Stamm (trumpet), Kai Winding, Eddie Bar, Frank Rosolino (trombone), Sal Salvador (guitar).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great songs from two decades..., February 22, 2000

By 

Jon Warshawsky "Sinatra Guru" (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Best of Stan Kenton (Audio CD)

This is an extremely listenable, energetic (for the most part) collection that begins with some of earlier upbeat pieces, with Kenton's hallmark screeching trumpets and catchy riffs. The album maintains a chronology, so that by the time you hear Stompin' at the Savoy you can tell the band has evolved in its style. Kenton explores a lot of different beats and uses first-rate soloists (all brass and saxophones)which often overshadow his own piano.

Personal favorites on this CD are Cole Porter's 'Lover', Ray Wetzel's 'Intermission Riff' and Kenton's own 'Artistry Jumps'. If you like loud jazz, you will enjoy this album. Recording quality is about par for 1940s and 1950s -- meaning if you like big stereo sound you may be disappointed. I have found that some of the better monaural recordings (and Capitol Records was excellent) are just as satisfying or better than some of the overblown stereo of the late 1950s/early 1960s.

Recommended.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great sampling of Kenton, February 22, 2000

By 

William McClenton (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Best of Stan Kenton (Audio CD)

From Kenton's early days through his "Cuban Fire" era, this recording offers a wonderful sampling of Kenton's best known works. From "Malaguena" to "23..82", you can hear how Don Ellis developed his sense of time, and how other future composers developed their talents as well. --A great overall album for anyone who is interested in Kenton on any level

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stan is still the man., June 14, 2001

By 

George Welch (Omaha, Ne. United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Best of Stan Kenton (Audio CD)

Kenton at his finest. Good music to listen to. Not for everybody,but he helped the Four Freshman get started ,and Maynard Furgeson played with him. What a sound. Buy it.