Customer Reviews

The Kenton Kronicles: A Biography of Modern America's Man of Music, Stan Kenton

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a massive work of scholarship, published privately, by a California newspaper reporter who loves the music of Stan Kenton. The 402 pages are mostly double column, and a great many photographs accompany the text. Scores of often extremely interesting interviews of key figures in the Kenton story appear, along with articles about Kenton and interviews given by the famous jazz musician and composer himself. Also included is an itinerary, with more than 9,000 entries, of the Kenton band during the entire course of its history, 1941-78.

Of the four major books on Stan Kenton (the others being by William Lee, Lillian Arganian, and Carol Easton), this is the most comprehensive, detailed, and valuable. Serious Kenton fans simply can't be without this book, even at its high price. Any student of the Big Band Era will also find it useful and enlightening.

My only criticism is that Harris is a bit too worshipful at times and is occasionally evasive about Kenton's problems with alcohol and women. Carol Easton's perceptive book Straight Ahead should be consulted on these and other less flattering personal matters.

Stan Kenton was a highly important contributor to American jazz, and we are fortunate to have this in-depth study of his long and fruitful career.