Mellophonium Moods

Stan Kenton | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 25, 2000)
• Original Release Date: 1962
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Status Records
• ASIN: B00004TJA7
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #412,892 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Lullaby of Birdland

2. Reuben's Blues

3. Like Someone in Love

4. Cha Cha Sombrero

5. Misty

6. Easy to Love

7. Caress the Sea

8. Exit Stage Left

9. The Blues Story

10. Angel Eyes

11. Blue Ointment

12. How Long Has This Been Going On?

13. Dragonwyck

14. Night at the Gold Nugget

15. Fitz

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice performance from a special edition of the Kenton band, February 18, 2008

By 

James A. Vedda (Alexandria, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mellophonium Moods (Audio CD)

Mellophoniums added a quasi-French horn sound to the Kenton band for about three years in the early 1960s. This unique ensemble recorded only a few albums, so it's always a treat to find CD releases that preserve its sound, and in this case, let us experience a live performance. The 15 tracks presented here were recorded in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1962. The audio is clear and well-balanced. The arrangements, a mix of dance and jazz tunes, were done by Gene Roland and Lennie Niehaus, a couple of Kenton's most memorable writers. There's nice solo work, particularly from Gabe Baltazar on alto sax, Allan Beutler on baritone sax, and Marvin Stamm on trumpet.

These arrangements weren't designed to showcase the sax section, but the unusual scoring is quite noticeable. Instead of the usual two altos, two tenors, and baritone, these charts were written for one alto, two tenors, baritone, and bass sax.

I give this album five stars for its quality content and collectable value for Kenton fans, but take away one star for flaws in production. The liner notes are minimal and the track times listed are inaccurate. Most importantly, I disagree with the two previous reviewers who believe that the unedited space between tunes is somehow "fun" and adds value to the recording. On the contrary, it's simply dead air that should have been edited out (coughing, clattering, and a few words that can barely be made out). Almost every track has dead space at the beginning and end. The worst offenders are "Exit Stage Left" (which begins with 35 seconds of nothing) and "Blue Ointment" (which has 18 seconds blank at the beginning and an unforgivable 50 seconds at the end). These gaping holes do nothing to show how much fun the band was having - that comes out clearly during the tunes.

Despite the production flaws, this CD is definitely worth having for fans of this type of music.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A trip back in time to Lagoon in the 1960s., February 26, 2008

By 

Braden Miskin "bmrhye" (Idaho Falls, ID United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mellophonium Moods (Audio CD)

This recording is a great sampling of the kind of bands and great music which filled the old Patio Gardens ballroom at Lagoon. Lagoon Amusement Park still operates today, but after the big bands began yielding to younger, more popular acts like The Doors and The Rolling Stones, Lagoon decided to stop hosting concerts to keep the park family-oriented. Performances by major artists were rare after that and the Patio Gardens is now home to a video arcade.

It's very interesting to listen to this recording and experience what could be heard on a regular basis on warm summer nights at the park back then.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars They Had Fun, August 24, 2002

By 

Kevin P. Doherty (Monroe, Louisiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mellophonium Moods (Audio CD)

I had the pleasure of hearing the Mellophonium band (Tuba, too)in Lambertville, NJ around the spring of 64 (maybe earlier). This was the time of Malaguena, Turtle Talk, etc.when Dee Barton's arranging influence began to come to prominence. That band was high energy all the way. This band is more laid back (probably because of the nature of the gig). Mellophone Moods precedes the period when I heard them and shows the influence of Gene Roland. The Mellos weave their couterpart and soar in tunes like Golden Nugget. Also of note is the work of the trombone section who demonstrate the big rich signature Kenton 60s trombone sound. Rueben's Blues is a great example of the way the bass trombone and tenors work together rhythmically to lay down the bottom for the tune. Reuben's also shows the skill of drummer Jerry McKenzie in pulling the band back from rushing when it would be easy, without discipline, to kick up the tempo by 10 or 20 bpm. I recommend this album - Drum Corps fans, the Devils and Scouts didn't invent their type music -Kenton's writers and arrangers did; enjoy the originals. My less than 5-star rating comes from some dull, although expertly played, dance tunes. As noted in a well written review by Mr. Law, the chatter of the musicians between tunes is a lot of fun and adds to the atmosphere of listening to such fine musicians having a good time.