Standards in Silhouette (Reis)

Stan Kenton | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 8, 1998)
• Original Release Date: 1959
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B000009OHB
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #86,735 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #34 in Music > Indie Music > Pop > Instrumental Pop & Lounge
  • #96 in Music > Indie Music > Jazz > Swing Jazz

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Kenton Classic Must-Have Album!, February 2, 2000

By 

C. Law "Charlie Law" (Las Vegas, NV USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Standards in Silhouette (Reis) (Audio CD)

This is one of my FAVORITE Stan Kenton albums of all time! Great arrangements by Bill Mathieu and tremendous playing of it by one of the best Kenton bands....Mathieu's charts used counter-melodies with the main melody to set some beautiful moods. This was one of Capitol Records' "theme-type" Kenton albums (they even had Stan record an album of Tex Ritter songs! I swear it! ) and sets a definite "blues mood."

The band was really HOT ( Bill Trujillo, Don Sebesky, Archie LeCoque, Rolf Ericson and some of the best playing I ever heard from Charlie Mariano on alto, share the solos). The trumpet section featured (4)--count 'em---superb lead players: Bud Brisbois, Dalton Smith, Bill Chase & Roger Middleton! ... Add the always-great Kenton trombones and WOW ! Some of the full-band ensemble playing will startle and amaze the musicians listening, but you don't have to be one to appreciate the music--it will totally wrap you up and sweep you off to another world. ( My vinyl copy was pretty worn, so the CD is a welcome reissue, and "Lazy Afternoon, " which I only heard on a live, one-mike recording once before, is a nice bonus). Kenton fans who missed this one will want to add it to their favorites, too !

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A haunting and moody expression of these standards, October 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Standards in Silhouette (Reis) (Audio CD)

Although I'm only 42 yrs old, I have been impacted by this album. As a child I was drawn to the haunting melodies and unusual arrangements. My parents used to play this album often (since they knew some of the musicians)and although I was a Beatles fan, something about these arrangements has always stayed with me. I am incredibly impressed with Bill Mathieu's ability. I looked for "Standards" in CD format for years with no luck and finally went out and bought a turntable (which these days are hard to find) just to be able to listen to my parents old album. Highly recommended if you really appreciate music's intricate delicacies.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Kenton Band at its BEST !, January 24, 2000

By 

C. Law "Charlie Law" (Las Vegas, NV USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Standards in Silhouette (Reis) (Audio CD)

Thank God they finally remastered this for CD ! (After 30 years of playing it, my LP was about worn away). Many Kenton albums followed a theme (an idea Capitol Records carried to the ridiculous when they even had Stan do an album of Tex Ritter songs -- I swear it's TRUE! )...and this one features TERRIFIC (and very challenging) arrangements from Bill Mathieu all the way through. The writing uses counter-melodies and the familiar close Kenton-style harmonies to weave a sort of magic spell as you listen to it. The musicians ? There are Bill Trujillo on tenor and Archie LeCoque on trombone, both of whom still reside here in Las Vegas. Then there's the best alto playing I ever heard from Charlie Mariano, and there's Don Sebesky, Rolf Ericson and of course, Stan himself. The trumpet section besides Rolf featured (4)--count 'em--great lead players: Bud Brisbois, Dalton Smith, Bill Chase and Roger Middleton, plus Clyde Reasinger on a pair of tracks. Add the "stalwarts" in the bone section (Kent Larson, Jim Amlotte and Bob Knight) and WOW ! You wanna' talk powerhouse bands ? "Lazy Afternoon" is a bonus on the CD, which I never knew still existed--but I'm glad they included it here. THIS IS CLASSIC KENTON! Ahead of its time, extremely well-played and running the gamut of musical emotion, from moody to funny with these great charts. You'll probably keep it in YOUR collection forever, too !