Customer Reviews

Standards in Silhouette (Reis)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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 !

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.

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 !

I FIRST HEARD THIS WHEN IT CAME OUT ON VINYL. I STILL HAVE THE LP,BUT THEY ARE SUCH A HASSLE TO MESS WITH, AND CDS ARE SO EASY (NOT TO MENTION REMOTE CONTROL). THE MUSIC IS SO GOOD THAT 35 YEARS AFTER FIRST HEARING IT, I AM WRITING ABOUT IT, TRYING TO EXPRESS HOW HAUNTING, SOOTHING, BEAUTIFUL, AND PLEASURABLE IT IS. I HOPE THAT ANYONE WHO ENJOYS MUSIC WITH STYLE, (STYLE THAT EVOKES ART DECO, NEW YORK, GERSWIN, CLASS. YOU KNOW, STYLE) GETS THIS CD AND ENJOYS THE MUSIC FOR DECADES AS I HAVE.

Finally out on CD! The arrangements of old familiars are lush, gorgeous. Solo work is excellent. This is just about as good as Kenton ever got, and he was very good.

The cuts in "Standards in Silhouette" are in stark contrast to the bombast, dissonance, and 100+ db sound levels that fans associate with the revolutionary Stan Kenton bands, yet this presentation is among Kenton's best. The album certainly rates the most beautiful. It's far and away the best of the three "standards" albums I've heard from the Kenton band and superior to any collection of standards you're likely to hear. What makes the difference is Bill Mathieu's arrangements and the soloists' depth of feeling. Mathieu's work is innovative, ingenious, to the point where he gives an entirely new feeling, a new life, to each of the standards presented. Standout performances from Charlie Mariano (one of the top five alto's of all time), Bill Trujillo, Archie LeCoque, and Don Sebesky. Without doubt, it's a different take on jazz from the Kenton band. But it's one well worth listening to---unforgettable, to my mind.

I can beat the other memories - around 1955 when I bought this record - it was splendid then and it is NOW (at my age of 77).
I do not agree with all the music Kenton made but I thought at the time that this was the music of the future. Alas, he seems all but forgotten.

I must admit to being disappointed when I first heard this album, but it quickly grew on me. Now I find I wouldn`t do without it. I wonder if Bill Mathieu arranged for any other band?

Kenton's finest "standards" album by far. Excellent arrangements by Bill Mathieu with great solos by Mariano, Trujillo, Ericson, LeCoque, Sebesky and even Stan himself. A MUST HAVE!

I have had this album on LP since it was first released. AFter all these years, having it now on CD so that I can play it so many different places has been wonderful. Remebering Stan Kenton and his music has given me such pleasure. Also remembering lead trumpet, Dalton Smith!