Stan Kenton — 50th Anniversary Celebration: Back To Balboa (5 CD, 1991/FLAC)


 STAN KENTON 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION - BACK TO BALBOA is a 5-CD set recorded during a four-day concert commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Stan Kenton Orchestra's debut at the Rendezvous Ballroom on Balboa Island, California. Discs 1 and 2 feature a band of Kenton alumni led by Kenton composer-arrangers Pete Rugolo, William Russo, Shorty Rogers, Bill Holman, Hank Levy, Buddy Childers, Lennie Niehaus and Marty Paich. Discs 3 and 4 feature Kenton sidemen and arrangers leading their own bands. Disc 5 includes four panel discussions of Kenton's band.



 
During the 50th anniversary of Stan Kenton's debut at the Rendezvous Ballroom on Balboa Island in California (an engagement that served as a spectacular beginning to his career), a four-day convention was held to celebrate the late bandleader's legacy, filled with music by his alumni and very interesting panel discussions. The MAMA Foundation put out many of the highlights on this very impressive five-CD set. The first two CDs have 29 selections by an all-star orchestra (which includes among others, trumpeters Conte and Pete Candoli and saxophonists Bob Cooper, Gabe Baltazar, Bud Shank, Bill Perkins and Jack Nimitz) and such guests as Anita O'Day, Maynard Ferguson and Chris Connor; the original arrangers conducted their own work. The next two discs have individual selections for Bob Florence's Limited Edition (a particularly touching medley of "Artistry in Rhythm" and "All the Things You Are"), Maynard Ferguson's Big Bop Nouveau Band, the Lighthouse All-Stars, big bands led by Shorty Rogers, Buddy Childers, Bill Holman, Tom Talbert and Mark Masters and combos headed by Lee Konitz, Bob Cooper, Gabe Baltazar, Bill Perkins and Bud Shank along with The CSULB Vocal Jazz Ensemble. The performances are quite satisfying and pretty well cover Kenton's entire career. The final disc actually has over two hours taken from the informative, humorous and often-touching panel discussions; one hour is heard in each speaker simultaneously so one side has to be turned off at a time. This valuable set is essential for all listeners having at least a slight interest in Stan Kenton's music.

Volume One
01. Artristy In Rhythm (1:43)
02. Eager Beaver (3:24)
03. Intermission Riff (7:56)
04. Opus In Pastels (3:09)
05. Artistry In Percussion (3:00)
06. Peanut Vendor (3:07)
07. Concerto To End All Concertos (6:31)
08. Boogie Woogie (I May Be Wrong) (2:52)
09. Solitaire (5:03)
10. Coop's Solo (4:58)
11. Take The 'A' Train (3:19)
12. Un Poco Loco (4:13)
13. Kingfish (3:55)
14. Stella By Starlight (5:37)
15. Malaguena (5:05)

Volume Two
01. Artistry In Rhythm (0:55)
02. Pegasus (5:19)
03. A Baltazar Named Gabe (A Smith Named Greg) (6:34)
04. 23 Degrees North, 82 Degrees West (3:29)
05. All About Ronnie (5:17)
06. Pennies From Heaven (4:09)
07. It's All Right With Me (2:41)
08. The Wind (4:58)
09. Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea (3:06)
10. Atonal Adventure (8:57)
11. My Old Flame (5:40)
12. The Big Chase (4:47)
13. Body And Soul (5:48)
14. Neophonic Impressions 65 (12:04)

Volume Three
01. Artistry In Rhythm / All The Things You Are (9:04)
02. Be Bop Charlie (8:41)
03. Embraceable You (8:39)
04. Night In Tunisia (12:59)
05. Stone Canyon (8:06)
06. Looking Up Old Friends (7:50)
07. K.C. Tango (10:04)
08. The Bottom Line (5:37)

Volume Four
01. Certain Circles (5:24)
02. And Thad Ain't Bad (7:31)
03. Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most (10:22)
04. Intermission Riff (3:04)
05. Midnight Sun (3:54)
06. Artistry In Rhythm / Nightsong (3:04)
07. I Remember You (6:56)
08. Royal Street (5:03)
09. Dangraddy Blue (5:19)
10. Sands Of Time (6:12)
11. From 'City Of Glass' - Part One Entrance (3:12)

Volume Five
01. Panel Discussions (1:13:34)

Personnel:

Volume One
All-Star Alumni Band - conducted by Pete Rugolo, Bill Russo, Shorty Rogers, Bill Holman

Volume Two
All-Star Alumni Band - conducted by Hank Levy, Bill Russo, Buddy Childers, Lennie Niehaus, Marty Paich

Volume Three
Bob Florence Limited Edition
Bud Shank Quartet
Maynard Ferguson Big Bop Nouveau
Bob Cooper Quartet
Buddy Childers Big Band
Bud Shank-Shorty Rogers Lighthouse All-Stars
Shorty Rogers Big Band

Volume Four
Bill Holman Big Band
Gabe Baltazar Quartet
CSULB Vocal Jazz Ensemble
Lee Konitz Quartet
Tom Talbert Jazz Orchestra
Bill Perkins Quartet
Mark Masters Jazz Orchestra

Volume Five
Discussion Panels
Recorded live at the Hyatt Newporter Resort, Newport Beach, California, May 1991.
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