“Stan Kenton Presents” Album Review

Album: Stan Kenton Presents

Artist: Stan Kenton

Year: 1950

Genre: Avant-Garde Jazz, Big Band

Grade: A-

Stan Kenton’s signature brand of progressive big band had always been pointing in the direction of intellectual, avant-garde art music. That’s why Stan Kenton Presents shouldn’t come as a surprise. Throughout the album, Kenton combines modernist classical (a 16-piece string ensemble features on seven of the eight tracks) with his eclectic big band (including the talents of Art Pepper, Maynard Ferguson, June Christy and Shelley Manne, with corresponding self-titled songs for each performer) to showcase the possibilities of what jazz is capable of. Like Innovations in Modern Music just before it, Stan Kenton Presents is easily one of the most ahead-of-its-time jazz albums ever released — one that pushes the very limits of jazz and classical.

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Accolades

• Top 10 Albums of 1950 – #8