“Portraits on Standards”

Album: Portraits on Standards

Artist: Stan Kenton

Year: 1953

Genre: Swing

Grade: B+

Stan Kenton’s second 1953 album of stripped-back, straight-ahead standards is a relaxing, surprisingly easy listening affair. Just like Sketches on Standards, Kenton ditches his avant-garde experimental tendencies for soft and subtle melodic swing. And even though the end result may not be as “interesting” as, say, City of Glass or This Modern World, you can’t deny his musicality. Kenton’s instincts as a bandleader shouldn’t be in question: just listen to the warm electric guitar tones of Sal Salvador, which add so much warmth to the record! Nothing here is abrasive — Portraits on Standards is the perfect Kenton album for non-Kenton fans.