Stan Kenton Album Reviews
Find album reviews for jazz artist Stan Kenton.
Discography
- Innovations in Modern Music (1950) A
- Stan Kenton Presents (1950) A-
- City of Glass (1951) A-
- New Concepts of Artistry in Rhythm (1953) A-
- Sketches on Standards (1953) A-
- Makes a strong case for Kenton being a better arranger/conductor than he is composer. The decision to play the main theme of “Sophisticated Lady” on electric guitar will forever be one of his finest moments. Nevertheless, the atonalism is sorely missed.
- This Modern World (1953) A
- Portraits on Standards (1953) A-
- Example #2 of why Stan Kenton may be a better arranger/conductor than composer. This collection of covers features soft and subtle arrangements, which make the brass climaxes all the more volcanic.
- Contemporary Concepts (1955) B+
- A sterling rendition of “Yesterdays” saves this LP from being a run-of-the-mill placeholder set. By this point in his career, Kenton had retired his early avant-garde experiments in favor of a back-to-basics approach of controlled, syncopated swing. The material is far from essential yet the Kenton Orchestra close to peak form.
- Duet (1955, with June Christy) A-
- Kenton in Hi-Fi (1956) A-
- Cuban Fire! (1956) B+
- Kenton with Voices (1957) C+
- Rendezvous with Kenton (1957) C+
Accolades
- Greatest Albums of the 1950s – #26
- Top 10 Albums of 1950 – #2 & #8
