Always Great
5
By jwilson
I have enjoyed Stan Kenton, and the many musicians he has developed and mentored for many years. While this cd is not his greatest, It brings back so many memories from the times he was a pioneer in the modern jazz age.
One of only a few studio recordings from the mid-late 1970's, and a GREAT one to boot!
5
By tbonejazzman76
Most of Kenton's albums in the 70's were live recordings from college campus tours or jazz camps (Butler, Redlands, BYU, etc.) but the recording technology had caught up by the 1970's and the sound engineers captured the full depth of the Kenton sound on this album. Check out the trombone section on tracks 1, 2, 4, and 5, for example. You can hear all five parts. A previous reviewer cited the trumpet solo on "Send in the Clowns," and he's absolutely right, it's not Maynard Ferguson. I've found bootleg MP3's on the internet claiming that Maynard played the solo on "Clowns." The fact is, Kenton always had bright, talented, and most importantly, chop-gifted trumpet players before, during, and after Maynard's time with the band. "Kenton 76" is where the mixed meter experiments reached their zenith and these songs will stick with you. I usually play "Kenton 76" for people who claim to hate the Kenton band. Remember, there is a large segment of the jazz world that believes it's "cool" or "hip" to ignore the Kenton catalog. No doubt some of Stan's experiments didn't work as well as others, but not with this record...it was, is, and always will be a hit and a wonderful time capsule.
A must for a serious stage band fanatic
5
By JoeTheBassman
Any serious fan of stage band music will love this album. The musicianship on this album is some of the orchestra's best work. John Harner leads the trumpets in a way that one would expect from a Kenton. I have had the pleasure of working with John Harner through the Missouri Jazz Residency program in the past and look back on the music and learning with fond memories. My high-school stage band tackled Send in the Clown and My Funny Valentine off these arrangements and I can personally attest to the difficulty pulling off such charts. Do yourself a favor and buy this album, you won't be disappointed.
Amazing Album
5
By BevyXO
I absolutley love this album. But the best part is that my high school jazz band director is John Harner, who played the 1st Trumpet for Stan Kenton and played the solo on Send In The Clowns. So i guess that i am a liitle biased, but it is still an awsome album.
A Favorite 70's-era album
4
By Jazz4Me
I must first admit a bias - this is my favorite of the 70's era Kenton recordings. Why? The opening number sticks in my head, from the first time I heard it in 1977 to today; the sequencing of the songs is superb; and though tight and polished it has just enough edge showing through to remind us of the spontaneity that is jazz. All through this album you get the impression of barely restrained power that characterizes Kenton's last few bands.
Highlights (in addition to the wonderful melody of "Time For A Change") include a searing trumpet on the refreshing arrangement of "Send In The Clowns"; a brooding "Tiburon"; flying ensemble trumpet work on "A Smith Named Greg"; and a deceptively engaging "Decoupage" (a Hank Levy composition, of course, featuring some great drum work by Gary Hobbs.)
I find it necessary to mention that the anonymous reviewer from All Music Guide is, in my opinion, all wet (see my review of "Journey To Capricorn" for more. ) Yes, the late Kenton band does sound very much like a college stage band - or, more precisely, so pervasive had the Kenton influence become during those years that every college band was trying to sound like Kenton! The reviewer - obviously lacking any historical perspective of jazz - doesn't understand who the leaders and followers are. Kenton was the leader, and everyone else attempted - with varying degrees of success - to follow in his footsteps.
