Stan Kenton Sketches On Standards CD

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 Big Band Music Par Excellence
Here is a set of standard pop songs dressed up in attractive arrangements that are made to shimmer like champagne with excellent solos all around. One of the highliights is Lee Konitz's alto on "Lover Man", but there are excellent solos on every track. Highly recommended either for dancing, or just plain listening. Big band jazz doesn't get much better than this.
Submitted by a reviewer (San Jose, CA) 
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 Kenton at Capitol, the very best.
This CD is from the Capitol vaults and represents the best of the band from 1954/5. The arrangements are by Bill Russo and Stan mainly and show how the band could play "standards" so exceptionally well. All the "stars" are here, Conte Candoli, Maynard Ferguson, Lee Konitz, Bob Burgess, and Frank Rosolino. These are classic tracks that display the band in all its glory with an array of soloists unlikely ever to be equalled. This CD has been converted to digital by Ron McMaster with love and total dedication. The mono sound is magnificent. If you only have a couple of Kenton CDs you MUST buy this one as it is a truly fine example of the aggregation.
Submitted by a reviewer (Cheltenham, England) 
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 Kenton : The American Music Hero!
Stan Kenton gathered all the qualities that has shaped the United States :imagination, courage, entreprising mind, independent-minded and a great potential of creativity. The Sketches on Standards album belongs to the highest peak in the vast Kenton output, thanks also to one of his best associates, the great Bill Russo.
Submitted by jean-philippe.epitaux (Lausanne, Switzerland) 
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 "Sketches" heard again for the first time!
The Capitol Jazz release of Stan Kenton's "Sketches on Standards" is a CD to be heard again for the first time.....the CD technology permits one to hear the inner voices not heard when the LP was first issued. The fluid sounds of those Kenton ballads makes one sit up and take notice of what a wonderful band that was -- arrangers Bill Russo, Lennie Niehaus, Stan Kenton himself....players and soloists -- Buddy Childers, Maynard Ferguson, Conte Candoli, Don Dennis, Ruben McFall, Bob Burgess, Frank Rossolino, Keith Moon, George Roberts, Vinnie Dean, Lee Konitz, Bill Holman, Richie Kamuca, Bob Gioga, Sal Salvador, Don Bagley, Stan Levy....musicians who became the core of the west coast sound in the movie and TV studios. The "bonus" charts were recorded at around the same time. This is another star in the Stan Kenton/Capitol reissue firmament. Run, don't walk to your computer to order it! Tony Agostinelli, Editor THE NETWORK
Submitted by ajagostinelli (Portsmouth, RI, USA) 
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 Smooth Kenton
Sketches on Standards is just that, with the Kenton big band touch. Not elevator music, each selection has a good heavy arrangement and is very easy listening. These albums are worth listening to anytime, as background or as good up front listening music. Well worth while.
Submitted by graceland2 (Boiling Spring Lakes, NC USA) 
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