Saturday, June 23, 2018

USA; Stan Kenton Legacy Orchestra -Flyin' Through Florida (2018)


Flyin' Through Florida

The oldies include Artistry Jumps, with the original arrangement; two arrangements that Dave Barduhn did back in the 1970s, In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning, and Through the Eyes of Love; and finally what they now call El Manisero, La Ultima Vez. Wait until you hear what the rhythm section does with this piece - completely different than any recordings before. The new music is very exciting. As usual the writers have come up with a bunch of winners! Joel Kaye has given us a new arrangement of the Johnny Richards original that was recorded by Frank Sinatra Young at Heart, an original called Psyche, and an Al Cohn tune for the Saxophone section, Shazam. Scott Whitfield has arranged the Puccini aria O Mio Babbino Caro as a solo for Mike Vax, and Jennifer Leitham's original The Trashman Commeth, as well as a great double bill so to speak, of How High the Moon and Ornithology, for he and Ginger to sing. There is a wonderful arrangement of After You've Gone by Dennis Noday's good friend Lee Harris. Finally. And last but certainly not least is Charlie Ferguson's stirring arrangement of Someday, a pop tune done for sure in the Kenton Style. SAXOPHONES: Kim Richmond, Phil Hilger, Rick Condit, Joel Kaye, Tami Davidsson, Bill Prince TROMBONES: Scott Whitfield, Dale Devoe, Dave Keim, Kenny Shroyer, Rich Bullock TRUMPETS: Mike Vax, Dennis Noday, John Harner, Jim Oatts, Greg McLean PIANO: Charlie Ferguson BASS: Jennifer Leithan DRUMS: C.E. Askew VOCALS: Scott Whitfield,Ginger Berglund MIKE VAX, a Kenton Alum, has devoted much of his professional life keeping the legacy of big band music, most notably that of Stan Kenton, alive and vibrant. In addition to Kenton's musical legacy, Vax has carried on the Kenton dedication to education, an area where Kenton was one of the early leaders. One result of Vax's efforts is the existence of THE STAN KENTON LEGACY ORCHESTRA, a big band that Vax has fronted through a few name changes for 25 years