Search - Various :: Say It With Music:Tribute to Irving B

An indispensable recording (providing--)

Samuel Chell | Kenosha,, WI United States | 03/03/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If this truly is a repackaging of the 1974 Carthage College concert, originally released by a British label in 1994 as two separate volumes, I'm happy to pay the price (admittedly in part because those are my hands clapping on the record). But I've seen at least 2 websites where neither the accompanying album photo nor the announced playlist of songs on the album agrees with the circumstances of the Carthage concert. Disc one, the first half of the concert, should show "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?" as the first song and "El Cordobes" as the last (7th track); disc two, the concert's 2nd half, should show "Here's That Rainy Day" and conclude with "Take the 'A' Train" (9th track). Also, the title of this 2001 two-disc package is simply Stan Kenton and His Orchestra: "Live at Carthage College College" (not "Live at Carthage College 1974"). If you have any doubts, the safe bet may be to order the 1994 individual CD releases.For the record, Carthage College is in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The concert is in many respects better than I remembered it. At this difficult time for big bands Kenton, unlike Maynard Ferguson or Buddy Rich, was able to minimize both the attempts at rock and roll and the concessions to contemporary popular taste. The several period pieces (Paul McCartney's "Live and Let Die," "2002 Zarathustrevisted," "Mac Arthur Park") are mercifully short and livened up with uncharacteristic humor (Kenton chides the trumpet section, the band excells as a singing chorus, various sections of the audience can be heard responding to the trumpets despatched into their midst).The sound is better than I would have dared hope for, especially since the recording most certainly is a bootleg: the piano is no better nor worse than the one hauled into the Carthage Fieldhouse that night; the rhythm section and saxes have a front and center presence throughout; the trombones, so crucial to the Kenton sound, are mixed to adequate effect; all of the solos are closely miked and distinct. Only the section work of the trumpets sounds distant and muffled. And the "screech" trumpet player, even though playing directly into the recording microphone, sounds as inadequate to the task as he did the night of the concert. Finally, the liner notes are written by someone knowledgeable about the band's repertory, musicians, and commercial challenges in 1974. And with the exception of the school's location and the circumstances of an unauthorized recording made in Kenosha, Wisconsin only to appear in the UK 20 years later, the documentation is complete.A couple of interesting items: Kenton blows the ascending scale that opens "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?" but gets it right the 2nd time (a G sharp, not a G natural). The 2nd half of the concert as recorded opens at the 5th measure of "Here's That Rainy Day," making me question if that was the arranger's (Dee Barton's) intention, or if the recording engineer got caught asleep at the switch.Kenton is obviously enjoying himself along with the crowd. He indulges a request for "Happy Birthday" (as only the Kenton Band could swing it) and twice compliments the sound technicians, at one point inviting them to travel with the band for its next engagement the following night-in San Antonio! In retrospect, these were the final days of the traveling big bands and their indefatigable leaders, enduring physical wear and tear, empty bank accounts, and frequent public indifference to keep the show on the road. After the 1940's there were only 4 remaining--Duke, Count, Woody, and Stan. Then there were 3, then 2, then one. And finally there are none."