STAN KENTON: Cuban Fire

STAN KENTON
A banda de Stan Kenton foi uma das minhas primeiras paixões. Depois de ouvi-la pela primeira vez, aos 14 anos de idade, todas as demais orquestras passaram para um plano secundário na minha preferência. Aquela sonoridade incrível, moderna, as dissonâncias, as tensões, os arranjos completamente diferentes dos padrões vigentes, mudaram a minha vida. (Aliás, não só a minha, mas de gente muito importante e fundamental na definição dos rumos que a música brasileira viria a tomar, com a bossa-nova. Exemplos? João Donato e Tom Jobim, prá citar apenas dois "kentomaníacos".
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ALBUM REVIEW
Composer-arranger Johnny Richards created the music for this concept album, recorded in 1956. It required a very large band for its execution, combining Stan Kenton's usual brass emphasis with five Latin percussionists led by Willie Rodriguez on bongos. The results are admirable: music filled with heat and energy and sudden sharp contrasts in moods and voices. There are excellent solo contributions from a band that included trumpeter Sam Noto, trombonist Carl Fontana, and saxophonists Lennie Niehaus, Lucky Thompson, and Bill Perkins, but the real stars are Richards and the collective ensemble, who bring extraordinary precision and energy to a highly demanding score. The results are among the finest moments of Kenton's career, not only for the authentic use of Latin rhythmic elements but also for Richards's success in integrating extended composition techniques with jazz improvisers. The CD also includes five pieces by Richards and Gene Roland recorded in 1960 by the "Mellophonium" version of Kenton's orchestra.
By ~ Stuart Broomer, at amazon. com

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The opening number of "Fuego Cubano" is just a portent of things to come. Absolutely beautiful orchestral arrangements for the Kenton band. These numbers showcase the powerful brass section, with the trombones especially coming to the fore (Bob Fitzpatrick, Carl Fontana, Kent Larsen). Marvelous solos by tenors Bill Perkins (La Guera Baila, Quien Sabe) and Lucky Thompson (Fuego Cubano), Trumpeters Vinnie Tano and Sam Noto and altoists Lennie Niehaus (La Suerte De Los Tontos, Recuerdos, El Congo Valiente) and the always exciting Gabe Baltazar (El Panzon, Wagon). All backed by an exceptional rhythm section to bring the listener into a wonderful world of Cuban rhythms. Johnny Richards was always a fantastic arranger for the Kenton Band. He had an absolute knack for employing the powerful forces of the brass section that spurred the band to greater heights on performances. And the Kenton band was never short of inventive soloists (as witnessed in this recording) to help interpret his marvelous compositions.
By ~ Patrick Nava, at amazon. com
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MINHA OPINIÃO: a paixão de Stan Kenton pelos ritmos afro-cubanos certamente teve a influencia de Chico O´Farrill, nos anos em que trabalhou como arranjador da banda de SK. Neste álbum, totalmente "afro-cubano", os temas originais e arranjos são do grande JOHNNY RICHARDS, mais um gigante na longa lista de fantásticos arranjadores que cercavam Kenton (Bill Russo, Pete Rugolo, Bill Holman, etc.) A "academia", no auge da fama e da forma, se rende totalmente à "latinidad", neste memorável álbum. Uma beleza.
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STAN KENTON: Cuban Fire

PERSONNEL:
Stan Kenton (piano)
Lennie Neihaus, Gene Baltazar (alto saxophone)
Bill Perkins, Lucky Thompson (tenor saxophone)
Billy Root, Marvin Holliday (baritone saxophone)
Ed Leddy, Sam Noto, Lee Katzman, Phil Gilbert, Al Mattaliano (trumpets)
Vinnie Tano (trumpet, flugelhorn)
Bob Fitzpatrick, Carl Fontana, Kent Larsen (trombone)
Irving Rosenthal, Julius Watkins (French horn)
Jay McAllister (tuba)
Gene Roland (mellophonium)
Ralph Blaze (guitar)
Curtis Counce, Pete Chivily (bass)
Art Anton, Mel Lewis (drums)
Tommy Lopez, George Acevedo (congas)
George Laguna (timbales
Roger Mozian (claves)
Mario Alvarez (maracas)
Willie Rodriguez (bongos)

TRACKS/FAIXAS:
1. Fuego Cubano (Cuban Fire)
2. El Congo Valiente (Valiant Congo)
3. Recuerdos (Reminiscences)
4. Quien Sabe (Who Knows)
5. La Quera Baila (The Fair One Dances)
6. La Suerte De Los Tontos (Fortune Of Fools)
7. Tres Corazones (Three Hearts)
8. Malibu Moonlight
9. El Panzon
10. Carnival
11. Wagon
12. Early Hours (Lady Luck)