Several years ago, it became necessary for me to lay over in Chicago. I was traveling with a fellow who liked folk and country music, and even took his banjo on the road with him for entertainment during sometimes lonely nights in a strange town. Reggie had not ever really listened to jazz. To my profound delight, I discovered that Stan Kenton was playing at a supper club called Mr. Kelly’s … and I conned him into going. Kenton was his usual brand of spectacular. During the first show, all my friend could say was “Outrageous! Outrageous!!” Reg was hooked, and it took absolutely no arm twisting to get him to stay for the second show, which elicited equally enthusiastic responses from the newly christened jazz buff! Such was the magnetism of Stan Kenton and his orchestra. For anyone else who is somehow not familiar with the excellence of Stan Kenton––bandleader, pianist, and composer––you’re in for a treat.

(Above) The riveting Kenton rendition of Jimmy Webb’s Grammy Award winning song, MacArthur Park … recorded during the band’s 1972 European tour. (Top left) is There Will Never Be Another You, a 1976 throwback to the vintage Kenton sound, with Anita O’Day and The Four Freshmen. Finally, (Bottom left) is Intermission Riff, the Stan Kenton standard that was the tune that hooked me on his full, rich style and exceptionally creative arrangements.