What does Stan Kenton have in common with the number 88? For starters, he was a “grand” pianist who played those 88 ivories the same way he led his band—with passion, precision and power! Secondly, the maestro would have celebrated his unofficial 88th birthday on February 19, 2000. To commemorate the occasion, this date marked the release of The Kenton Kronicles.

Penned by jazz archivist, writer, disc jockey and Kenton historian Steven D. Harris, this definitive biography (over a decade in the making) is a history, photograph, anecdote and reference book all in one! It documents the complete life and times of Stanley Newcomb Kenton—beloved band leader, pianist, composer, arranger and jazz educator. The book reads like a virtual encyclopedia of facts in covering the life story of “Modern America’s Man of Music,” his celebrated soloists and orchestras.
  • 396 pages in soft cover, 8 1/2 X 11 in size, 40 glossy photo pages.
  • 263 incredible (unpublished) black and white photographs
  • Full chronological interviews from over 100 musicians, family members
    and other related artists associated with the Kenton band.

    Foreword by Stan’s legendary writing companion, Pete Rugolo, who, through this unique and imaginative orchestrations, was greatly responsible for bringing Kenton’s sound to prominence.
    Color

Individual chapters on each of Kenton’s various orchestras:
  • In the Beginning (1911-40)
  • Birth of a Band (1940-45)
  • Artistry in Rhythm (1946-47)
  • A presentation of Progressive Jazz (1947-49)
  • Innovations in Modern Music (1950-51)
  • New Concepts (1952-54)
  • To Swing or Not to Swing (1954-57)
  • Balboa Revisited (1957-60)
  • Mellophonium Magic (1960-63)
  • Neophonic Impressions (1964-69)
  • Creative “Whirl” (1969-77)
  • The Final Bars (1978-79)
 
  • Over 35 transcribed radio and TV interviews from “Stan the Man” himself aptly titled “Kenton in Conversation.” Watch his career unfold with each chapter as Kenton tells his own life story, reminiscing on a variety of subjects.

  • A first-time video-filmography titled “Kenton on Camera” which documents over 125 appearances of Stan in films, television and private videos (with and without his orchestra) from 1936-78. This massive list spans over 40 years!
The Kenton Kronicles, as a First edition, was produced in a limited quantity of 1,000 copies.

Price is $50.00 plus shipping/handling.
For all overseas orders, price is $75.00.

  • Email me below to ask about availability.
  • Please Indicate how many books you want at $50.00
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  • Make checks (US Dollars, please) and money orders payable to:

Dynaflow Publications
148 N. Catalina Avenue #4
Pasadena, California 91106
(allow three weeks for delivery)

Steven D. Harris
sdhjazz@earthlink.net

Attention audiophiles! Artistry "jumps"
with 9 great CD sounds of Stan the Man!

This triple trilogy of Kenton treasures consists of all previously unreleased rare "live" material. The 9 CDs to date, averaging 70 minutes in length, cover over 175 seldom or never-before-heard selections. The
historic sounds stem from radio broadcasts, rehearsals, club, concert and dance dates, movie and TV appearances. Price: $15.95 plus shipping per CD (check for overseas shipping). Disc titles and track highlights:

KENTON FOR COLLECTORS, VOLUME 1: Featuring the most obscure titles and arrangements known to exist, "live" from 1947-77. Whether you're a Kenton completist or a casual fan, chances are you'll find several items of interest among the 19 previously unreleased tracks. The disc includes
Pete's Riff, Solo For Alto, Sunset Tower, This is an Orchestra! ('59 TV version), Where Did You Go (aka Jordu), Little Old Lady, April Fool (extended version), You Deserve A Break Today (McDonald's theme), German National Anthem, Samana, Haps 69, The Lord's Prayer, Writer's Cramp. Liner
notes by 1956-68 trombone alumnus Jim Amlotte.

KENTON FOR COLLECTORS, VOLUME 2: Featuring 21 more live titles of rarely heard selections, issued for the first time. The 73 minutes cover the full spectrum of Kenton's bandleading career, 1940-78. Tracks include Opus in Pastels (a restored audition disc by Stan's first rehearsal band), Concerto
For Doghouse (the only live broadcast with Eddie Safranski), The Peaceful Reign (Japan's national anthem), Lonely Windrose, Kalamazoo, Three Little Words (Ray Wetzel vocal), Sabina's Serenade, When I'm With You, Little Boy Blew, Monday (theme from Jazz Scene USA), Deeper Than Springtime, A Simple Song, The Gaza Strip. Liner notes by 1957-59 drum alum Jerry McKenzie.

KENTON FOR COLLECTORS, VOLUME 3: By request, more of the rarest "live" material by Stan's band known to exist, never before released. The 18 tracks (70 minutes) cover Kenton's entire career, 1940-77. This CD offers ten arrangements never offered anytime on record. Titles include Night
(1940 audition acetate from Stan's rehearsal band), Avocado (vocal duet by June Christy and Gene Howard), Birdhaus, Hav-A-Havana, Machito (TV version with strings), Pershing Square (excerpt from LSD Suite), The Buzz, Finlandia, closing Theme.

STAN'S SINGERS: The most complete collection of live Kenton vocalists (21 in all) on one CD, from Stan's first singer (Kay Gregory, 1941) to his last (Jean Turner, 1963). It includes two singers who only performed with Stan on one occasion (John Conte and Sue Raney). For the first time, you'll get to compare the two alternate arrangements of All About Ronnie by Jerri Winters and Chris Connor. The most swinging sampler: Stan's current wife, Ann Richards, belts out the unrecorded I'm Shootin' High. Prize track: Kenton attempting to sing Orange Colored Sky. Another exception novelty: the Ray Wetzel & Eddie Bert duet on Save the Bones For Henry Jones. Also offered are Red Dorris, Dolly Mitchell, Anita O'Day, Gene Howard, June Christy, Jay Johnson, Kay Brown, Helen Carr, Ernie Bernhardt, Frank Rosolino, Jan Tober and Kent Larsen. Liner notes by alumnus Milt Bernhart, penned one month before his passing in Jan. 2004.

RADIO RARITIES: A collection of historic live broadcast material (19 titles covering a full CD's length of 79+ minutes). Many comical moments are captured in Stan's spontaneous introductions. These classic radioairchecks spanning 1941-70 include Theme (the first time Kenton talks on the air), Taboo, Artistry Jumps, Come Back To Sorrento, Concerto To End All Concertos, Fortune of Fools, Mellophobia, Intermission Riff and Theme. Liner notes by sax/arr alumnus Bill Fritz.

STAN KENTON & FRIENDS: The greatest semblance of "Stan with the Stars" on one CD spanning 1944-74. Features 23 tracks over 77 minutes. You'll encounter Stan in settings you've never heard before; likewise you'll find many great guest artists who join the Kenton band. In most instances, these were one-time-only spots that were luckily captured for posterity. You'll hear Stan in duet with Mel Torme, Harry "The Hipster" Gibson and Duke Ellington. The maestro also sits in with Nat Cole's Trio, the Lamplighter All-Stars, Al Goodman, the Tonight Show and Danish Radio Orchestras, the Berlin Dream Band and even Lionel Hampton. Stan's band accompanies Patti Page, The Four Freshmen, the Cleveland Philharmonic and-would you believe-Ginger Rogers? June Christy, Buddy Rich and Nat Pierce also make guest spots - and you're guaranteed to laugh as Kenton's comical side comes alive in a radio routine with Bob Hope and Frances Langford. A special TV novelty has Kenton at the keys with a youthful combo called Dixieland Small Fry. As a bonus, there are interview segments of Stan with Steve Allen, Johnny Carson, Tommy Dorsey, Bobby Troup and George Shearing.

BIG SOUNDS FROM THE SMALL SCREEN: The most complete compilation of soundtracks taken from more than 20 TV appearances. All titles (77 minutes long spanning four decades) are previously unreleased. The CD offers Stan's first televised encounter at the Hollywood Bowl in 1948 to his last on-air concert in Holland, 1976. Most of these short-lived programs are long forgotten, including Dial 'M' For Music, Tonight at Zardi's, Palladium Time and Music Hall. Hear the maestro on his own programs, The Stan Kenton Show, Music '55 and the one-time special Music of the Sixties. Tracks include Viva Prado (from the Ed Sullivan show), Ain't No Misery In Me (June Christy vocal), Artistry in Percussion (only known version with drummer Irv Kluger), Bound To Be Heard, Eager Beaver (rare version choreographed for dancers), Opus in Chartreuse, Woman, Reuben's Blues, Artistry in Rhythm. Unusual CD highlight: a 1955 Kenton Narrative with original music by Johnny Richards.

STAN KENTON IN TRUE '52 STEREO: This 65-minute CD is an historical revelation - it offers the earliest "live" stereophonic jazz sounds ever discovered. The eight tracks were captured at the famous Blue Note club in September, 1952 (four years before stereo was commercially available). The material, which features such illustrious stars as Maynard Ferguson, Lee Konitz and Frank Rosolino, includes two titles from the Kenton library never released. The balance offers another dozen unissued tracks from Chicago's swinging jazz spot in 1952-53. Stereo titles include Francesca, Limelight, Graettinger '52, Sweets. Monaural tracks via NBC radio include Theme, Round Robin, Collaboration. CD includes-page booklet with historic liner notes and action photos.

ARTISTRY IN OMEGA: 75 minutes devoted to Stan's final road bands, live on tour in 1977-78. The 13 tracks are all previously unissued, including the last performance of Stan's dramatic theme Artistry in Rhythm (as a bonus, the liner notes include the last color shot ever taken of Stan from the stage for the last-time playing of his theme). A handful of titles come from Kenton's last jazz clinic held at Orange Coast College during the band's last week of existence. These particular road bands were never commercially recorded which makes this music even more priceless. The CD offers two obscure charts in the Kenton canon never issued previously. Tracks include the comical Warm-up (with Stan accompanying his "band choir"), Celebration Suite, Opus in Pastels, Time For A Change, Chelsea Bridge, Lover Man (featuring guest Rich Matteson, baritone horn), Turtle Talk, A Little Minor Booze.

  
ATTN: BIG BAND FANS! Two historic calendars in honor of two of the top jazz bandleaders of all time: STAN KENTON and WOODY HERMAN!

These fact-filled calendars honor the memory of two legendary heroes of the big band world: Stan Kenton and Woody Herman. Updated yearly, each calendar contains rare black & white photographs of these internationally known leaders and their exciting orchestras in action. Most of these historic shots are being published for the first time. Calendar size is 8 1/2 x 11 on glossy paper with high-resolution photos, each individually numbered and produced in a Limited Edition of only 250 copies, which will insure that each one is already a collector's item.
THE 2008 KENTON KALENDAR is devoted to Modern America's Man of Music--bandleader, pianist, composer, arranger and jazz educator. It contains over 350 historical dates and alumni background on Stan's star soloists and musicians between 1941-78, and includes over 25 unpublished photos of Kenton and his brilliant bands (this includes a special dedication page to June Christy). For the Kenton fanatic, the calendar offers an alphabetical, easy reference section titled the "Encyclopedia of Kentonia" which includes the instrument, tenure, birthdate and location of nearly 350 alumni. A must-have for all devoted Kenton fans.
THE 2003 WOODY HERMAN CALENDAR is dedicated to the famous bandleader, clarinetist and singer. It covers his complete 50-year career as a leader from 1936-87, as well as little known facts on his formative years when Woody was known as the "Boy Wonder of the Clarinet." It's also a profound information guide that features over 150 trivia dates on the maestro and his various bands, and over 250 entries on his many musicians and singers, known as the "Encyclopedia of the Herds." Like its companion calendar on "Stan the Man", it includes over a dozen rare, unpublished photographs of Woody and his swinging ensembles in action.
AN EXCELLENT HOLIDAY GIFT!
Jan Tober: was featured with the Kenton band for a short time during his golden years. She has appeared at the Kenton reunions in Los Angeles several times, singing some of the original charts (which she still has!).

This is her latest album I have the feeling I've been here before. It's a collection of fine jazz ballads accompanied by Jeff Linsky, award winning Concord artist. Some songs: The title tune, I have the feeling I've been here before, Interlude, Everytime we say goodbye, Where do you start, Interlude (A pete Rugolo tune), and My Romance.

There are 12 tunes total. CD only.

Price: $15 - Call 1-714-238-1199 to order.

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