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Sketches on Standards | 
 enlarge | Artist: Stan Kenton
Label: Blue Note Records
Category: Music
List Price: $11.98
Buy New: $6.94
You Save: $5.04 (42%)
New (11) Used (8) from $5.79
Avg. Customer Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 25592
Format: Original Recording Reissued, Original Recording Remastered
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 34070
UPC: 724353407025
EAN: 0724353407025
ASIN: B0000647MH
Release Date: April 23, 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Sophisticated Lady | | • | Begin The Beguine | | • | Lover Man | | • | Pennies From Heaven | | • | Over The Rainbow | | • | Fascinatin' Rhythm | | • | There's A Small Hotel | | • | Shadow Waltz | | • | Harlem Nocturne | | • | Stella By Starlight | | • | Dark Eyes | | • | Malaguena | | • | Spring Is Here | | • | I'm Glad There Is You |
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
Flawless renditions of great arrangements May 15, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
It's amazing how a collaboration between talented arrangers and great players can bring new life to tunes we've heard at least a thousand times. Half of the 14 tracks in this collection were arranged by Bill Russo, the remainder being the work of notables such as Lennie Niehaus, Johnny Richards, and Kenton himself. Among the musicians in this all-star band are Maynard Ferguson, Conte Candoli, and Buddy Childers on trumpet; Lee Konitz, Bill Holman, Bob Cooper, Richie Kamuca, and Jimmy Giuffre on saxes; Frank Rosolino, Bob Burgess, and Carl Fontana on trombone; and Mel Lewis on drums. If you recognize all or most of these names, then you know the caliber of this recording. If you don't, it's time for you to be introduced to them.
Some highlights: a mellow "Sophisticated Lady" with nice solos and a bit of in-your-face brass; an arrangement of "Begin the Beguine" that will make you forget about the way Artie Shaw played it; "Lover Man" as a superb alto feature for Konitz; one of Candoli's best recorded solos in "Pennies From Heaven"; excellent solo and ensemble work in "Fascinatin' Rhythm"; a warm and tender "I'm Glad There Is You" with a gorgeous Niehaus alto solo; and Rosolino, brilliant as always, soloing on four tracks. Need I say more?
The original 1953 release was a 10-inch LP that included only the first eight tracks. Two of the six bonus tracks came from the same session, while the rest were recorded in 1955-56. The package includes a booklet with informative liner notes written for the CD release. The tracks are short, yielding a total time of only about 42 minutes, but you'll be impressed with how much big band enjoyment can be packed into three-quarters of an hour.
A must for all fans January 3, 2007
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
A great example of Kenton at his finest. The type of recording that you can listen to over and over and still find little subtletys each time. A must for any Kenton lover.
Sketches on Standards November 9, 2006
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is the quintessencial Kenton. The arrangements are classic. The sidemen are all stars in their own right. I don't believe they all played together again after the year (1953) this album was made.
If you don't have "Sketches on Standards" your Kenton collection is incomplete.
Trumpet solos April 17, 2004
6 out of 8 found this review helpful
Conte Condoli's solo on Pennies from Heaven is flawless.
Maynard Ferguson is not featured too much on this album,but has a solo.
Buddy Childers has a couple of solos.
Superb big band dance music July 18, 2002
17 out of 18 found this review helpful
Another in the first rate series of collections of dance music that the Kenton band recorded in order to remain financially afloat even as its leader pushed the envelope when it came to innovation. Oddly, or perhaps not, these early arrangements (this set recorded in 1953) represent some of the most timeless of Stan Kenton's recordings. Sketches On Standards almost never shouts -- listen to the later Cuban Fire album for gale force brass and rhythm -- but nor does it sleepwalk.A Latin-tinged 'Begin the Beguine' makes a rare and welcome appearance, arranged by Kenton himself, simply and effectively. Bill Russo's arrangement of 'Fascinatin' Rhythm' is a highlight, more complex and benefitting from Lee Konitz' always capable alto sax. 'There's a Small Hotel' is a nice slow dance number, and the list goes on. Fans of the louder, leading edge Kenton may find this album quiet. Technically, it represents some very appealing, straightforward recordings of songs that showcase the talent of this group. Most welcome is that Kenton's own piano is not buried in the walls of sound so common to his later efforts. If you are new to Stan Kenton, this might not be the place to start because there are other better known albums that overshadow Sketches on Standards. Sound quality is excellent for 1953, however, and the tracks are well chosen. For those times when you want to enjoy first rate jazz without necessarily waking up the neighborhood, it would be hard to argue with the current album.
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