Three New Stan Kenton Videos

Cruising through YouTube yesterday, I noticed that three Stan Kenton Orchestra videos had gone up in recent weeks. The first was a short that was filmed in the spring of 1947 as a faux recording session for Capitol. In truth, the short was a showcase for five songs: . Artistry In Rhythm (the Kenton band's theme), Down in Chihuahua, Just a Sittin’ and a Rockin’, Concerto to End All Concertos and Tampico.

The clip features Buddy Childers, Ray Wetzel, Chico Alvarez, John Anderson and Ken Hanna (tp); Kai Winding, Skip Layton, Milt Bernhart and Harry Forbes (tb); Bart Varsalona (b-tb); Eddie Meyers and Boots Mussulli (as); Vido Musso and Bob Cooper (ts)' Bob Gioga (bar); Stan Kenton (p); Bob Ahern (g); Eddie Safranski (b) and Shelly Manne (d), plus June Christy and the Pastels vocal group with Margaret Dale, Wayne Howard, Jerry Packer, Jimmy Borland and Don McCleod.

Here's the clip...



In December 1952, Kenton made good on a promise. Jane Coffas, who worked at the J.N. Adams Record Shop in Buffalo, N.Y., and had won a trip to Bermuda for selling a sizable number of Stan Kenton records. Kenton was asked to give her a call. Kenton and arranger Billy May hopped on the phone to chat and to wish her a merry Christmas. Her granddaughter recently posted the phone conversation here...



And finally, here's the Kenton band live in London in 1972...