The music on this CD, 13 selections from 1941 and 17 from 1944, was mostly out previously on Hindsight LPs although the
Stan Kenton
Mosaic box set does not duplicate any of the performances. These radio transcriptions add to what is known about
Stan Kenton's
music for the 1941 tracks precede his orchestra's first studio recordings while the later selections are from a little-documented period with six vocals by
Anita O'Day
. The earlier performances feature the leader's ambitious writing (which made his big band from the start sound quite unique) and short solos from trumpeter
Chico Alvarez
and tenor-saxophonist
Red Dorris
. The 1944 band had almost completely different personnel with most of the solos taken by trumpeter
Buddy Childers
and
Emmett Carls
on tenor (although the young
Stan Getz
has two spots). Highly recommended to
collectors who do not already have the Hindsight sets. ~ Scott Yanow