Stan Kenton - Chiapas (2)

Stan Kenton and his Orchestra recorded in London 6 February 1972.
Chiapas
Stan Kenton, Mike Vax, Dennis Noday, Jay Saunders, Ray Brown, Joe Marcinkiewicz, Dick Shearer, Mike Jamieson, Fred Carter, Mike Wallace, Phil Herring, Quin Davis, Richard Torres, Kim Frizell, Willie Maiden, Chuck Carter, Ramon Lopez, John Worster, John Von Ohlen.

[@PecosRiverBrass]

Dick Shearer changed the trombone section...the trombone in big band forever. I was never the same after 1970. I was a young man when I first heard him. Pyramid of sound, breath accents, extreme volume, and he taught us that it is a SLIDE trombone, and it was OK to use the slide. We spent all of our lives trying to hide the slide with our tonguing, and now we embrace it...trombone in your face. This is a prime example.

[@king2bman]

Love this Video. All of Kenton's trombone line ups, have always been the best, in his bands. Dick Shearer was one of the best lead trombonist, I've ever heard. I'm glad Dick Nash was his teacher.

[@nealbfinn]

Ray Brown was my teacher back in '75 at Cabrillo College in California. Just talked to him last night and he is doing well. i agree, wonderful player and educator.

[@raymondolsen2332]

We really had it goin' on back then, Neal ... Kenton concert-clinic, late January 1971 at the Claremont Hotel, Berkeley ? Who could ask for anything more .... Ray Olsen, YVHS 1972-76

[@chrisbracco5668]

I will always enjoy hearing the Kenton orchestra and its many talented soloists, but i most enjoy hearing and watching Kenton on the keyboard. He epitomized the heart and soul of jazz.My love of music today, and the great help music was in recovery from a stroke I owe to learning to love the masters of it at an early age, and Stan kenton is foorever a part of that. I was blessed enough to ttend a couple of HS clinics he put on in S. FLOrida in the 70's ans well as attend some incredible concerts.

[@19401341]

What a beautiful arrangement. All the soloists were terrific. Since I play trumpet, I especially appreciate Ray Brown's beautiful solo. Just fantastic!

[@dukesboneman]

Heard this band on this tour. It changed my life as a trombone player. We did this chart the next year in HS. I got to play Dick Shearer and had a blast. He was THE Lead trombonist for that band. Incredible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ricknurse7]

You and I were both cheap Dick Shearer knockoffs that year. Was a great, great time.

[@pauldifrancesco5718]

Nicely done later a trumpet 🎺 player the sound from that instrument is smooth and warm the man can play well

[@19401341]

I agree with the previous comments: there will never be another Band like Stan Kenton's. I'm particularly interested (I've played it over and over) in the trumpet solo. The sax solo was wonderful also but the trumpet solo really was something special.

[@NanBayKid1]

Thanks for making this outstanding group`s music available.

[@89smokey]

Such good memories :-) I was fortunate enough to see Kenton and his Orchestra in the late 70's and got him to autograph one of his LPs I took with me after the concert.

[@clgillock]

I am an old bass t-bone player, my high school band (Pacific High, San Leandro CA) was under the leadership of a Kenton fanboy. Kenton actually came to our school and played with our band at a concert in our gym! Chiapas was one of the charts that we palyed, along with all of the West Side Story tunes. Wild times, man - 1969-1972.

[@nealbfinn]

Tpt soloist Ray Brown was a mentor of mine in the 70's. A wonderful comp/arranger, I got to study composition with him. He's still alive and well and has been living n Santa Cruz, Ca since 1975

[@89smokey]

MAn, this brings back some memories! My first jazz concert was seeing Stan Kenton back in 1978, just a year before he died. I sitll remember meeting him backstage after the show and how cool he was. He even autographed my copy of his "Stan Kenton Today" album. Thanks for the video!

[@nealbfinn]

@jeremyjgray Tpt solo is Ray Brown, who was on the US Army Ambassadors prior to this. When he was discharged from the service, Jay Saunders got him on this band. He has taught jazz at Cabrillo College in California since 1975.

[@jsteuernol]

I played lead trumpet on this tune, in my first year of university; what a fun time! (Pardon the pun) My highschool band teacher from grades 9 - 10 once played trumpet with Stan Kenton.

[@rickb1408]

It was, indeed, extra fun . . . yeah, because 5/4 is greater than 4/4, sorry. Pun pardoned.

[@CarolinaNIM]

This was made just a month or two before I first saw the Kenton Band at a clinic at the University of South Carolina. I was an aspiring trombonist at the time. I remember all the trombonists by name. Sorry to read below that Dick, Mike J, and Fred have passed on. History proved that my true calling was choral music but at times like these I do take some nostalgic looks back at Kenton.

[@kentonjazz3]

The Bass player is John Worster, had been with Kenton for many years. The BBC wiped the tapes many years ago, there are vhs tapes floating about !! i'am lucky to have a copy.

[@Jazztpt]

I also saw Kenton at the Fairfield hall in croydon but it was 1973 or 74 I was 16 at the time and had only seen the Sid Orchestra before this. Well it blew my mind, those trumpets were working, fantastic sound.

[@Egbert1957]

... GENAU, eine top-presente Posaunensection. So wie man das von Kenton und den anderen erwartete.

[@SteveRockn1]

This song on Kenton's - Live at Redlands University album remains one of my all time favorites. That and MacArther Park (Live) where he screams!

[@Mhill9378823]

My high school stage band at Lee high in baton rouge perform this arrangement,I play Drums on this tune

[@bunk600]

What are you all talking about!? The 5/8 section works for me in a big way! Love the way it takes off and builds in intensity. great stuff! Jazz dance styleeee!

[@nancymccracken1342]

I had to play that trombone solo when I was 16 years old. I was scared to death, but Clark Terry said incredibly. Nice things to me.

[@jimbrown1559]

John Worster was a fine bassist, with the Kenton band off and on for more than 10 years. He's playing electric on this tune because that's the sound that composer/arranger Hank Levy wanted. John played great acoustic bass as well. You can see and hear him on youtube of a clinic for young musicians led by composer/arranger Willie Maiden.

[@MrJazzologist1]

Thanks for that enlightenment. It covers everything about that irritating sound in a jazz orch.

[@rayjr62]

I thought Hank Levy wanted an electric bass to be played for this tune.

[@aussiejazzbo]

Hi thank you for your comment.I do have the double vinyl you mention in my Kenton collection.If you get a copy ( if you don't already have) of the CD on Creative World "Live at Redlands University" Stan talks about "Chiapas" & Hank Levy conducts the band,as Stan say's he really doesn't understands what's going on. Why the BBC doesn't do a DVD of the concert beats me considering some of the rubbish that's been released.Together with Herman they created created exciting jazz music not heard today.

[@chrisbracco5668]

tHIS WAS THE 1ST kENTON SCORE I EVER PLAYED CIRCA 1974

[@ricknurse7]

My experience as well. Was great fun wasn't it?!!

[@Fili2009able]

Great music!

[@chrisbracco5668]

ill Watrouswa and emains the world's fotremost technical bone player but h lacks some of th great musicality (pardon the made -up ord..) that the geat players of kenton 's or even Ferguson's bands did.

[@thedude9001]

Dick's tone is absolutely unreal, nobody plays like he did. It's like he was born to play lead bone for Kenton.

[@theloniousratledge8835]

Eccezionale!

[@nealbfinn]

I played in Ray's first band at Cabrillo in 1975. Please say hi for me. Neal Finn in N. Carolina

[@aussiejazzbo]

Why the BBC doesn't make a DVD of this concert beats me,there's little good vision of this great band of all eras available.

[@Boscom0m]

This is why my son chose the trombone as his instrument..steered in that direction by his grandfather, Chuck Lamendola.

[@ricknurse7]

Any relation to trumpeter Dr. Joe Lamendola et al?

[@trptmbalmer]

I've got a copy of the chart itself (the original manuscript). This chart absolutely ROCKS. It's also hard as hell to play - you have to be INCREDIBLY solid in your time to negotiate the time changes from 5/4 to 7/4 to 8/4 later in the piece. If you have the sheet music, the bass player plays his lick over and over at the same tempo against the cued brass - which is what makes the beginning of this chart so hard to figure out if you've never played it. Absolutely MONSTER chart.

[@chrisbracco5668]

Sounds like Levy he liked plying with Time signatures (WE played his Hank's Opener, great for blowing out Hearing aids when playing to senor citizens at like a Mall concert-!!

[@longfade]

Von Ohlen's drum break there at the end is so hip it makes me sick! I've watched this at least 20 times in the last 48 hours. Damn, these guys are cool.

[@longfade]

It ROCKS! Maybe that other fellow is used to the Redlands version which is like 50 bpm slower and sounds like they're reading it down for the first time. This one one is a lot more like the Live In London version; full of energy - and Von Ohlen's drum break and the end there is just killer.

[@nealbfinn]

@LLJtbone Willie Maiden, Quinn Davis, Dick Shearer, Mike Jamison, Fred Carter, Ramon Lopez have passed on. Mike Vax, Dennis Noday, Richard Torrez still alive and active. Ray Brown teaches at Cabrillo College in Calif. John Von Ohlen still alive and well in Cincinnati. Phil Herring lives in Seattle area. Mike Wallace I believe still lives in Texas. Joe Marcienkowitz in SoCal and has a line of brass mouthpieces

[@kradomirchoukroutov6362]

A double vinyl was issued, I don't know whether it's been re-issued on CD

[@VolcomStoned04]

RAY BROWN! Anyone serious about Jazz should study with him. Amazing player and teacher.

[@carification]

Performed this piece in 1971 at a Jazz Band Camp as an 11th grader. Had an alto sax solo. I loved that piece better than Kenton's.

[@bearman1210]

trombone section is bad ass!!

[@bearman1210]

after schearers Solo is the trombone passage my father had a group 4 trombones & rythym section! His didnt sound quite that good but a great sound

[@arthurparker7705]

Was Dick Scherer playing on a King 2b ?

[@king2bman]

Bach 12Lt Raw Brass.

[@thedude9001]

I've heard he played on a special Conn 6h with an extremely thin bell and shortened slide, but don't quote me on that.

[@mirks74]

Who is the bass player ?

[@DasBullWy]

I think they took the 5/8 section too fast myself.. but i'm not sure if I'd call it a mess lol..

[@jacko222333]

03:38 John Von Ohlen cool stick flip move.Risky.

[@kradomirchoukroutov6362]

You're telling me....

[@JacksonofGod]

What type of jazz is this?

[@theloniousratledge8835]

+Tom Foolery Jazz moderno per grande orchestra, dei migliori. La grande orchestra di Stan Kenton!

[@longfade]

Great sentence structure. I understood none of that.

[@bearman1210]

dick Schearer very accomplished

[@jpwjr1199]

I know I'm going to annoy a lot of people by saying this, but I've honestly always thought the double-time, latin sort-a 5/8 section was a mess. In 5 just for the sake of staying in an odd-meter. The song loses its groove completely there. I'm sorry! Not trying to say I'm better at malted milk big band than Stan, but that section is a disaster.

[@MrJazzologist1]

Experimenting with tone, colour,, chords, rhythms will always be a mark of the genius these guys wallow in. But I do detest that bass guitar in a jazz orch. It cuts through all sections like a rusty butcher's knife.

[@trevwings9438]

That's the point. The orchestra is supposed to "feel" the bass. The bass is supposed to cut through to lay down that rhythmic and chordal foundation, especially in this song which revolves around a bass ostanato.

[@MrJazzologist1]

Absolute rubbish. You've been weaned on grating Rock garbage. The bass, as in a string double bass, should cut through NOTHING. It's a more subtle ADDITION to the all important rhythm section upon which the whole orchestration rides. You obviously only understand jazz in your own limited way.

[@trevwings9438]

+John Perks You have no idea how I was brought up. I am a bass player and a play both electric and stand up. The main role of the bass is to push and keep a steady tempo while providing a chordal foundation for all the other instruments. There's a reason why the bass is the heartbeat of any jazz band.

[@MrJazzologist1]

Do tell me something I don't know you pompous egoist. Ever heard of Eddie Safranski? TRhe greatest string bass player of hie era. Counterpoint and drive combined. You are just a twit in tigers' clothing.

[@trevwings9438]

My favorite upright bass player is Paul Chambers. I don't disagree that the string bass definitely has its place, but the upright just doesn't have the right timbre for a funk, fusion, or some latin/straight eighth's feel.

[@erdwest]

BAN the electric!!! Not with a jazz ens. Lousy overtones make it thin. Piercing man piercing!!!

[@rayjr62]

I think it sounds good. John Worster was a monster bassist.