# CD review: Stan Kenton Legacy Orchestra – The Stage Door Still Swings (And Movies Too) – 2023: Video, CD cover

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2023/07/16/cd-review-stan-kenton-legacy-orchestra-the-stage-door-still-swings-and-movies-too-2023-video-cd-cover/
- Published: 2023-07-16T00:04:25+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**Since around 2001, noted trumpeter Mike Vax has periodically assembled an extraordinarily
talented group of former members of the Stan Kenton’s, Maynard Ferguson’s and other
elite bands and led that crew on short performance tours (and clinics) around various
sections of the United States. **

While an alum group and not a “ghost band,” their repertoire is heavily dominated
by material made famous by the Kenton Orchestra. This 15 selection compilation is
sourced from highlight performances during that near quarter century of tours.

As one might expect from a Kenton-infused effort, the album is big, bold,and brassy
with a heavy dollop of balladic material. Selections are drawn from the GAS, Broadway
hits and Hollywood staples with arrangements that predominantly feature the back
rows of the band. And, the charts also frame a slew of terrific soloists. “Lullaby
of Broadway” launches the session in a laid-back, swinging style. A Latinesque “
Young at Heart” offers a saucy, driving change of pace and is a joy. “I Have Dreamed”
is a textural delight that builds elegantly from trombone base to an engaging full
ensemble climax. “Baubles, Bangles, and Beads” swings in a classic Kenton style 
and is another fine track.

There are some outstanding solo highlights on this recording. Recently passed trumpet
ace, Carl Saunders’ solo feature on “My Foolish Heart” for one, Dave Devoe’s gorgeous
bone tone on “I Have Dreamed,” and Bob Florence’s impressionistic take on “Young
and Foolish.” Ginger Bergland’s and Scott Whitfield’s vocal and scatting on the 
mash-up of “How High the Moon/Orinthology” and Mike Vax and Dennis Noday soaring
on “Through the Eyes of Love.”

The oldie, “Pennies from Heaven” offers up a tasty sax soli melody statement and
fine afterthoughts from the ensemble. “All the Things You Are” is another example
of some marvelous Bob Florence piano (complete with that classic jazz Intro as an
outro) and ensemble colors. It’s another album highlight. The quintessential date
closer, “The Party’s Over,” lives up to its name and does its job brilliantly. While
the charts emanated from different arrangers, the Kenton style—lush, textural, and
intelligent—threads through this entire album. Whether on ballads or up-tempo pieces,
the bands across the dates all shine bright. One might notice that since all tracks
were live and recorded in various venues, that the sound is near studio quality.
However, the performances recorded over a 22-year span all have a fine consistency
of the things and swings that really count.

01. Stan Kenton Legacy Orchestra, Scott Whitfield – Lullaby of Broadway
 02. Stan
Kenton Legacy Orchestra, Liz Sesler-Beckman, Don Rader – Tonight 03. Stan Kenton
Legacy Orchestra, Kim Richmond, Greg McLean – Young at Heart 04. Stan Kenton Legacy
Orchestra, Carl Saudners – My Foolish Heart 05. Stan Kenton Legacy Orchestra, Bob
Florence, Mike Vax – Young and Foolish 06. Stan Kenton Legacy Orchestra, Dale DeVoe,
Don Rader, Charlie Ferguson – I Have Dreamed 07. Stan Kenton Legacy Orchestra, Kim
Richmond – Baubles, Bangles, & Beads 08. Stan Kenton Legacy Orchestra, Mike Vax,
Dennis Noday – Through The Eyes of Love 09. Stan Kenton Legacy Orchestra, Scott 
Whitfield, Ginger Berglund, Greg McLean, Rick Condit – How High The Moon/Ornithology
10. Stan Kenton Legacy Orchestra, Rick Condit, Dennis Noday – Yesterdays 11. Stan
Kenton Legacy Orchestra, Joel Kaye, Don Rader – Shadow of Your Smile 12. Stan Kenton
Legacy Orchestra, Mike Vax – Love Theme From Hair 13. Stan Kenton Legacy Orchestra,
Mike Vax – Pennies From Heaven 14. Stan Kenton Legacy Orchestra, Bob Florence – 
All The Things You Are 15. Stan Kenton Legacy Orchestra, Pete Gallio – The Party’s
Over

**Additional Instrumentation**

Alto Saxophone: Kim Richmond, Steve Wilkerson, Scott Petersen, Chuck Carter, Mary
Fettig, Paul McGinley, Keith Kaminsky, Nancy Newman, Ben Burget, Phil Hilger
 Tenor
Saxophone: Dave Stone, Ted Sistrunk, Jenifer Leitham, Chris Finet Baritone Saxophone:
Chuck Carter, Joel Kaye, Roy Reynolds, Scott Petersen, Bruce Johnstone, Keith Kaminsky,
Nancy Newman, Phil Hilger, John Mitchell Bass Saxophone: Joel Kaye, Nancy Newman
Trumpet: Mike Vax, Carl Saunders, Marvin Stamm, Dennis Noday, John Harner, John 
Coppola, Steve Campos, Jay Daversa, Jim Oatts, Dan Fava, John Daversa, Roger Ingram,
Scott Englebright, Gabe Johnson, Pete DeSienna, Steve Huffsteter, Don Rader, Paul
Von Adam, Brian O’Flarhety, Jonathan Dane, Greg McLean, Bruce Gates, Dave Cooledge,
Tony Bonsera Trombone: Dick Shearer, Roy Wiegand, Dale DeVoe, George Roberts, Mike
Suter, Kenny Shroyer, Scott Whitfield, Curtis Fox, John Allred, Denny Brunk, Bill
Hartman, Chuck Bennett, Bob Halseth, Dean Hubbard, Rich Bullock, Dave Keim, Brian
Zebreskie Vocals: Scott Whitfield, Ginger Berglund Guitar: Jack Petersen Piano: 
Bob Florence, Don Haas, Liz SeslerBeckman, Bob Kafka, Jeff Collela, Brian O’Rourke,
Geoff Stradling, Charlie Ferguson, Dave Kane Bass: Bill Trujillo, Richard Torres,
Roy Reynolds, Mary Fettig, Pete Gallio, Alex Murzyn, Alan Yankee, Kim Park, Rick
Condit, Billy Kerr. Woody Witt, Bill Prince, Teri Danielsson, Gary Anderson, Woody
Witt; Jim Widner, Chris Symer, Kristen Korb, Mario Suraci Drums: Gary Hobbs, Jerry
McKenzie, Jamey Tate, Dr. Dave Clements, Claude Askew Latin Percussion: Ramon Lopez,
John Akal, Dee Huffsteter

![Jazz Music Events - Friends of Big Band Jazz](https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/
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