Various Artists

• 3-CD SET

New release West Coast In Amsterdam, fiftheenth (!) installment of Concertgebouw releases by the Dutch Jazz Archive, as usual the outcome of restored tapes that impresario Lou van Rees made from all concerts, takes up quite some space in the bag of Santa Claus. Bulky package of three CD’s, booklet with insightful liner notes, stunning photography. And an army of West Coast cats. The earliest performances are by the Stan Kenton band in 1956. His trademark classically inspired ensembles are striking, lot of dissonance, booming symphonic accents, courtesy also of arranger Bill Holman. Fabulous solos by trombonist Carl Fontana catch our attention. While Latin tune The Peanut Vendor comes across as rather old-fashioned, silly even, Cherokee is fresh as a daisy, a heavy swinger generated by bassist Curtis Counce and drummer Mel Lewis, negating the lore that Kenton refused to swing. Or was it a question of disobedience?

PERSONNEL:

• Bob Cooper (tenor saxophone, oboe)
• Bud Shank (alto saxophone, flute)
• Claude Williamson (piano)
• Don Prell (bass)
• Jimmy Pratt (drums)
• June Christy (vocals)
• Stan Kenton (piano)
• Lennie Niehaus (alto saxophone)
• Carl Fontana (trombone)
• Bill Perkins (tenor saxophone)
• Sam Noto (trumpet)
• Curtis Counce (bass)
• Mel Lewis (drums)
• Bill Holman (arranger)
• Shelly Manne (drums)
• Joe Gordon (trumpet)
• Richie Kamuca (tenor saxophone)
• Russ Freeman (piano)
• Monty Budwig (bass)
• Jimmy Giuffre (clarinet, tenor saxophone)
• Jim Hall (guitar)
• Buddy Clark (bass)
• Wilfred Middlebrooks (bass)

TRACKS:

• CD ONE
• 01. Scrapple from the Apple
• 02. Tickle Toe
• 03. Round Midnight
• 04. The Way You Look Tonight
• 05. A Night in Tunisia
• 06. Nature Boy
• 07. I'll Remember April
• 08. I Want to Be Happy
• 09. That's All
• 10. The Midnight Sun
• 11. I'll Take Romance
• 12. It Don't Mean A Thing
• 13. Something Cool
• 14. How High the Moon

• CD TWO
• 01. Intermission Riff
• 02. Polka Dots and Moonbeams
• 03. Carl
• 04. The Peanut Vendor
• 05. Stella by Starlight
• 06. Cherokee
• 07. Young Blood
• 08. Artistry in Rhythm
• 09. Intro by Norman Granz & Shelly Manne
• 10. Nightingale
• 11. Yesterdays
• 12. Poinciana
• 13. Straight No Chaser

• CD THREE
• 01. Happy Man
• 02. Announcement
• 03. Tickle Toe
• 04. Princess
• 05. Time machine
• 06. My Funny Valentine
• 07. Fascinating Rhythm