Stan Kenton: Sambo
Musicians:
Stan Kenton (piano), Maynard Ferguson (trumpet), Conte Candoli (trumpet), Stu Williamson (trumpet), Bud Shank (flute), Art Pepper (alto sax), Bob Cooper (tenor sax), Don Bagley (bass), Shelly Manne (drums),
John Coppola, John Howell (trumpets); Bob Fitzpatrick, Harry Betts, Dick Kenney, Bill Russo, George Roberts (trombones), Bart Calderall (tenor sax), Bob Gioga (baritone sax), Ralph Blaze (guitar), Jack Costanzo (bongos)
.Composed by Laurindo Almeida & Shorty Rogers. Arranged by Shorty Rogers
.Recorded: Hollywood, CA, September 19, 1951
Rating: 88/100 (learn more)
During his decades helming jazz's most overpopulated band, through whose ranks trooped hundreds of musicians, Stan Kenton hired so few Negroes they could've fit comfortably in a phone booth with room to spare for Jimmy Rushing, Count Basie's corpulent blues shouter ("Mr. 5×5"). In 1956, Kenton's prejudice boiled over. Miffed at losing to Basie in the Down Beat Critics Poll, Stanley whined about being part of "a new minority, white jazz musicians." He didn't recognize the chickens coming home to roost. After besmirching this track's excellent work by Shank, Pepper and Ferguson with the reprehensible title "Sambo," Kenton deserved ostracism.
Reviewer: Alan Kurtz
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