Stan Kenton: Opus a Dollar Three Eighty

Track

Opus A Dollar Three Eighty

Group

Stan Kenton and His Orchestra

CD

Eager Beaver (EMI-Toshiba TOCJ 5651)

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Musicians:

Stan Kenton (piano),

and 16-piece band including Buddy Childers (trumpet), Bart Varsalona (bass trombone), Dave Matthews (tenor saxophone), Stan Getz (tenor saxophone), and Gene Englund (bass)

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Composed by Pete Rugolo

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Recorded: Hollywood, CA, April 20, 1944

Albumcoverstankenton-eagerbeaver

Rating: 84/100 (learn more)

Pete Rugolo, one of Darius Milhaud's composition students (another was Dave Brubeck) submitted this piece to Kenton while still a soldier. Stan didn't play it immediately, but he was impressed when the band finally ran it through at a rehearsal. Except for a short solo by the maestro, this is an ensemble piece that doesn't really hang together all that well, but it certainly shows Rugolo's penchant for interesting harmony. His talent would blossom when he became Kenton's chief arranger in 1946, writing music that is still fresh these many years later.

Reviewer: Jeff Sultanof

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