Stan Kenton - Intermission Riff (6)

[Joneslovestbones]

OMG love, and I mean love this ;-)

[mancmuso1]

Smokin!!

[mothj9]

i heard stan and the band a number of times in the 60's.....most of the jazz magazine didn't

brag on him too much....but the colleges and trained college musicians loved that band....now

basie and ellington were great too; but come on stan was years ahead of his and our time.

where are the innovators today?????

[RIMSHOTSON2AND4]

Stop what you are doing...get a copy of "Kenton in HI-FI" and cue this song up immediately. With Mel Lewis and Don Bagley providing the foundation, you'll hear a pretty good tenor solo from Vido Musso, but after the band provides a re-visit to the theme, you'll get one of THE BEST trombone solos from the late and great Carl Fontana. Then the band rides the tune out in full stride. Like 'moonchildiva', you might listen to it ten times in a row. The rest of the CD is awesome, as well.

[mauirascal]

Stan Kenton was a huge favorite of mine in the 40's...I saw his orchestra in person at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles...What a fantastic big band sound...ahead of his time...His many versions of Artistry in Rhythm...Bolero,etc.

[hudent]

I know is live,but of all the versions I've listened the 40's original is the very best, that's just me dig it...

[Markeygirl]

AAHHHHHHHHHHhh waking from being blown away!! AMAZING!!

[CarolinaNIM]

I had almost forgotten this one except for the bass trombone licks throughout by Phil Herring, who was only about 18 at that time.

[TheMuzikanten]

I lived with this one for years, have it on CD now: of all the exciting, rip-it things he has recorded, this is the top, sweat breaks out...

Charles

[JazzKeyboardist1]

interesting wall street j article about how ray wetzel stole this from gerald wilson

[Dutch2236]

My first jazz hero back in the early 50's. A few years later walked into a bar on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights, NJ and a small group was playing some jazz. When they took a break this is what they played. Good memories all around.

[manny9655]

I have the original recording on a 78, it was my dad's...just as great now as it was when it was first recorded, love this chart

[portobob]

The first time I saw Kenton's Band was 1955 at St. Louis' Club Imperial. Standing room only ...blew the roof off of the place. Kenton's band was the best ever.

[bearman1210]

Kenton pushed the envelope and realize this people.

this tune is still ahead of time years later!!!!

Monster Band!!!! What a trombone section!!

[Laanen]

I was there ! - great concert

[cld458]

Marvelous Stan Kenton

[Boscom0m]

Thank you Bazmo2401..since I discovered these videos I have had the pleasure of enjoying them almost every evening! What a treat!

[bebobjunkie]

Of course you want to play this tune in Db because one and two half steps up are beautiful...not to mention Db or C#...nice!!!

[PJMPercussion]

with out a doubt - - - agreat tune- - and what a band

[LLJtbone]

Love this tune <3 <3

[Boscom0m]

I remember be awakened to this on Sunday mornings! Love it! Brings back so many memories of my Dad!

[nipsipclovers]

bbernasul@msn.com  mother of god........bes

[thedougperez]

Stan Kenton has been gone 30 years now but his music remains with us. I loved his bag band sound. 

[JAZZOLOGIST1]

This is 'modern jazz' at it's best, power, form and context all rolled up ina dynamic package with a great driving beat. Kenton the genius, make no mistake.

[seymorbfudd]

As far as I know Intermission Riff is a remake of the old Yard Dog Mazurka done by

Jimmy Lunceford!

[GETTINGYOUNGERONE]

What a raggedy bunch of musicians (nothing personal but it was the 70s look - especially the head and facial hair!).

[huharoto]

es la mejor canción de Mr. Kenton y hay que escucharla cantada es sensacional.

[MichaelAlex36]

I'd love to find the one with Mike Vax screaming at the end off of the Live in London CD. It looks like that concert may not have been video recorded. Anyone? Anyone?

[njdrumguy1]

A great chart. Kenton's band was in a class all its own.

[rdangelo]

WAs that VAx?

[tarinelli17]

the two people that did not like this are on crack.

[judaskaan1]

er is gewoonweg niets beters dan beters te vinden.....

[retmiles]

As a bass trombonist who played in a regional ballroom band for roughly a quarter of century, I've lost count of how many times I've played this chart. But I never tired of it. It's an invigorating song, and lifted my spirits everytime. My favorite Kenton chart.

[Gatorsfreak21]

stan kenton doesn't really come tom me, but i'm playing this song in jazz ensemble this year and i love it!

[Jellybeantiger]

Jazz makes me feel good inside when I listen.

Soulmending music.

[Rareprogeny]

Fantastic!

[terrryc]

Would have loved to hear Bird or even Chris Potter on this one.....

[rmo52]

I saw Mike Vax about a month ago with the Harry James band; he's still playing great and a real joy to be around. Thanks for posting this!

Ron Mills, Piano

Glenn Miller Orch.

[librarybob1958]

Kenton and company at their best, and this is my all-time favorite by them. Bravo, gentlemen!

[iosonocaduto]

What is the meaning of number six in the title of the video?

[Kickerinthehead]

Mike Vax is just as much of a beast 38 years later.

[JAZZOLOGIST1]

Wonderful jazz. It makes you feel you own the whole world.

[ltajeu]

Talk about a band that swings! Wow!

[LLJtbone]

This guy on trumpet probably blew an O ring or two!

[stevebul]

What huge hi-hat cymbals John has on his set, they look to be at least 15''. Most drummers use 13-14''. He was an underrated drummer, very good.

[supernole100]

His face at :30 priceless, haha, gotta love Kenton!

[TOMBANCROFT]

Perhaps you keen Kenton fans can tell me if he recorded a track called "Carnival". I have searched for it on various sites without success. Radio Luxembourg DJ, Jack Jackson used it as his signature tune back in the late 50's. Never heard it since - have I gort the wrong band?

[killer2293]

@TOMBANCROFT yes it is on the cuban fire cd

[ptlover2000]

@TOMBANCROFT

Maynard Ferguson did a great version of "Carnival" -- it is on his album entitled "Maynard Ferguson, Carnival. This album also has great arrangements of "Fantasy" and "Baker Street". Great album.

[JAZZOLOGIST1]

The greatest band of that era. The man who brought "modern" jazz to the world, the great Stan Kenton, my favourite band sound of all time. This track is also my favourite, the sheer drive is irresistable.

[Dionysosable]

Great Kenton Track !! Very Typical !! Love It !!!!

[jazzmusic1937]

sorry nobody ever played 5 choruses on this tune better than carl fontana i call him mr spit also i liked what vido musso did on tenor alas those times are gone questions/////////////////////­/////////////

[LLJtbone]

OH YEAH...

[rlneesam]

Not a patch on the original! Cacophony, dissonance, shrieking, bawling, howling assault on the ears and that's just the trumpets. Stan Kenton was renowned for innovation and imagination. This caterwauling is a far cry from the raw stridency of Peanut Vendor. Come back Pete Rugello.

[longfade]

Haha - I can totally see where you're coming from, but I think the lion's share of the blame is from a bad board mix that is horribly unflattering. There are plenty of live recordings of this very same line-up that are epic and exciting as hell, in my opinion, and completely representative of Kenton's vision at that time. I love Rugalo but this is one of my favorite Kenton periods.

[BH21206]

Who's that on drums-Erskine ?

[xvibeman]

John Von Ohlen. He was with the band just before Stan called Dr. Erskin to ask if Peter (only 18) was ready to join the band. I had 3 friends on the band at that time (about 1973).

[LLJtbone]

Oh yeah, love this!!

[weightSndrumS]

where is ramon lopez?

[1245176]

i played this orch with tenor and just love it, but sadly with not Ken

[BH21206]

A power great and a real human being. Saw,enjoyed, and heard him and several of his different membered bands at the old Baltimore Colliseum(early '50's),Famous Ballroom and outside on the athletic field at the Towson State University ('70's) where the great Hank Levy and Kenton collaborated in their weekly -Jazz Clinics. He surely is missed.

[paulcasali]

Love it, bust wish it had the Dick Shearer solo!

[moonchildiva]

My favorite Kenton tune, I have been known to listen to it ten times in a row. Thinking of Kenton on his birthday.

[humanist7117]

Power!!

[8House]

My absolute favorite Kenton number. Thanks to my mom and her twin my aunt for introducing me to the great and unique sound of the big band original, Stan Kenton.

[seymorbfudd]

@8House As far as I know (I have an old 45 revs record) Intermission Riff is a modern remake of that

stompy Yard Dog Mazurka recorded already in the thirties by Jimmy Lunceford!!

Seymorbfudd

[TimKGrimes]

I got to meet Mr. Kenton in Chattanooga (The River's Edge) back in the late 70s. Completely awesome band. The sound - beyond imagination. I showed Mr. Kenton my driver's license, proof that I had been named after him (my middle name)... this started a boisterous laugh among the T-bone players as Mr. Kenton passed around my TN driver's license. Kinda busted my bubble, but what would you expect from a bunch of visionary musicians? Greatest concert I've ever heard. May the Kenton sound live forever

[bearman1210]

a kick ass chart one of the all time great big bands One of kentons best bands by far.

Trombone section is killa!!!

[wymored123]

I saw this band at William Penn College in iowa in 1971, and it changed my direction in music. To this day it sends chills down my arms, and puts a smile on my face when I here the band! What an experience!

[mikethesax]

The music I grew up with. Always great to hear the Kenton band especially an edition with two musicians I played with in the past- Mike Vax and Ramon Lopez. Nice job. Love to have been there in person.

[laurenceh01]

This is the best!! The talent displayed here cannot be beat; it is the greatest --- to be viewed and heard over and over again; we are blessed to have this wonderful selection available to enjoy and appreciate. Thank You.

[ljliljohn]

Great! Now if someone would post the original of this and Artistry Jumps that would be the LAST, man!

[acedrumminman]

Baron Von Olen!!!!

[MrLeefan]

None better than Kenton!!!!

[jazzmusic1937]

fontana was around 1955 he played 5 greatest choruses ever on this tune oh yes i heard mr spit what i was talking about was 1972 no bone soloists

[musicom67]

Damn, if you didn't tell me this was 1972 - I'd guess it was the 80's due to the VERY contemporary production values (the camera moves, the audio, etc.) What a treasure!

[bearman1210]

Dick shearer on lead trombone who could and would hold his own on trombone this by far kenton's shinng moments as far as his bamnd Wow

[sparapash]

Sigla italiana del programma Tv7!

[bearman1210]

Kick ass chart! One of the alltime greats pieces of big band music!!!

[geralddjembemartin]

That trumpeter has the most outragoeus stance!!!!

Awesome Bass trombone line.

[jazzmusic1937]

where or why doesnt kenton have a trombone soloist on this band there had to be somebody like a dick nash or bill wattrus around there is always some young cat who can improvise

[jgardner307]

So you never heard the amazing Carl Fontana?

[HCICONS]

I was fortunate enought to see him in 1950 at the Balboa balroom in So Cal, all the original group including Maynard

[acfinney]

I wonder if Frank Ross was on Trombone during that time. I would have loved to been around Balboa in those days. Chet Baker and Gerry mulligan at the Lighthouse. Can't leave out Shelly Manne. I can only listen to these live records and pretend its 1953.

[barworth]

so did on the front row of the astoria ballroom nottm. what an experience!

[mandrichard]

1952---heard his version of Laura" in a juke box. The trombone sound grabbed me. Then I heard "Itermission Riff".. Man, I was hooked on his band. Met him once. He was very nice and polite to me...Really a great band and gentleman..

[Babejuda]

Incredible mixing piano+orchestration. Bravi!

[mrmusichead]

one of the greatist bass bone players was george roberts who did the this is an orchestra album maynard was onthat band wow what a bunch that was a recent bass bone player is a guy named ed clark he is fantastic that is if you can find any of his stuff he is from shelbyville ky went to grauduate school at north texas state played in the one and two oclock bands

[menza1man]

i just love that thick kenton sax sound!

[paukenmeister]

I love this tune. I played 2 different arrangements of it at Purdue, one for a big band and one for the basketball pep band.

[smartcar1]

I can still remember back in the 40s when I first heard this tune on a juke box. I was hooked. What a great piece.

[tlooknbill]

I'm 49 and used to play trombone in a swing band back in the late '80's and just discovered this song searching Amazon mp3's.

It's got to be one of the best cruisin' songs ever pinned. Love Kenton's Opus In Chartreuse. I'm surprised there isn't a better YouTube recording posted. I found the best sounding version on his album "Live in Las Vegas At The Tropicana".

It opens with a kick-ass sounding bass trombone James Bond theme styled "Bop-Bop" lick much different from the bari-sax versions.

[reddwarf1980]

That is the bass trombone, watch the bari at 1:16, he is playing with the rest of the saxes

[tlooknbill]

I realize that on this early '70's version which I haven't heard before.

It's just the majority of renditions performed of this piece that I've come across has the bari-sax playing the grace triplet slur before the trombone bop-bop.

And the best sounding ones don't have the bass trombone slur it as a triplet but glissando down between a high to a lower note.

But anyway you play it it's still one of the coolest songs I've come across recently.

[HCICONS]

Saw the Tropicana show 1956 -- what a treat -- still listen to the album

[jazzmusic1937]

i agree with the former comment heaths band was very verry good i especially liked the solo work of don lusher on trombone and the precussion work  by the way heath was himself a trombone player

[gazzini]

the americans sure know how to push it and create that power sound, Ted heath from the UK was really the only known big band to compete with the yanks.. if you hear ted's intermission riff track, it as an arrangement really polished

[mrmusichead]

this is avery good band fine musisians buttt  cant replace vido musso on alto or carl fontana on trombone sorry

[Tech470]

Vito Played tenor

[ron4403]

At the ripe old age of 17 I went to Cleveland for Stan's appearance at the Aragon Ballroom. I left there with his autograph and a hand written music sheet of "Laura". Stupid me gave it to a girl who didn't appreciate what it was. I rue that day.

[clskmstg]

29 years ago today - Stan passed. What a great way to remember him with this chart. One of my favorites of all time.

[paulcasali]

Happy Birthday, Dad.

[daguy102704]

I have different places in my heart for all of Stan's "albums"!(records, cd's, lp's, mp3's... whatever) Also, I don't think I've ever met A Kenton song I din't like. Some of them take a lot of dedicated analysisssess. But I always come out singing, to myself, days later! Years later! And now, decades later!

It's the music that haunts my head! And I love it!!!

Stan the Man lives on...!

[isowrd]

I saw Kenton toward the end of his career. Got to meet him backstage...really nice guy...smoked like a train...he and band members signed an album jacket I brought along..remember album jackets?

[davejago]

great tune, I remember my dad playing this on a sunday morning when I was young, I suddenly understood why people love jazz, Ive loved the feel and sound of kenton and his orchestra ever since

[bearman1210]

hey, Nobody kicked ass like kenton did!!

I grew up listening to his albums in particularly the live albums of the early 70's.

He brought the heat like nobody's business.

Look at this guy tearing it up on trumpet!!! wew!!!

[MFHorn683]

What a smokin band!!

[Jakebb69]

OOPS! Ment to give a thumbs up for this reply!

[onechromosometoomany]

TV7!

[Lobojack57]

Fabulous ! Compared to this, jazz today is nothing !

[satchm05]

I don't know that I'd quite agree with that(Note that I hate it when people argue on YouTube and am making friendly conversation). In my opinion, this stuff is great and killer(point agreed!). Also though, different kinds of jazz and music in general just have different ways of saying things. To a point tough, I guess your statement is accurate in that jazz today typically is quite different. Many may be pleased to hear recordings of the One O'Clock Lab Band from North Texas over the years.

[Lobojack57]

Nothing negative meant ! I just love jazz, I spent en evening with Colewman Hawkins, among other jazzmen I have met and talked to. My point is just the following: present jazz is technically top class, but players have no personality. One could recognise Hawkins, Parker, Gillespie at once, but now it is mish mash without personality. I feel terribly sorry, but in my opinion, jazz is dead. Where are the Elligton, Basie, Armstrong. This is sad !

[Tech470]

Timeless!!!!!!

[ber776]

Great theme///////////Ray Wetzel///

[trendart]

Oh, yeah, tho I have many of his albums, I only got to see him & orchestra once in the '70s. His stuff was an inspiration for my being in a wind band (district band in grade & high school: I was in the first clarinet section.) Because my area of "art" was visual and I was preoccupied with graphic design, my clarinet playing was less & less (tho a good friend who taught band tried to get me back.) Of course, what I pay attention to is the reed section & those soloists. Thanx the post!

[TonyBurrell2]

Quinn Davis on Alto - tasty. who is on tenor at the end? Torres? Sounds like him to my ears. This is the band's "B-52" concert formation. A tune I never tire of hearing, have several extended versions in my Kenton collection. The 5 piece bone section allowed them to have two different sections playing against each other as well (bass bones against the tenor bones), which added another dimension to the Kenton Sound.

[jim30bell]

In 1955-56 I played in the Orange Coast College dance band called "The Riffs"...socalled because our theme song was this piece, "Intermission Riff". It was always fun to play Kenton music.

[bearman1210]

and of course this was way before videos and vh-1 and mtv!!

[salmonhead57]

What great footage! I was fortunate enough to see Stan and his band about ten times from 1975 to 1978. This brings back a lot of memories.

[Tech470]

The tune that turned me on to jazz, 40 years ago.

[clskmstg]

This tune is brilliant just in the simplicity of it's structure. One of my most favorite pieces of all times for this medium. A *very rare* look at the Stan Kenton Orchestra. Thank you so much for this posting!

[bearman1210]

intermission riff is kick ass

[bearman1210]

hey man this is off the wall!!! I grew listening to kenton as a child and teenager!!!

Im 56 weeeeew i have all of my fathers albums of kenton!! holy bejoly!!! right on~!!

[aussiejazzbo]

Hi there,I agree, first heard him in 1950 on 78 rpm discs am now 75 with 36 Cd's plus numerous LP's which includes the one of the clip of Intermission Riff. Wish I could get DVD. The greatest band ever a lot people wouldn't agree thou.Hope they keep finding new material.

[rinaencas]

1972 Rotterdam Schouwburg Zuid -Amsterdan Concertgebouw Stan Kenton en zijn orkest op zijn best. Het doet mij ontzenttend goed om hen weer terug te zien en vooral te horen. Vanaf 1945 ben ik fan van Stan. Gelukkig hebben we in Nederland een big band die de muziek van Stan in ere houdt (Residence Big Band uit Den Haag) Ik hhop nog vele jaren van deze muziek te kunnen genieten. Cas v.d.Linden Dordrecht Nederland

[djjas79]

Great tune. First class trumpet screaming ;-)

[gwkarpin]

Great Camera and sound work.

GWK.

[longfade]

Yeah, I was just thinking the same thing during the 'chiapas' video.  The camera is always at the right place at the right time...great stuff.