Milestones brings into sharp perspective the work of Stan Kenton in selections carefully chosen from the catalogue of his hits. But Milestones is not so much a history as an accounting. It illustrates how often the public has completely accepted his advanced conceptions.
The arrangement of Artistry in Rhythm was written more than a decade ago. Its strength and simplicity remain: a texture of brilliant sounds built on a modern jazz structure. The biting performance of Eager Beaver, Artistry Jumps, and Intermission Riff reveal channeled drive and enthusiasm of the youthful Kenton organization. In treating the humorous aspect of material such as Peanut Vendor and Collaboration Stan Kenton has displayed the scope of his music. The guttural trombone sound the fabric created from Caribbean rhythms, and the strong jazz quality give the songs life. Bongo Riff brings to the solo stage the articulate pulse of native drums. In exploring the combination of unique rhythms and sounds Stan Kenton creates some of most memorable and successful records.
But no matter how brilliant or popular his perforce of a favorite such as How Am I To Know, Stan Kenton is, and seems destined to remain, associated with the more serious original compositions in his library. Concerto to End All Concertos, Interlude, and Theme to the West present the full spectrum of the Kenton music. They interpret the brashness, the severity, the sudden warmth and the loneliness of today.
They are, indeed, significant Milestones.
