Frank Sinatra once called Stan Kenton “the most significant figure of the Modern Jazz age.” Indeed, many of the ideas that form the basis of modern jazz—such as the creation of progressive orchestral jazz music, the concept of jazz performances in concert halls, and the use of innovative musical instruments—are all attributed to this talented musician.
Stan Kenton lived an extraordinary life. Born on December 15, 1911, in Wichita, Kansas, he spent most of his childhood in Los Angeles, where he learned to play the piano at the age of 10. His first music teacher was his mother, but eventually, he became the student of renowned pianist Earl “Fatha” Hines. In his youth, Kenton was influenced by many different genres of music, with some of his inspiration coming from compositors Claude Debussy and Igor Stravinsky. As a teenager, Kenton started playing in the Los Angeles area. After graduation from Bell High School in 1930, Kenton played in the bands of Vido Musso and Gus Arnheim. However, his natural leadership qualities and independent views on music style led him to start his own band in 1940.
The band was called The Wall of Sound, a phrase that was used to describe the sound of Kenton’s music at the time, loud with a driving swing. The band was later renamed Artistry in Rhythm after one of Kenton’s songs. Such hits as “Eager Beaver” and “And Her Tears Flowed Like Wine” contributed to the band’s popularity. In 1946, Kenton together with an arranger named Pete Rugolo created the experimental compositions that would lay the foundation for progressive jazz. The jazz music of that time was very toned down and had a relaxed feel. Kenton was an advocate of a more aggressive sound, with a complex layering of saxophones, trumpets, and other instruments. Another distinctive feature of his sound was his rhythm, which used unique time signatures that could change in the middle of a song. His controversial sound was ahead of his time and received a mixed reaction from jazz music critics, even to the point of condemnation. Nevertheless, Kenton’s sound definitely succeeded in drawing the public’s attention.
In the following period, Kenton created several other projects, including Innovations in Modern Music Orchestra, a band that had a unique 39-piece lineup. Although many well-known names participated in this artistic success, the project was a commercial failure due to its complexity. In 1952, Kenton created an ensemble called New Concepts of Artistry in Rhythm, which further helped popularize Kenton’s signature sound. His last successful experiment was the incorporation of a newly created instrument called the mellophone into his orchestra in 1960, which made the band’s sound even louder.
During this and later periods, Kenton continued to attract young talents, many of whom are recognized now as influential musical figures themselves, such as Lennie Niehau and Art Pepper. Kenton’s trombone players changed the way these instruments were usually played, and Maynard Ferguson, one of Kenton’s band members, stretched the boundaries of a lead trumpet. Kenton stayed professionally active and continued to popularize jazz until his death in 1979.
Kenton’s unique vision greatly influenced jazz music as a whole. Through his unusual approach to arrangement and harmonies and his big jazz band sound that incorporated styles of different genres, the musician greatly contributed to the evolution of jazz in the 20th century.