A Stan Kenton Christmas

A Stan Kenton Christmas

ASIN: B00007GU62

Track Listings

1. Angels We Have Heard On High

2. O Tannenbaum

3. We Three Kings

4. Adeste Fideles

5. Christmas Time Is Here

6. Good King Wenceslas

7. Greensleeves

8. The Holly And The Ivy

9. My Favorite Things

10. O Holy Night

11. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

12. The Christmas Song

13. Once In Royal David's City

14. Big Bad Drummin' Dude

15. Away In A Manger

Editorial Reviews
Dave Zaworski, Down Beat Magazine, December 2002
"It's a crisp, swinging affair filled with classy contrapuntal arrangements...the charts sound immaculate...the playing's top-notch..."

Product Description
Experience the incredible sound of the all-brass Capitol Bones Big Band, playing both classic and fresh new Christmas arrangements!

"A Stan Kenton Christmas" is a new recording of the classic charts from Stan Kenton's "A Merry Christmas" album (1961), plus new Christmas big band arrangements by Mark Taylor, Matt Niess, Jim Roberts and Tony Nalker.

A Stan Kenton Christmas

Tracks:

O Tannenbaum
The Holly And The Ivy
We Three Kings Of Orient Are
Good King Wenceslas
The Twelve Days Of Christmas
Once In Royal David's City
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
O Come All Ye Faithful
Angels, We Have Heard On...
O Holy Night
Christmas Medley
What Is A Santa Claus
Christmas For Moderns

Customer Reviews:

Why "Kenton Christmas" fails.......2007-07-10

I have owned the old LP for years.
When wondering why I never played
it any more, I heard the whole
album again last Deceember. Then it
came back to mind why this is a
tedious set. It was arranged and
performed without any reeds. A sax
section was always a key part of
the Kenton orchestra. I'm a brass
player, but brass only on a record
date gets boring very quickly.

Best Yet.......2007-02-13

I've purchased a lot of Stan Kenton music over the years. This Christmas album of instrumental music is one of his best and probably one of the best Christmas albums I've heard. Even better than Manheim Steamroller.

Timeless Music... Shame on Capitol/Blue Note Records.......2006-12-25

Stan Kenton's innovative and now timeless Christmas music has been run through the meat grinder and issued as a worthless piece of plastic on the legendary Capitol label by Blue Note Records. Shame on them. This disc is NOT an Audio CD. It does not comply with the CD technical specs and will not play on some cd players or any CD-ROM drive. Some half-baked copy protection system is embedded on the disc making it appear to be a worthless plastic frisbee to all computers and some cd players. Even if your intentions are honorable, Capitol/Blue Note has assumed you're a thief. Careful observers will note that nowhere on the package is this product labeled a Compact Disc. It would be nice if this tidbit were disclosed in the info above, which describes this product as an Audio CD.

A Classic.......2006-11-04

A Merry Christmas by Stan Kenton and Ralph Carmichael is a classic that everyone should hear. The arrangements are great, the playing is great. The only reason that it gets four stars is that it is not the BEST recording of this material. There is an album called "A Stan Kenton Christmas" by the Capitol Bones Big Band which features all the arrangements on this album (all the real arrangements) plus a few from the group. It is sonically superior, since it was recorded in 2002 and the players really nailed the intonation in the mellophones.
So if you must have the original, it's good. But I'd buy the Capitol Bones version instead. It's absolutely fantastic.

just plain a good Christmas album.......2006-07-29

I love Christmas - I love Christmas music - its a family thing. My Dad actually has the original LP of this album - and we have listened to it every year I can remember. There are some other reviews here that give you more information on the band and the history - I'm just going to say that this is a simple, good, fun, happy instrumental Christmas album. There's lots of newer stuff out there - but this is an old standard that needs to be in your collection.

Average customer rating:

What an audible treat!!!!
Better than Kenton
Incredible! A real treat for the ears!!!
past is prologue
Buy!

A Stan Kenton Christmas

Manufacturer: Ars Nova Singers
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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A Merry Christmas
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ASIN: B00007GU62
Release Date: 2002-11-15

Tracks:

Angels We Have Heard On High
O Tannenbaum
We Three Kings
Adeste Fideles
Christmas Time Is Here
Good King Wenceslas
Greensleeves
The Holly And The Ivy
My Favorite Things
O Holy Night
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
The Christmas Song
Once In Royal David's City
Big Bad Drummin' Dude
Away In A Manger

Album Description

Experience the incredible sound of the all-brass Capitol Bones Big Band, playing both classic and fresh new Christmas arrangements!

Customer Reviews:

What an audible treat!!!!.......2005-12-23

My father literally introduced me to Stan Kenton and his music before I was a teenager, and I have been a fan ever since. This Christmas, I had the distinct pleasure of attending a Capitol Bones performance of "A Stan Kenton Christmas" and thought I had reverted to the days of my youth when I attended every Stan Kenton concert that came within driving distance. Whether you are a "bone" aficionado or just a fan of the Stan Kenton style of jazz, you must treat yourself to this excellent collection of music recorded in state-of-the-art HDCD. It will put your sound system and foot tapping to the test.

Better than Kenton.......2004-12-26

I'm been a Kenton fan for a half century, so when I say that this is a magnificent album, don't think I'm knocking Stan. The Bones album has added six pieces to the 1961 album (now re-released with a junky monologue and Maynard screaching carols), and the musicianship is higher. Check out that lead trumpet! And the trombone solos are magnificent. This is jazz; Stan's recording is mostly Ralph Carmichael. Get it!

Incredible! A real treat for the ears!!!.......2004-11-24

This is a phenominal recording of Kenton's christmas charts, and they are finally performed as they should've been! The Capitol Bones Big Band is tremendous. Note after note, each arrangement is flawless. Again, it's great to hear these Kenton Christmas charts recorded with concern for intonation, contrast, and outstanding musicality. Once you've listened to The Capitol Bones blowing down these charts, you'll never listen to Kenton's "Merry Christmas" the same way. Buy it!

past is prologue.......2004-01-02

the mastery of instruments by todays musicians makes this CD fantastic.any fan of large ensembles must have this.if you are a kenton fan buy it NOW.

Buy!.......2002-12-30

If you are a Kenton fan, a brass orchestra fan or a Christmas music fan this is the one to buy!

Average customer rating:

Fantastic brass playing
Big Brass Big Style
This is a 'must have' Christmas album

The Stan Kenton Christmas Carols

Manufacturer: Summit(Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Christmas Bells Are Swingin'
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A Stan Kenton Christmas

ASIN: B000HDZK3C
Release Date: 2006-09-12

Tracks:

Good King Wenceslas
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
We Three Kings Of Orient Are
Once In Royal David's City
The Holly And The Ivy
Greensleeves
O Tannenbaum
Angels We Have Heard On High
O Holy Night
The Twelve Days Of Christmas
Adeste Fideles
Christmas Medley
Motown Jingle Bells

Album Description

Merry Stan Kenton Christmas! This unique collection of holiday cheer performed by the Boston Brass features the great Christmas charts from the Kenton Band plus two new ones by JD Shaw and Sam Pilafian. While these great arrangements are a big part of Stan Kenton Christmas Carols, they are only part of the story. The other part is the collection of players known as the Brass All Stars Big Band. The brass quintet Boston Brass, one of the busiest and best known quintets working today, is the foundation for this extended group, and they are the ones that came up with the idea of doing a new recording of Kenton's music. If you look at the names of the players, you will see amongst them many current or former members of Canadian Brass and Empire Brass. While there have been recordings made up of brass sections from major symphony orchestras, this one may be a first for the brass quintet world!

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic brass playing.......2007-01-22

Bought this CD and saw a performance live in December. It's really great.
I've heard Boston Brass live four times times, doing various tunes, and they've been terrific each time. For this CD, the group brought in some of the best brass players (including former members of Empire Brass and Canadian Brass among others) in the world to create a Stan Kenton-esque band.
JD Shaw's horn playing blows me away, and I love the sound of Andrew Hitz on tuba.
If you're a brass player (and even if you're not), you should buy this CD.

Big Brass Big Style.......2007-01-14

This is an amazing CD - full Orchestral Brass Section with Rhythmn Section playing with some seriously original and high class arrangements. Anyone who wants a Christmas CD with attitude - this is the one !! Highly recommended.

This is a 'must have' Christmas album.......2006-12-28

Wow! What a surprise. Any Kenton entheusiast would recognize the beauty of this. Personally, after hearing some of the more recent Christmas CDs on the radio, regardless of genre, this, I think, should be named Christmas Music CD of the Year.

Average customer rating:

A Merry Christmas!
Stan Kenton
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000C8YK8
Release Date: 2006-08-01

Tracks:

O Tannenbaum
Holly and the Ivy
We Three Kings of Orient Are
Good King Wenceslas
Twelve Days of Christmas
Once in Royal David's City
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
O Come All Ye Faithful
Angels, We Have Heard on High
O Holy Night
Christmas Medley: Joy to the World/Away in a Manger/The First Noel
What Is a Santa Claus?
Christmas for Moderns: The First Noel/White Christmas/O Come All ...

Average customer rating:

Burnished Brass Holiday Style

Merry Christmas
Stan Kenton
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
ASIN: B000008BGO
Release Date: 1990-08-16

Tracks:

O Tannenbaum
The Holly And The Ivy
We Three Kings Of Orient Are
Good King Wenceslas
The Twelve Days Of Christmas
Once In Royal David's City
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
O Come, All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles)
Angels We Have Heard On High
O Holy Night
Christmas Medley
What Is A Santa Claus

Customer Reviews:

Burnished Brass Holiday Style.......2003-12-07

When I first became acquainted with Stan Kenton (1960s), I was a brass enthusiast, savoring works of Gabrieli in antiphonal settings to the contemporary, including "Chicago". Stan Kenton's arrangements,in his catalogue at that time, were constructed so each instrumental line would weave to prominence then fall back into the mix, or then form a smooth fabric of tightly-knit sound. Kenton's musical arrangers were absolutely top drawer.
"We Wish You a Merry Christmas" from Stan Kenton's Big Band came out in the late 60s when I had just gone through one of those life-altering experiences. So Christmas wasn't very merry, jolly, or anything else. I collect Christmas music, and without much thought, picked up a copy for my collection.
The spicy, smooth, and intelligent arrangements of the most classic of Christmas carols just hit the right notes. Kenton's brassy carols with soaring trumpets and percussion punctuation were handled so nicely I forgot my pain and revelled in the satisfaction I derived from Stan Kenton's Big Band. (To be certain I would never be without, I bought a second copy of the LP on Kenton's own label.)
Just recently I found, much to my amazement, a CD release of that beloved album. Now, after 30 years, and countless collections of lots of varities of Christmas music flowing through my head, I again listened to the Kenton reissue. It was fresh, excellent remastering, full, and superbly engineered. How very delighted I was, needless to say, to find a release of those favorite carols in such a red and gold presentation remaining so timeless and satisfying. In my musical mind, Kenton's Christmas album (Capitol)stands out today as one of the very brightest collections of Christmas carols ever unwrapped and savored.
Hope you can find one for your very own!

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