Swingin' Latin Style With Stan Kenton's Orchestra

One of the Early complaints about Stan's first forays into Latin Music was it wasn't authentic enough.

Stan say in the Artistry in Rhythm DVD, something was always missing. Time signatures, or rhythm styles would be just enough of kilter to disappoint those who expected more.

Miles Davis once said: "You couldn't play black music if you weren't black." I suspect Latin music would be much the same. The authenticity is what you need, the deep down in the heart of it folk music, what drives and inspires you side of it.

For example I can only think of a few white blues guitarists that played like the great black players, Stevie Ray Vaughan is one, and another is Johnny Winter. I have grown to really dig Winter over the years, pretty authentic sounding blues guitar.

 I always thought the British guitarists were missing something on that side of it, great guitarists no doubt, but Vaughan and Winter were closer to the source I think, their vibrato and phrasing is more authentic, maybe I am splitting hairs?

Sort of like they are able to tap into a feeling, the emotion that is so elusive for the British players "IS" within them.  So I get it, the need for the real deal feeling when playing any folk music, Kenton's Cuban music was no different.

I also realized Miles was talking about the life experiences of the Black man. Jim Crow in full swing, and civil rights just a hope in the hearts of those concerned. Miles meant those white guys couldn't play black music authentically because they didn't experience the same things blacks did. I suppose Stan was having the same issues with Cuban music?

I think over the years, as other races inter mingled and gained empathy for one another, along with respecting each others musically, they were able to at least put on the shoes of the other guy to some extent.

Stan Kenton certainly did not share much in common with the Latin musicians in and around New York City Circa 1950, but Stan was wise enough to listen to those people who always complained that his first attempts at Cuban infused orchestra music weren't authentic.

The best thing that ever happened to Stan Kenton in my opinion was when arranger Johnny Richards teamed up with Stan. Richards, a Mexican immigrant and influenced by Duke Ellington, was asked by Stan to create an authentic Latin suite that would satisfy those Latin musicians in New York.

Cuban Fire (1956) might be the greatest Kenton album, and may just be the most important and influential Latin big band album ever made. Cuban Fire was so well received, that Richards was offered and accepted a contract to lead his own band and record for Bethlehem Records.


Richards went on to record some of his own classics, like Wide Range and Rites of Diablo, Johnny is one of the real underrated band leaders of all time.

Kenton nearly matched the success of Cuban Fire with Viva Kenton in 1959, and Artistry in Bossa Nova from 1963, both expanding on the authentic world music vibe that Kenton discovered.

Funny isn't it, how Kenton has the reputation of not swinging? I don't know about you, but you can't swing too much harder than Cuban Fire in my mind, I guess swinging is in the ear of the hearer.

I can't think of much after 1956 that I have heard from Kenton that didn't swing,  sure he wasn't swingin' like a mother, like Buddy Rich was in the 60's..... But his music has always been enjoyable to me.

These pictured vinyl copies can be found on eBay in near mint condition for 10 dollars a piece if you shop around, you can always find nice playing Kenton LP lots for sale at good prices.