On Music 55 – 1955
Stan Kenton
An intriguing program with Duke Ellington and Yehudi Menuhin
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In the summer of 1955, Stan Kenton hosted a weekly half-hour television musical variety show.
This rare program, supplied by Terry Vosbein, has its intriguing moments.
After Kenton conducts his orchestra through a brief “Artistry In Rhythm,” he chats with Duke Ellington, they play a short piano duet on “Take The ‘A’ Train,” Ellington narrates his humorous “Monologue,” and Duke accompanies classical violinist Yehudi Menuhin on “Come Sunday.”
Menuhin is next showcased on a classical piece, Ann Richards (Kenton’s future wife) sings “Falling” while joined by two dancers for an artsy interpretation, Menuhin plays a pretty ballad, and Richards with the big band sings “I Hear Music”; Nick Travis has a brief trumpet solo and one can see lead trumpeter Ernie Royal, tenor-saxophonist Al Cohn, guitarist Sal Salvador, and drummer Shelly Manne among the personnel.
To finish the show, the now-unseen orchestra plays “The Peanut Vendor” for three dancers and Kenton (who is the genial host throughout) again conducts “Artistry In Rhythm.”
-Scott Yanow
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