Viva Kenton! (subtitled Exciting Latin Rhythms with the Kenton Touch) is an album by Stan Kenton, released in 1959 by Capitol Records, and later on Kenton's own Creative World label.Vosbein, P. Stan Kenton Discography accessed April 21, 2016Watts, R., Edwards, D., Eyries, P. and Callahan, M. Capitol Album Discography, Part 5: 600-2999 (1955-1968) accessed April 21, 2016The Capitol Sessions of Stan Kenton: 1959 accessed April 18, 2016
The album features compositions by Gene Roland, and was Kenton's second all-Latin album. It was the follow-up to Kenton's successful Cuban Fire! LP of 1956.
Viva Kenton! features Kenton's 18-piece orchestra, with an additional percussion quartet. Featured soloists are alto saxophonist Charlie Mariano, trombonist Don Sebesky, and trumpeter Rolf Ericson.
In 2005, Blue Note released the album on CD (under the Capitol Jazz imprint) with 6 bonus tracks, all taken from the 1963 album Artistry in Bossa Nova.
Reception
The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow called the album "potentially gimmicky but surprisingly successful".
Track listing All compositions by Gene Roland except where noted. "Mexican Jumping Bean" – 4:30 "Siesta" – 3:37 "Cha Cha Sombrero" – 4:48 "Chocolate Caliente" – 3:26 "Aqua Marine" – 2:41 "Opus in Chartreuse Cha-Cha-Cha" – 2:48 "Cha Cha Chee Boom" – 3:50 "Adios" (Enric Madriguera) – 3:09 "Mission Trail" – 3:23 "Artistry in Rhythm" (Stan Kenton) – 3:01 Recorded at the Riverside Plaza Hotel, NYC on September 22, 1959 (track 10) and September 23, 1959 (tracks 1–9)
Personnel Stan Kenton – piano, conductor Bud Brisbois, Bill Chase, Rolf Ericson, Roger Middleton, Dalton Smith – trumpet Kent Larsen, Archie Le Coque, Don Sebesky – trombone Jim Amlotte, Bob Knight – bass trombone Charlie Mariano – alto saxophone John Bonnie, Bill Trujillo – tenor saxophone Marvin Holladay, Jack Nimitz – baritone saxophone Pete Chivily – bass Jimmy Campbell – drums Mike Pacheco – bongos, timbales Willie Rodriguez – congas, bongos Tommy Lopez – congas (tracks 1–9)
References