In 1994 Balboa Books released Kenton on Capitol and Creative World A Discography by Michael Sparke and Pete Venudor. Kenton buffs and jazz/big band experts seemed to like it -----

 

"The book abounds in precise, valuable and well researched information of a kind not often available to record collectors."
Jazz Journal International - Complete review available.

"...an outstanding example of careful, dedicated, patient work..." Audree Kenton

"..a magnificent work. It certainly dwarfs any discography that I have ever seen..." Michael Cuscuna, Capitol/Mosaic Records Producer

"Absolutely essential for anyone interested in big bands in general, Kenton in particular."
Alun Morgan, Jazz Journal International

"What impresses me is the readability, something that few discographies achieve."
John Killoch, Jazz Records Specialist

"It kept me up all night... full of entertaining foot-notes on the sessions, clear and precise data throughout - a real treasure."
Bill Coyle, Jazz Author

"a beautifully organized and incisive compilation that I am certain will become the definitive discographical reference for Kenton researchers..."
Ted Daryll, Independent Records Producer

"Here's an enthusiastic shout for this amazing (new) discography..."
Steve Voce, Jazz Journal International

"Without a doubt, this is..the most complete and detailed discography of Stan Kenton's recorded work ever published."
Joslin's Jazz Journal

Now Sparke has taken the original, re-worked it and vastly expanded it, adding some 70 pages worth of additional detail. The result is: STAN KENTON: The Studio Sessions. This amazingly detailed work covers every official recording session involving Stan Kenton, from his first - playing piano with Gus Arnheim's Orchestra in 1937 - through the MacGregor transcriptions, his long, towering career with Capitol Records and then his own Creative World Records begun in 1970.

Michael Sparke is one of the world's foremost authorities on Stan Kenton. He has been researching and writing about Kenton's music and career for some 50 years! He wrote the program booklet for the Mosaic 7 CD set The Complete Capitol Studio Recordings of Stan Kenton: 1943-1947 and for the 1997 2 CDÜ release Stan Kenton - The Innovations Orchestra.

The session descriptions include dates, places, times, producer, musicians, session numbers, (rarely found in any discography) matrix numbers, take numbers, titles, alternate titles, composer/arranger, length, and all issues and formats on which the selection was released. There are extensive notes on each album session - with comments, remarks and remembrances from many of those involved, as well as copies/examples of actual recording company documentation.

A 3-page sample of STAN KENTON: The Studio Sessions
Page 18 Page 105 Page 150

STAN KENTON: The Studio Sessions is available direct from the publisher.

Price: $32.95 (plus $4.50 s&H)

You can order by check or money order to Gerry Dexter, 213 Forest St., Lake Geneva, WI 53147.