Back in the early 60s, friend of mine who is like Encyclopedia of jazz, he told me about an album that was so "far out" most people could not understand it. I couldn't wait to purchase a copy of it, to hear this music that was unique and 100 years ahead of its time. The album is Stan kenton's city of glass. My friend was right I couldn't understand it nor did I like it, was not my type of music. Listen to this cut see what you think. It got me thinking maybe we need a thread for weird, odd, rare or different music. If you can think of any music that's out of the Norm give a shout I'd like to hear it.
Sounds like an orchestra tuning up....but worse. I can't imagine listening to that for more than a few seconds. Jarring and grating.
I'm a big fan of Stan Kenton (what's not to like about the man who gave us Maynard Ferguson), and I've never heard this before. I see it's not Kenton's composition but that of someone who closely collaborated with him. I just read this is a "tone poem," made to make you imagine scenes or to evoke feelings, and [obviously] not to be listened to as traditional music form. I guess it's an interesting intellectual musical exercise...begun in the 1800s in Europe and resurrected in the states post WW2. As an aside, the composer was a recluse who died at age 33 of lung cancer. Thanks for posting this, Tony.
I always enjoyed Stan Kenton music. Years ago my wife who's on the board of BACCA a local cultural group. They would put on shows around the holidays so I got to see Maynard Ferguson Plus Lionel Hampton, John Gary, Marion MacFarlane while she was a member. It was great.
I am so jealous. I saw Ferguson once at Constitution Hall In Washington DC. That was 1970 or so. I would have loved to see Lionel Hampton perform.
Quick story Hamp used a local talent a sax player, a kid who could not have been more than 20 years old to fill in. It was amazing to watch him during solo's push this kid to do things with the sax he probably never thought he could do, or did before, it was an amazing concert.
Lionel always seemed like a good guy. I may have mentioned that I have 5 siblings and at one point all of us played instruments. Older brother was career trombone player in The Army Band. One younger brother was a virtuoso trombone player and would play in local big bands when he was in high school, always displacing the adult who sat First Chair. It's crazy to see how talented some young people are (but I bet that's been the case throughout history with the great composers, huh?)
The Kenton Sideman/Arranger/ Composer who died at 34 was Bob Graettinger. He composed "atonal" pieces like "City of Glass" which is not something you can hum as you do your yardwork! Hal
As I was reading about that style of music, I thought of modern art. You don't see a picture, you have feelings invoked. One can debate the merits of either, huh?