at the Macumba Club (RSD Black Friday 2024) Stan Kenton

Stan Kenton’s 1956 performance at the Macumba Club showcases his big band’s renditions of beloved standards like ‘My Funny Valentine’ and ‘All The Things You Are,’ alongside original compositions like Bill Holman’s ‘Royal Blue.’ Recorded on a November evening in San Francisco, the standout moments belong to tenor saxophonist Bill Perkins, a Golden City native who later collaborated with jazz icons including Chet Baker and Dizzy Gillespie. Perkins shines on solos in tunes like ‘What’s New?’ and ‘El Congo Valiente,’ backed by a stellar rhythm section featuring Don Bagley on bass, Ralph Blaze on guitar, Stan Kenton on piano, and the incomparable Mel Lewis on drums. This rare double LP, now available on vinyl for the first time, is essential for both big band collectors and jazz enthusiasts alike.