Fire, Fury and Fun

Fire, Fury, and Fun is a studio album by American jazz musician Stan Kenton and his orchestra, released on Creative World Records. Recording sessions for the album took place in Chicago on September 26/27, 1974 at Universal Recording.[1]

Fire, Fury, and Fun
Studio album by
Stan Kenton Orchestra
Released1974
RecordedSeptember 26–27, 1974
StudioUniversal Studios, Chicago, Illinois, United States
GenreJazz, Big band, Fusion jazz
Length33:43
LabelCreative World Records,
GNP Crescendo
ProducerRobert Curnow
Stan Kenton Orchestra chronology
Stan Kenton Plays Chicago
(1974)		 Fire, Fury, and Fun
(1974)		 Kenton '76
(1976)

Background

Up to the time of Fire Fury and Fun the band had primarily made recordings of music that were swing oriented with progressive leanings. The transition from Capitol to Creative World Records in 1970 was fraught with difficulties during a time when the music business was changing rapidly. As a viable jazz artist who was trying to keep a loyal but dwindling following, Kenton turned to arrangers such as Hank Levy to write material that appealed to a younger audience.[1] The first releases for the Creative World label were live concerts and Kenton had the control he wanted over content but lacked substantial resources to engineer, mix, and promote what Capitol underwrote in the past.[2]

In June 1973 Curnow had started as the new artists and repertoire manager overseeing the whole operation of the Creative World Records.[3] As per Curnow himself, "That was a remarkable and very difficult time for me. I was managing (Stan's) record company with NO experience in business, writing music like mad, living in a new place and culture (Los Angeles was another world), traveling a LOT (out with the band at least 1 week a month) and trying to keep it together at home."[4] The Fire Fury and Fun album was an outgrowth of and designed as a showcase for several of the current soloists in the Kenton Orchestra. The band itself had very little time to prepare the music for the sessions, but that was the norm for many recordings done by a road band such as the Kenton orchestra.[4]

Ratings
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz[5]
AllMusic Guide[6]

"For this late-period Stan Kenton recording, the bandleader decided to present five of his top soloists from the era: baritonist Roy Reynolds, Tony Campise (mainly on flute), trombonist Dick Shearer, drummer Peter Erskine and Ramon Lopez on congas. Kenton himself is featured on piano during two numbers, but none of his sidemen make very strong impressions and the orchestra on the whole sounds like an anonymous college stage band. Fire, Fury and Fun is a lesser effort although Erskine (and trumpeter Tim Hagans) would become far more notable in future years."

Scott Yanow, AllMusic Guide[6]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Roy's Blues"Dale Devoe7:54
2."Montage"Ken Hanna5:46
3."Pete Is A Four-Letter Word"Hank Levy4:17
4."Hogfat Blues"Lloyd Spoon, Tony Campise4:40
5."Quiet Friday"Hank Levy6:34
6."Ramon Lopez"Chico O'Farrill6:20

Personnel

Musicians

Production

References
  1. Sparke, Michael; Venudor, Peter (1998). "Stan Kenton, The Studio Sessions". Balboa Books. p. 212 ISBN 0-936653-82-5.
  2. Lee, William F. (1980) "Stan Kenton: Artistry in Rhythm". Creative Press, Los Angeles. pp. 365 ISBN 089745-993-8
  3. Lee, William F. (1980) "Stan Kenton: Artistry in Rhythm". Creative Press, Los Angeles. pp. 374 ISBN 089745-993-8
  4. Email interview with Bob Curnow, February 16, 2013 with Dr. Jack Cooper, Assoc. Prof. of Music, the Univ. of Memphis
  5. Larkin, Colin. The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz. Virgin, 1999. pp.485
  6. [https://www.allmusic.com/album/fire-fury-fun-mw0000090563 Yanow, Scott. "Review: Fire, Fury and Fun". AllMusic Guide]]

Bibliography
  • Easton, Carol (1973). "Straight Ahead: The Story of Stan Kenton". New York, N.Y.: William Morrow & Company, INC. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • Sparke, Michael (2010). "Stan Kenton: This Is An Orchestra". Denton, TX: University of North Texas Press. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • Sparke, Michael (1998). "Stan Kenton: The Studio Sessions". Lake Geneva, WI: Balboa Books. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • Lee, William F. (1980). "Stan Kenton: Artistry in Rhythm". Los Angeles, CA: Creative Press. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • Harris, Steven D. (2000). "The Stan Kenton Kronicles". Pasadena, CA: Dynaflow Publications. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • Cook, Richard (2002). "The Penguin Guide To Jazz On CD (6th Edition)". London, England: Penguin Books. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
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