Stan Kenton Band. Every 74 years I attend a concert.

In the summer of 1941 I was 15 and living in Pomona, California. Some friends and I would drive to the beach. A 41 mile ride. We usually went  to Long Beach but often to Orange County beaches. One of these was the Balboa Island Beach in Newport Harbor. Next to the sand was the Rendezvous Ballroom. Often we would go in the Ballroom to listen to the big bands. I can remember Bob Crosby and his Bobcats. Particularly interesting was the Stan Kenton Band.  The Stan Kenton Band was brand new. It was a big loud band that had a different sound from the other big bands. We were not sure we liked the sound. We were used to Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, and Benny Goodman. The band went on to a very successful career. Still going!

In the summer of 2015 I am  89 and living in Ruston, Louisiana. I go to a lot of Bluegrass Concerts. I read in the newspaper that the Stan Kenton Legacy Band was giving a concert in the Ruston High School Auditorium. Stan has long ago passed away and the Rendezvous Ballroom has burned down.

I thought "it has been 74 years since I attended a Stan Kenton concert. I should go" I did last night and it was great! What a nostalgia trip.

Ruston High Auditorium. (never had been there)

Fancy new music stands.

There they are, Five trumpets, five trombones, five saxophones, a drummer, a piano player, and a bass player.

You do not see this instruments in a big jazz band very often. Stan is different.

Ginger Berglund. A great band singer.

Big saxophone.

I have always been a fan of the bass, Jennifer Leitham, is super talented and plays left handed.

89 days to 90th.