Walkin' Shoes

Composed and arranged by Gerry Mulligan

Walking Shoes Stan Kenton Orchestra, live (1959)

Walkin' Shoes is Gerry Mulligan's own chart on his famous tune, arranged for the Stan Kenton band. Recordings of the Kenton band performing this chart are somewhat rare. This one is from a 1959 live date in Ukiah, CA.

Personnel: Stan Kenton (piano); Lennie Niehaus (alto saxophone); Bill Trujillo (tenor saxophone); Billy Root (baritone saxophone, bass saxophone); Sture Swenson (baritone saxophone); Joe Burnett, Johnny Richards, Rolf Ericson, Bud Brisbois, Roger Middleton, Jim Amlotte (trumpet); Bill Smiley, Jimmy Knepper, Kent Larsen, Archie LeCoque, John Bonnie (trombone); Jerry Lestock McKenzie (drums). The bassist is probably Red Kelly, although it may be Scott LaFaro, who was also playing with Kenton during this time. Recording information: County Fair Building Ukiah, CA (02/26/1959).

Here is an early version of this cool school staple by the famous, pianoless Gerry Mulligan Quartet with Chet Baker.

Walking Shoes Gerry Mulligan Quartet (1952)

Personnel:  Gerry Mulligan (bari sax), Chet Baker (trumpet), Bob Whitlock (bass), Chico Hamilton (drums)

Polka Dots and Moonbeams

Music by Jimmy Van Heusen, words by Johnny Burke, arranged by Bill Holman

Polka Dots and Moonbeams, Carl Fontana with the Stan Kenton Orchestra (1956)

Originally written for the Tommy Dorsey band in 1939, Polka Dots and Moonbeams is another standard ballad from the pen of composer Jimmy Van Heusen. This arrangement is by jazz master Bill Holman, written for the great trombonist Carl Fontana and the Stan Kenton Orchestra.

This particular performance of the arrangement is from a live concert in Berlin, West Germany, April 25, 1956. In fully keeping with Kenton tradition, there's lots of brass in this band:

Ed Leddy, Vinnie Tano, Sam Noto, Lee Katzman, Phil Gilbert (tpt); Carl Fontana, Bob Fitzpatrick, Kent Larsen (tbn); Don Kelly (b. tbn); Irving Rosenthal, Fred Fox (french horn); Jay McAllister (tuba); Lennie Niehaus (as); Bill Perkins, Don Rendell (ts); Harry Klein (bari); Stan Kenton (pno); Ralph Blaze (gtr); Curtis Counce (bass); Mel Lewis (dr).