My research focuses on the music, history, and legacy of the American jazz orchestra, with particular attention to the work of the Stan Kenton Orchestra and the arrangers and composers who shaped its distinctive sound. Over many decades I have studied, collected, and preserved materials connected to Kenton’s orchestra and its remarkable community of musicians and writers.
This work led to the founding of the Stan Kenton Research Center, an independent archive devoted to preserving and documenting the music, recordings, and historical materials associated with Stan Kenton and his collaborators. The center continues to grow through the generosity of collectors, former band members, scholars, and fans who share a commitment to preserving this important chapter of jazz history.
Go to the All Things Kenton website
The Stan Kenton Research Center
The Stan Kenton Research Center was established to preserve and make accessible materials related to the Kenton orchestra and the many composers and arrangers who contributed to its legacy. While Kenton’s orchestra was one of the most influential large jazz ensembles of the twentieth century, many of the documents and artifacts associated with the band have been scattered in private collections or lost over time.
The purpose of the center is to gather, preserve, and document these materials so that they remain available to musicians, researchers, and future generations. The collection includes a wide range of archival materials connected to the Kenton orchestra and its extended musical community.
Among the materials preserved in the archive are:
• original scores and parts
• rare band arrangements
• audio and video recordings
• books and newsletters
• photographs and promotional images
• concert programs and tour documents
• correspondence and personal papers
• memorabilia related to the orchestra and its members
Together these materials provide a detailed picture of one of the most innovative orchestras in the history of jazz.
Work and Discovery
Much of the work of the research center involves locating, identifying, cataloging, and preserving historical materials that might otherwise disappear. In some cases this includes rediscovering scores that have been misplaced in institutional archives or private collections. In other cases it involves documenting rare recordings, reconstructing historical programs, or tracing the work of important Kenton arrangers whose contributions deserve greater recognition.
The center’s holdings continue to expand as new materials are discovered and donated. Each addition helps illuminate the artistic world surrounding the Kenton orchestra and the composers, arrangers, and performers who helped define its sound.
Research, Performance, and Education
The work of the Stan Kenton Research Center is closely connected to my activities as a composer, arranger, and educator. The study of Kenton’s orchestra and its arrangers provides valuable insight into orchestration, ensemble writing, and the evolving language of the jazz orchestra.
Research from the archive frequently informs lectures, presentations, performances, and educational projects devoted to the history of the jazz orchestra and the music of Stan Kenton and his collaborators.
Collaboration and Contributions
The Stan Kenton Research Center has grown through the generosity of musicians, scholars, collectors, and former members of the Kenton orchestra who have contributed materials, memories, and expertise. These collaborations have helped preserve documents and recordings that might otherwise have been lost.
Individuals interested in contributing materials or learning more about the collection are welcome to get in touch.
Visiting the Research Center
The Stan Kenton Research Center is located in the Masonic building in downtown Staunton, Virginia. Scholars, musicians, and researchers interested in the collection may contact me to arrange a visit or to inquire about specific materials.
