City of Glass

Stan Kenton recorded Robert Graettinger's abstract orchestral work in 1951.

from wikipedia-

...producer Lee Gilllette and Stan Kenton were able to cajole a reluctant Capitol Records management into assembling a 1951 version of the 'Innovations Orchestra' to record. The group's studio time on December 5 and 7 was entirely devoted to Graettinger's music; primarily the four movement City of Glass suite  . This was the rewritten version from the original premirered and Civic Opera House in Chicago in 1947 (the reception of the premiere by public was quite indifferent).  
Bob Graettinger died an untimely dealth to lung cancer in 1957 at the age of 33; he lived a great deal of his personal life enigmatic and as a loner. "I've never had a technique to execute my ideas. I work from the idea, and have acquainted myself with the physical laws of sound. I use a different technique for each idea." He elaborates further, "The way I hear music is a series of constantly changing tensions. What I hear isn't individual melodies or harmonies, but something more like abstract shapes in motion."

Robert Graettinger

presented below is the complete CITY OF GLASS as on the 10" release.
(title says City of Glass 2)

Intermission Riff-Stan Kenton

1946 original


composed by Ray Wetzel:

Ray Wetzel (September 22, 1924 – August 17, 1951) was an American jazz trumpeter. Critic Scott Yanow described him as "greatly admired by his fellow trumpeters". 

Wetzel played lead trumpet for Woody Herman from 1943 to 1945 and for Stan Kenton from 1945 to 1948. He recorded in 1947 with the Metronome All-Stars, Vido Musso, and Neal Hefti, and married bass player Bonnie Addleman in 1949. While with the Charlie Barnet Orchestra in 1949, he played trumpet alongside Maynard Ferguson, Doc Severinsen, and Rolf Ericson. He played with his wife in Tommy Dorsey's ensemble in 1950 and with Kenton again in 1951. While touring with Dorsey in 1951, he was killed in a car crash at the age of 27.  He never recorded as a leader.

1972 version

Portrait of a Count- Stan Kenton featuring Conte Condoli

Kenton's 1953 album " New Concepts of Artistry in Rhythm" was not only Stan's return to a more accessible style, but also had work by some of the best of the new "California sound" that would continue on into the 60s on many pop/rock hits. I'm talking about Bill Homan, Gerry Muligan, Maynard Furguson, and the soloist on this song, Conte Candoli.