May 1997

Ray Starling and Joel Kaye
Alternate Routes
Tantara Productions

By Chuck Berg

In 1965, Stan Kenton launched his 23-piece Los Angeles Neophonic Orchestra. Though funding problems cut its activities short, the brassy Neophonic concept wound up being transported to New York through the agency of Ray Starling's New York Sound Stage One and Joel Kaye's New York Neophonic Orchestras. Disc One, Starling's band, was recorded in 1965 and 1966; Disc Two, Kaye's side, comes from 1976 and 1981. Stocked with New York studio pros as well as Kenton alums, both bands crackle with Kentonian big band brio. Included are such Kenton chestnuts as "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most" and "Somewhere."