Alumni from the 1956 – 1978 Stan Kenton Orchestras, plus some
wonderful young new members, come together to perform for
festivals, clinics, concerts, cruises and dances. The band makes
tours around the United States every year. We perform some of the
well-known music of the Stan Kenton Orchestra; plus, in keeping
with Stan’s insistence on not just performing nostalgia type music,
we also perform fresh new material written in the Kenton style, as
well as original material written by members of the Band. We are
NOT trying to be the “Stan Kenton Orchestra,” but we are carrying on
his tradition of dedication to creative music and to jazz education.
We have the blessing of Leslie Kenton, Stan’s eldest daughter, who
recently passed away. She represented the interests of her father and
approved of all we are doing with the band to keep the Kenton Legacy
alive.
Leader Mike Vax has led a big band off and on since his days at
College of the Pacific over 50 years ago. A few of his credits include
being first trumpet, soloist and road manager of the Stan Kenton
Orchestra, as well as being co-leader while Mr. Kenton was recovering
from surgery; playing lead trumpet in Clark Terry’s Big Bad Band,
leading the Dukes of Dixieland in New Orleans; producing and/or
music directing for over 50 jazz festivals; and performing workshops
for more than 3000 high schools, colleges and universities all over
the world. Mike now lives in Northern Arizona and still travels on the
road many months a year. Mike is a signature artist for The
Warburton Company and plays Warburton horns and mouthpieces
exclusively including the “Vaxinator” Model Trumpet.
The goals of the band are to perform meaningful music, talk about
the importance of the jazz heritage in America, bring jazz music to
young people, and to offer our audiences a relaxed, entertaining
atmosphere.
FRIENDS OF BIG BAND JAZZ is the support group for The Mike Vax
Jazz Orchestra and the Stan Kenton Alumni Band. This nonprofit
corporation sends students to summer jazz camps on scholarships,
donates funds to high school music programs and youth orchestras,
and raises money for many good causes that support music and
education.