[Dixielandjazz] Kenton Mellophoniums

[Gary Kiser]

Pierre Guicquéro, our trombone man, picked up a cheapo DVD with the 
Frank Rosolino Quartet on the second half.  On the first part is a TV 
broadcast of the Stan Kenton Orchestra from 1962.  Aside from the 
standard horn sections, there are the famous (or perhaps, not so famous) 
Mellophoniums.  These are modified Mellophones which are sort of 
bastardized french horns.  Anyway, upon watching the broadcast, everyone 
was mystified by these strange looking instruments.

I knew of the mellophonium because I knew a couple of mellophone players 
in college.  Anyway, what I wasn't aware of is the 'scandal' around the 
mellophonium.  Perhaps scandal is a hard word, but at least, these horns 
were he source of much infighting within the Kenton band.  The 
mellophonium was introduced in 1960 and was removed from the lineup in 1963.

This post is for two reasons :

1) to propose a couple of links to those that may be interested.  The 
first is probably the most complete on the section and the second is a 
page on the BigBandJazz website selling a Kenton CD with audio files 
where you can hear a bit of the mellophonium.

http://home.comcast.net/~noel_wedder/wsb/mellophonium.htm
http://www.bigbandjazz.net/new-design/cd_horns2.asp

2) I was curious if Mike Vax had any personal anecdotes around the 
mellophonium.  Were you with Kenton 1960-1963?  You aren't listed in the 
trumpet section on the above CD.

3)  Ok, there are three parts to this post.  Does anyone have one of 
these horns?  Were they made especially for Kenton?

That's all.  All the best, Gary