Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
The Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album has been presented since 1961. From 1962 to 1971 and 1979 to 1991 the award title specified instrumental performances. Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for works released in the previous year.
1961 winner Henry Mancini.
Two-time winner Stan Kenton (left).
1965 winner Laurindo Almeida.
Seven-time winner Duke Ellington.
Stanley Newcomb Kenton was an American popular music and jazz artist. As a pianist, composer, arranger and band leader, he led an innovative and influential jazz orchestra for almost four decades. Though Kenton had several pop hits from the early 1940s into the 1960s, his music was always forward-looking. Kenton was also a pioneer in the field of jazz education, creating the Stan Kenton Jazz Camp in 1959 at Indiana University.
Kenton in January 1947
Stan Kenton, Billboard magazine, October 1942
Stan Kenton with bassist Eddie Safranski, 1947 or 1948
Sam Donahue and orchestra, Kenton on right, New York, 1946