Schedule of ‘Back to Balboa’ Events

Here is the complete schedule for “Back to Balboa: a 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Stan Kenton Orchestra.” All events, unless otherwise noted, take place at the Hyatt Newporter Resort, 1107 Jamboree Road, Newport Beach. Four-day registration: $225, though tickets to individual events are available. Cruises optional. Information: (213) 430-6960, (213) 985-5566 or at the Hyatt Newporter, (714) 729-1234.

TODAY:

8 a.m.: Registration begins.

9:45-11:15 a.m.: Panel 1--”Balboa Bandwagon,” discussing the events surrounding the band’s beginnings at the Rendezvous Ballroom on the Balboa Peninsula on May 30, 1941. Moderator: Jimmy Lyons. Panelists: Howard Rumsey, Bob Gioga, Chico Alvarez, Earl Collier and Bill Lahey.

11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Concert with the Buddy Childers big band.

Lunch: Saxophonist Bob Cooper’s quartet entertains.

2-3:30 p.m.: Panel 2--”Artistry in Rhythm,” the first Kenton band to create a national sensation. Moderator: Gene Norman. Panelists: Pete Rugolo, Anita O’Day, Bob Cooper, Gene Howard and Buddy Childers.

3:30-4:30 p.m.: Concert with Tom Talbert band.

6-7 p.m.: Walking tour of Balboa, and Films 1. Among these are 1942’s “Jealous,” “Congo Clambake” and “Reed Rapture” and 1945’s “Eager Beaver” and “Tampico.”

8 p.m.-midnight: Dinner/Dance at the Balboa Pavilion with the Shorty Rogers big band. Sold out.

FRIDAY:

9-10:30 a.m.: Panel 3--”Progressive Jazz,” the name given to the late-’40s band. Moderator: Jay Roebuck. Panelists: Bob Cooper, Pete Rugolo, Milt Bernhart, Jack Costanzo, Laurindo Almeida and Buddy Childers.

11 a.m.-noon: Panel 4--”Innovations in Modern Music,” discussing the 40-plus-piece band Kenton took on the road in 1950 and again in 1952. Moderator: Ken Poston. Panelists: Shorty Rogers, Maynard Ferguson, Bud Shank, Neal Hefti, Manny Albam, Bob Cooper, Pete Rugolo.

Noon-12:30 p.m.: Films 2: Movies taken by drummer Shelly Manne during “Innovations” tour.

Lunch: Music from the Bud Shank quartet.

2-3:30 p.m.: “Innovations in Modern Music” concert, with the Cal State Long Beach Performance Band conducted by Pete Rugolo, Manny Albam, Neal Hefti, et al. Soloists: Bud Shank, others.

4-5:15 p.m.: Films 3, including 1944’s “Artistry in Rhythm” and 1947’s “Let’s Make Rhythm.”

4:30-5:30 p.m.: Concert featuring the Bill Holman Orchestra.

7 & 10 p.m.: Boat Cruise featuring the Lighthouse All-Stars, led by Bud Shank and Shorty Rogers and featuring trumpeter Conte Candoli, saxophonists Bill Perkins and Bob Cooper, pianist Pete Jolly, bassist Monty Budwig and drummer Larance Marable.

SATURDAY:

9-10 a.m.: Panel 5--”New Concepts in Artistry in Rhythm, Part One,” discussing the mid-’50s era. Moderator: Dick Wright. Panelists: Bill Russo, Bill Holman, Lee Konitz, Conte and Pete Candoli and Chris Conner.

10:30 a.m.-noon: Panel 6--”New Concepts in Artistry in Rhythm, Part Two.” Moderator: Vic Lewis. Panelists: Bill Perkins, Lennie Niehaus, Marty Paich, Jack Sheldon.

Lunch: the Bill Perkins quartet entertains.

1-2:30 p.m.: Concert by the Mark Masters Jazz Orchestra featuring the rarely heard music of Bob Graettinger, including “City of Glass.”

2:45-3:45 p.m.: Panel 7--”Education.” Moderator: Matt Betton. Panelists: Bill McFarlin, Bob Kurnow and Roger Rickson.

4-5 p.m.: Saxophonist Lee Konitz’ quartet.

6 p.m.: “Stan Kenton Alumni Concert, Part One: 1941-1955.” An all-star band featuring Lee Konitz, Maynard Ferguson, Anita O’Day, Bud Shank, Bob Cooper and many others. Pete Rugolo, Shorty Rogers, Bill Holman and Bill Russo will conduct.

SUNDAY:

9-10 a.m.: Panel 8--”New Era in Modern Music.” Moderator: Howard Lucraft. Panelists: Gabe Baltazar, Steve Huffsteter, Bob Curnow and Jiggs Whigham.

10:30-11:30 a.m.: The Bob Florence Limited Edition big band in concert.

Lunch: Alto saxophonist Gabe Baltazar performs.

1:15-2:15 p.m.: Panel 9--”Neophonic,” discussing Kenton’s large-scale presentations at the Los Angeles Music Center in the mid-’60s. Moderator: John Prince. Panelists: Bob Florence, Marty Paich, Dick Grove, Allyn Ferguson, Buddy Collette, Red Callendar and Jim Amlotte.

2:30-4 p.m.: Maynard Ferguson’s Big Bop Nouveau band in concert.

4:15-5 p.m.: Panel 10--”Kentonia-1970s.” Moderator: Bob Kurnow. Panelists: Alan Yankee, Hank Levy, Bill Stillfield, Jim Amlotte and Harold Plant.

6 p.m.: “Stan Kenton Alumni Concert, Part Two: 1956-1979.” Guest conductors: Marty Paich, Lennie Niehaus and Hank Levy.

11 p.m.: Finale with the Lighthouse All-Stars.