Kai Winding

The Ice Cream Man

Kai Winding
Photography: Don Bronstein
Recording Engineer: Phil Ramone
Director of Engineering: Val Valentine
Produced by Creed Taylor
Verve V/V6-8556
1963

From the back cover: Some people say "Kay," some say "Ki," some say Winding, and some say "Winding." This is a side discussion which is irrelevant to the music on this album, music of swinging rhythmic, extremely danceable variety. It is not required that you dance to enjoy, however, for the music is every bit as listenable as well as danceable. As you play this album, I predict you will not remain seated for long. Some portion of your anatomy will undoubtedly move in time to the rhythmic excitement generated by Kai Winding.

A record such as this can only be conceived by a musician of considerable experience and training. Kai Winding is such a musical. His formal musical education has been honed by a whole lot of experience, playing, arranging, and composing. Kai is best known to jazz fans for his work in the Stan Kenton band and for his successful collaboration with J. J. Johnson in a jazz quintet. The latter musical alliance was rewarding in all possible ways. The group was critically acclaimed, popular in the extreme, and, best of all from a musician's viewpoint, very highly thought of by Kai's colleagues. All of these areas of success are rewarding, but receiving the acclaim of one's fellow musicians tastes sweet indeed.

Kai is currently engaged in myriad musical endeavors. His group plays college dates every weekend and his recording sessions are numerous and varied. Kai handles the musical direction of New York's plush Playboy Club. All in all, he's a very busy man. With this album as well as his previous hit album "More," Kai extends his musical world into heretofore uncharted passages which will undoubtedly prove equally rewarding as past experiences.

From Billboard - December 28, 1963: Exciting readings of some big singles hits by other artists on this album. Trombonist Winding, with strong pop-styled backing swings through Claus Ogeman and Garry Sherman arrangements of such big 1963 hits as "Only In America," "Hey, Girl." "Mockingbird" and "Washington Square." There are also some fine originals. One is "Get Lost."

Get Lost
Only In America
Hey, Girl
The Lonely One
Theme From "Mr. Novak"
Washington Square
The Ice Cream Man
Mockingbird
China Surf
Burning Sands
Far Out East
Oltre L'Amor