Bandleader Stan Kenton believed his version of jazz was deeply progressive, and he wasn't wrong. Tracks like “I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)” and “Painted Rhythm” looked towards bebop and hard bop with their integrated solos, mercurial moods, and kaleidoscopic orchestration. The heads of “The Things We Did Last Summer” and “Stompin' at the Savoy” were immediate hooks that invited improv.