Tag Archives: Contemporary

Hampton Hawes: This Is Hampton Hawes

In May 1956, “Contemporary” label released “This Is Hampton Hawes”, the second Hampton Hawes label. It was recorded June – December 1955, January 1956, at “Los Angeles Police Academy” in Chavez Ravine, “Contemporary’s Studio” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Lester Koenig.

Personnel:

  • Hampton Hawes – piano
  • Red Mitchell – bass
  • Chuck Thompson – drums

Track listing:

  1. You and the Night and the Music – Arthur Schwartz, Howard Dietz
  2. Stella by Starlight – Victor Young, Ned Washington
  3. Blues for Jacque – Hampton Hawes
  4. Yesterdays – Jerome Kern, Otto Harbach
  5. Steeplechase – Charlie Parker
  6. ‘Round About Midnight – Thelonious Monk
  7. Just Squeeze Me – Duke Ellington
  8. Autumn in New York – Vernon Duke
  9. Section Blues – Red Mitchell, Chuck Thompson

Art Pepper: Art Pepper + Eleven – Modern Jazz Classics

In January 1960, “Contemporary” label released “Art Pepper + Eleven – Modern Jazz Classics”, the ninth Art Pepper album. It was recorded March – May 1959, and was produced by Lester Koenig.

Personnel:

  • Art Pepper — alto and tenor saxophone, clarinet
  • Herb Geller — alto saxophone 
  • Bud Shank — alto saxophone 
  • Charlie Kennedy — alto saxophone 
  • Bill Perkins — tenor saxophone 
  • Richie Kamuca — tenor saxophone 
  • Med Flory — baritone saxophone 
  •  Pete Candoli — trumpet
  • Al Porcino — trumpet
  • Jack Sheldon — trumpet
  • Dick Nash — trombone
  • Bob Enevoldsen — valve trombone, tenor saxophone
  • Vincent DeRosa — French horn
  • Russ Freeman — piano
  • Joe Mondragon — bass
  • Mel Lewis — drums
  • Marty Paich — arrangements, conductor

Track listing:

  1. Move – Denzil Best
  2. Groovin’ High – Dizzy Gillespie
  3. Opus De Funk – Horace Siver
  4. Round Midnight – Thelonious Monk
  5. Four Brothers – Jimmy Giuffre
  6. Shawnuff – Dizzy Gillespie
  7. Bernie’s Tune – Jerry Leiber, Bernie Miller, Mike Stoller
  8. Walkin’ Shoes – Gerry Mulligan
  9. Anthropology – Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker
  10. Airegin – Sonny Rollins
  11. Walkin’ – Richard Carpenter
  12. Donna Lee – Miles Davis

André Previn & His Pals: Modern Jazz Performances of Songs from Pal Joey

In December 1957, “Contemporary” label released “Modern Jazz Performances of Songs from Pal Joey”, album André Previn & His Pals. It was recorded in October 1957, at “Contemporary Records” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Lester Koenig.

Personnel:

  • André Previn – piano
  • Red Mitchell – bass
  • Shelly Manne – drums

Track listing:

All lyrics by Lorenz Hart, all music by Richard Rodgers.

  1. I Could Write a Book
  2. That Terrific Rainbow
  3. Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
  4. Take Him
  5. Zip
  6. It’s a Great Big Town
  7. What Is a Man?
  8. I’m Talkin’ with My Pal
  9. Do It the Hard Way

Ornette Coleman: Tomorrow Is The Question!

In November 1959, “Contemporary” label released “Tomorrow Is the Question!, the second Ornette Coleman studio album. It was recorded January – March 1959, at “Contemporary’s Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Lester Koenig.

Personnel:

  • Ornette Coleman – alto saxophone
  • Don Cherry – trumpet
  • Percy Heath – bass
  • Red Mitchell – bass
  • Shelly Manne – drums
  • Roy DuNann – engineer
  • Nat Hentoff – liner notes

Track listing:

All tracks by Ornette Coleman.

  1. Tomorrow Is the Question!
  2. Tears Inside
  3. Mind and Time
  4. Compassion
  5. Giggin’
  6. Rejoicing
  7. Lorraine
  8. Turnaround
  9. Endless

Joe Gordon: Lookin’ Good

On October 30, 1961, “Contemporary” label released “Lookin’ Good!”, the second and final Joe Gordon album. It was recorded in July 1961, at “Contemporary Records Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Lester Koenig.

Personnel:

  • Joe Gordon – trumpet
  • Jimmy Woods – alto saxophone
  • Dick Whittington – piano
  • Jimmy Bond – bass
  • Milt Turner – drums

 Track listing:

All tracks by Joe Gordon.

  1. Terra Firma Irma
  2. A Song for Richard
  3. Non-Viennese Waltz Blues
  4. You’re the Only Girl in the Next World for Me
  5. Co-Op Blues
  6. Mariana
  7. Heleen
  8. Diminishing

Barney Kessel, Shelly Manne and Ray Brown: The Poll Winners

In October 1957, “Contemporary” label released “The Poll Winners”, album by Barney Kessel, Shelly Manne and Ray Brown. It was recorded in March 1957, at “Contemporary Records Studio” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Lester Koenig.

Personnel:

  • Barney Kessel – guitar
  • Ray Brown – bass
  • Shelly Manne – drums

Track listing:

  1. Jordu – Duke Jordan
  2. Satin Doll – Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Johnny Mercer
  3. It Could Happen to You – Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke
  4. Mean to Me – Fred E. Ahlert, Roy Turk
  5. Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me – Rube Bloom, Ted Koehler
  6. On Green Dolphin Street – Bronisław Kaper, Ned Washington
  7. You Go to My Head – J. Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie
  8. Minor Mood – Barney Kessel
  9. Nagasaki – Harry Warren, Mort Dixon

Ornette Coleman: Something Else!!!

In September 1958, “Contemporary” label released “Something Else!!!!”, (subtitled The Music of Ornette Coleman), the debut Ornette Coleman album. It was recorded in February 1958, and was produced by Lester Koenig.

Personnel:

  • Ornette Coleman – alto saxophone
  • Don Cherry – cornet
  • Walter Norris – piano
  • Don Payne – double bass
  • Billy Higgins – drums
  • Roy DuNann – engineer
  • Nat Hentoff – liner notes

Track listing:

All tracks by Ornette Coleman.

  1. Invisible
  2. The Blessing
  3. Jayne
  4. Chippie
  5. The Disguise
  6. Angel Voice
  7. Alpha
  8. When Will the Blues Leave?
  9. The Sphinx

Hampton Hawes: For Real

In August 1961, “Contemporary” label released “For Real!”, the tenth Hampton Hawes album. It was recorded in March 1958, at “Contemporary Records Studio” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Lester Koenig.

Personnel:

  • Hampton Hawes – piano
  • Harold Land – tenor saxophone
  • Scott LaFaro – bass
  • Frank Butler – drums

Track listing:

  1. Hip – Hampton Hawes
  2. Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams – Harry Barris, Ted Koehler, Billy Moll
  3. Crazeology – Benny Harris
  4. Numbers Game – Hampton Hawes, Harold Land
  5. For Real – Hampton Hawes, Harold Land
  6. I Love You – Cole Porter

Sonny Rollins: Sonny Rollins And The Contemporary Leaders

In August 1959, “Contemporary” label released “Sonny Rollins and the Contemporary Leaders”, the 18th Sonny Rollins album. It was recorded in October 1958, at “Contemporary Studio” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Lester Koenig.

Personnel:

  • Sonny Rollins – tenor saxophone
  • Hampton Hawes – piano
  • Barney Kessel – guitar
  • Leroy Vinnegar – bass
  • Shelly Manne – drums
  • Victor Feldman – vibes

Track listing:

  1. I’ve Told Ev’ry Little Star – Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern
  2. Rock-A-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody – Sam M. Lewis, Jean Schwartz, Joe Young
  3. How High the Moon – Nancy Hamilton, Morgan Lewis
  4. You – Harold Adamson, Walter Donaldson
  5. I’ve Found a New Baby – Jack Palmer, Spencer Williams
  6. Alone Together – Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz
  7. In the Chapel in the Moonlight – Billy Hill
  8. The Song Is You – Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern

Hampton Hawes: Hampton Hawes Trio

In August 1955, “Contemporary” label released “Hampton Hawes Trio” (subtitled Vol. 1), the debut Hampton Hawes album. It was recorded in June 1955, at “Los Angeles Police Academy” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Lester Koenig.

Personnel:

  • Hampton Hawes – piano
  • Red Mitchell – bass
  • Chuck Thompson – drums 
  • John Palladino – engineer
  • Pauline Annon – design
  • Lester Koenig – liner notes

Track listing:

All tracks by Hampton Hawes, except where noted.

  1. I Got Rhythm – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
  2. What Is This Thing Called Love? – Cole Porter
  3. Blues the Most
  4. So in Love – Cole Porter
  5. Feelin’ Fine
  6. Hamp’s Blues
  7. Easy Living – Ralph Rainger, Leo Robin
  8. All the Things You Are – Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II
  9. These Foolish Things – Holt Marvell, Harry Link, Jack Strachey
  10. Carioca – Vincent Youmans, Edward Eliscu, Gus Kahn