Tag Archives: Lester Koenig

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

Phineas Newborn Jr.: A World of Piano

In June 1962, “Contemporary” label released “A World of Piano!”, the eleventh Phineas Newborn Jr. album. It was recorded October – November 1961, at “Contemporary Records Studio” in Hollywood, and was produced by Lester Koenig.

Personnel:

  • Phineas Newborn Jr. – piano
  • Paul Chambers, Sam Jones – bass
  • Philly Joe Jones, Louis Hayes – drums

Track listing:

  1. Cheryl – Charlie Parker
  2. Manteca – Dizzy Gillespie, Gil Fuller, Chano Pozo
  3. Lush Life – Billy Strayhorn
  4. Daahoud – Clifford Brown
  5. Oleo – Sonny Rollins
  6. Juicy Lucy – Horace Silver
  7. For Carl – Leroy Vinnegar
  8. Cabu – Roland Alexander