Contemporary Records Story CD

Usually, jazz label retrospectives -- particularly those issued as multiple-disc boxes -- are very mixed affairs. At least with one disc the listener knows upfront that there is a boatload of stuff missing. But these affairs can be wrenching exercises for jazz fans because of idiosyncratic, subjective selection by producers. The four-disc Contemporary Records Story issued by Fantasy is, happily, one of the exceptions. The ultrafastidious jazz fanatic Les Koenig (pronounced KAY-NIG) founded and operated the Contemporary label from 1952 until his death in 1977. A Dartmouth and Yale law graduate, he had been working as a screenwriter and as an assistant and co-producer to William Wyler in Hollywood. He was blacklisted during the McCarthy era because he was unwilling to testify in front of the House of Un-American Activities Committee. He began producing sessions for the JazzMan label before founding his own Good Time Jazz imprint. Contemporary was an offshoot of the classic jazz-centric Good Time trademark, but it quickly took over. The four CDs contained here follow, essentially, a chronological unfolding of Contemporary's offering

4cds-Art Farmer/Art Pepper/Ben Webster/Sonny Rollins/Shelly M

Recording information: A&R Studios, New York, NY (06/22/1952-07/28/1977); Black Hawk, San Francisco, CA (06/22/1952-07/28/1977); Comtemporary Studios, Los Angeles, CA (06/22/1952-07/28/1977); Irvine Bowl, Laguna Beach, CA (06/22/1952-07/28/1977); New York, NY (06/22/1952-07/28/1977); Nola's Penthouse Studio, New York, NY (06/22/1952-07/28/1977); Radio Recorders Studio B, Los Angeles, CA (06/22/1952-07/28/1977); Renaissance, Hollywood, CA (06/22/1952-07/28/1977); The Lighthouse, Hermosa Beach, CA (06/22/1952-07/28/1977); Village Vanguard, New York, NY (06/22/1952-07/28/1977).

Photographers: Rob Avery; Bret Lopez; Ricardo Marenco; Bill Maris; Cecil Charles; Roger Marshutz; William Claxton.

Arrangers: Victor Feldman; Bill Airey Smith; Duane Tatro; Elmo Hope; Harold Land; Henry Mancini; Lyle "Spud" Murphy; Marty Paich; Shorty Rogers; Bill Russo.

Personnel: Helen Humes (vocals); Jack Marshall, Jim Hall, Al Viola, Barney Kessel (guitar); Victor Feldman (violin, piano, vibraphone); Bud Shank (flute, alto flute); Chico Freeman, Buddy Collette (flute, tenor saxophone); James Clay (flute); Jimmy Giuffre (clarinet, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Bill Airey Smith, Abe Most (clarinet); Bennie Maupin (bass clarinet, tenor saxophone); Bob Cooper (oboe, English horn, tenor saxophone); Gary Bartz (soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); Russ Cheever (soprano saxophone); Art Pepper (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Gigi Gryce, Herb Geller, Jack Dumont, Joe Maini, Lennie Niehaus, Ornette Coleman (alto saxophone); Harold Land, Wayne Marsh, Jack Montrose, Richie Kamuca, Sonny Rollins, Teddy Edwards, Ben Webster, Benny Golson, Bill Holman (tenor saxophone); Jewell L. Grant, Sahib Shihab (baritone saxophone); Art Farmer (trumpet, flugelhorn); Gerald Wiggins (trumpet, piano); Conte Candoli, Don Cherry & Ed Blackwell, Gerald Wilson, Howard McGhee, Jack Sheldon, Joe Gordon, Maynard Ferguson, Rolf Ericson, Shorty Rogers, Stu Williamson , Woody Shaw (trumpet); Joseph Eger, Julius Watkins (French horn); Bob Enevoldsen (trombone, valve trombone); Milt Bernhart, Frank Rosolino, James Cleveland (trombone); Lorraine Geller, Claude Williamson, Ernie Freeman Combo, Frank Patchen, George Cables, Hampton Hawes, Hank Jones , Hilton Ruiz, Jimmy Rowles, Joe Castro , Marty Paich, André Previn, Phineas Newborn, Jr., Red Garland, Ronnie Ball, Russ Freeman , Arnold Ross, Walter Norris, Wynton Kelly, Cecil Taylor, Cedar Walton, Earl Hines (piano); Lyle "Spud" Murphy (celesta); Earl Griffith, Red Norvo (vibraphone); Chuck Thompson, Ed Thigpen, Elvin Jones, Frank Butler, Gary Frommer, Tony Bazley, Jackie Mills, Max Albright, Jimmy Cobb , Lenny White, Louis Hayes, Max Roach, Philly Joe Jones, Roy Haynes, Shelly Manne, Stan Levey, Charlie Persip (drums); Carlos Vidal (congas); Ju