# Contemporary Records

Contemporary Records was a jazz record company and label founded by Lester Koenig in Los Angeles in 1951. Contemporary produced music from a variety of jazz styles and players.

## West Coast players

Contemporary became identified with a style of jazz called West Coast jazz as exemplified by Art Pepper, Chet Baker, Shelly Manne, and André Previn.
In the mid 1960s the company fell into relative limbo, but limited new recordings were made in the late 1970s, including a series of albums by Art Pepper recorded at the Village Vanguard club in New York. After Les Koenig's death in 1977, the label was run for seven years by his son, John, who produced albums by George Cables, Joe Farrell, Joe Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, Peter Erskine, and Chico Freeman.
In 1984 Contemporary was purchased by Fantasy Records, which used the name for a short time. Most Contemporary titles were reissued by Fantasy. Also, some titles have found new life among today's audiophiles as high-quality LP remasters from Analogue Productions and other audiophile labels. The Fantasy catalog, including Contemporary and its associated labels, Good Time Jazz Records, Society for Forgotten Music, and Contemporary Composers Series, was sold to Concord Records in 2004.
Over the years, a number of major figures in the music business worked for Contemporary. Among them were Atlantic Records executive Nesuhi Ertegun, writers Nat Hentoff and Leonard Feather, producer Joe Boyd, recording engineer and studio designer Howard Holzer, and mastering engineer Bernie Grundman.

## Recording

Koenig maintained high audio standards. He hired Roy DuNann from Capitol Records in 1956, who, out of the label's shipping room turned studio, turned out some of the best sounding records of the time. DuNann provided some details of his techniques in a Stereophile article nearly 50 years later. He said Koenig provided him with German (Neumann/Telefunken U-47) and Austrian (AKG C-12) condenser microphones and he immediately noted the very high output of these microphones, especially close-in on jazz musicians' dynamic playing. DuNann achieved his signature sound—crisp, clear and balanced without distortion or unpleasant "peak presence"—by keeping his microphone setups very simple (generally one per musician) and avoided the use of pre-amplifiers for them.
He built a simple passive mixing system that directly fed the electronics of his Ampex 350 and 351 tape machines. Also, DuNann told Stereophile that Contemporary sessions were recorded "dry" (without electronic echo added or in a reverberant room). Sometimes, such as in the case of Sonny Rollins' Way Out West, a plate reverb unit was inserted between the tape machine and the LP disc cutting lathe. This is why some later LP and CD reissues of Contemporary albums sound "dry" and "dead" compared to the original LPs mastered by DuNann.

## Discography
### Contemporary 3500/7500 series

The 3500 (mono)/7500 (stereo) series of 12 inch LP records commenced in 1955 and ran until 1961. Contemporary was the first jazz label to record albums in stereo from 1956.
| Catalog | Artist | Album |
| 3501 | Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse All-Stars | Sunday Jazz a la Lighthouse, Vol. 1 |
| 3502 | Lionel Hampton | He Swings the Most |
| 3503 | Lennie Niehaus | Vol 3: The Octet #2 |
| 3504 | Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse All-Stars | Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse All-Stars Vol. 6 |
| 3505 | Hampton Hawes Trio | Hampton Hawes Trio |
| 3506 | Lyle Murphy | 12-Tone Compositions and Arrangements by Lyle Murphy |
| 3507 | Shelly Manne & His Men | The West Coast Sound |
| 3508 | Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse All-Stars | Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse All-Stars Vol. 3 |
| 3509 | Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse All-Stars/Barney Kessel/Hampton Hawes Trio with Shelly Manne | Lighthouse at Laguna |
| 3510 | Lennie Niehaus | Vol 4: The Quintets & Strings |
| 3511 | Barney Kessel | Easy Like |
| 3512 | Barney Kessel | Kessel Plays Standards |
| 3513 | Barney Kessel | To Swing or Not to Swing |
| 3514 | Duane Tatro | Duane Tatro's Jazz for Moderns |
| 3515 | Hampton Hawes Trio | This Is Hampton Hawes |
| 3516 | Shelly Manne & His Men | Swinging Sounds |
| 3517 | Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse All-Stars | In the Solo Spotlight |
| 3518 | Lennie Niehaus | Volume 1: The Quintets |
| 3519 | Shelly Manne & His Men | More Swinging Sounds |
| 3520 | Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse All-Stars | Oboe/Flute |
| 3521 | Barney Kessel | Music to Listen to Barney Kessel By |
| 3522 | Buddy Collette | Man of Many Parts |
| 3523 | Hampton Hawes Trio | Everybody Likes Hampton Hawes |
| 3524 | Lennie Niehaus | Vol 5: The Sextet |
| 3525 | Shelly Manne | Shelly Manne & His Friends |
| 3526 | Curtis Counce | The Curtis Counce Group |
| 3527 | Shelly Manne & His Friends | My Fair Lady |
| 3528 | Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse All-Stars | Music for Lighthousekeeping |
| 3529 | Jimmy Deuchar | Pub Crawling with Jimmy Deuchar |
| 3530 | Sonny Rollins | Way Out West |
| 3531 | Buddy Collette | Nice Day with Buddy Collette |
| 3532 | Art Pepper | Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section |
| 3533 | Shelly Manne & His Friends | Li'l Abner |
| 3534 | Red Norvo | Music to Listen to Red Norvo By |
| 3535 | Barney Kessel, Shelly Manne and Ray Brown | The Poll Winners |
| 3536 | Shelly Manne & His Men | Concerto for Clarinet & Combo |
| 3537 | André Previn & Russ Freeman | Double Play! |
| 3538 | Red Mitchell | Presenting Red Mitchell |
| 3539 | Curtis Counce | You Get More Bounce with Curtis Counce! |
| 3540 | Lennie Niehaus | Zounds! |
| 3541 | Victor Feldman | Suite Sixteen |
| 3542 | Leroy Vinnegar | Leroy Walks! |
| 3543 | André Previn & His Pals | Pal Joey |
| 3544 | Bob Cooper | Coop! The Music of Bob Cooper |
| 3545 | Hampton Hawes | All Night Session! Vol. 1 |
| 3546 | Hampton Hawes | All Night Session! Vol. 2 |
| 3547 | Hampton Hawes | All Night Session! Vol. 3 |
| 3548 | André Previn & His Pals | Gigi |
| 3549 | Victor Feldman | The Arrival of Victor Feldman |
| 3550 | Harold Land | Harold in the Land of Jazz |
| 3551 | Ornette Coleman | Something Else!!!! |
| 3552 | Benny Golson | Benny Golson's New York Scene |
| 3553 | Hampton Hawes | Four! |
| 3554 | Art Farmer | Portrait of Art Farmer |
| 3555 | Benny Carter | Jazz Giant |
| 3556 | Barney Kessel, Shelley Manne & Ray Brown | The Poll Winners Ride Again! |
| 3557 | Shelly Manne & His Men | The Gambit |
| 3558 | André Previn | André Previn Plays Songs by Vernon Duke |
| 3559 | Shelly Manne & His Friends | Bells Are Ringing |
| 3560 | Shelly Manne & His Men | Shelly Manne & His Men Play Peter Gunn |
| 3561 | Benny Carter Quartet | Swingin' the '20s |
| 3562 | Cecil Taylor | Looking Ahead! |
| 3563 | Barney Kessel | Carmen |
| 3564 | Sonny Rollins | Sonny Rollins and the Contemporary Leaders |
| 3565 | Barney Kessel | Some Like It Hot |
| 3566 | Shelly Manne & His Men | Son of Gunn!! |
| 3567 | André Previn | André Previn Plays Songs by Jerome Kern |
| 3568 | Art Pepper | Art Pepper + Eleven - Modern Jazz Classics |
| 3569 | Ornette Coleman | Tomorrow Is the Question! |
| 3570 | André Previn Jazz Trio | King Size! |
| 3571 | Helen Humes | 'Tain't Nobody's Biz-Ness If I Do |
| 3572 | André Previn & His Pals | West Side Story |
| 3573 | Art Pepper | Gettin' Together |
| 3574 | Curtis Counce Group | Carl's Blues |
| 3575 | André Previn | Like Previn! |
| 3576 | Barney Kessel, Shelly Manne & Ray Brown | Poll Winners Three! |
| 3577 | Shelly Manne & His Men | At the Black Hawk 1 |
| 3578 | Shelly Manne & His Men | At the Black Hawk 2 |
| 3579 | Shelly Manne & His Men | At the Black Hawk 3 |
| 3580 | Shelly Manne & His Men | At the Black Hawk 4 |
| 3581 | The Poll Winners | Exploring the Scene! |
| 3582 | Helen Humes | Songs I Like to Sing! |
| 3583 | Teddy Edwards | Teddy's Ready! |
| 3584 | Shelly Manne | The Three & The Two |
| 3585 | Barney Kessel | Workin' Out! with the Barney Kessel Quartet |
| 3586 | André Previn | André Previn Plays Songs by Harold Arlen |
| 3587 | Shelly Manne & His Men | The Proper Time |
| 3588 | Teddy Edwards and Howard McGhee | Together Again!!!! |
| 3589 | Hampton Hawes | For Real! |
| 3590 | Ruth Price | Ruth Price with Shelly Manne & His Men at the Manne-Hole |
| 3591 | Bill Smith | Folk Jazz |
| 3592 | Teddy Edwards | Good Gravy! |
| 3593/4 | Shelly Manne & His Men | Live! Shelly Manne & His Men at the Manne-Hole |
| 3595 | Gerry Wiggins | Relax and Enjoy It! |
| 3596 | Howard McGhee | Maggie's Back in Town!! |
| 3597 | Joe Gordon | Lookin' Good! |
| 3598 | Helen Humes | Swingin' with Humes |
| 3599 | Shelly Manne & His Men | Shelly Manne & His Men Play Checkmate |

### Contemporary Popular 5000/9000 series

The 5000 (mono)/9000 (stereo) series of 12 inch LP records commenced in 1956 and ran until 1962.
| Catalog | Artist | Album |
| 5001 | Mel Henke | Dig Mel Henke |
| 5002 | Claire Austin | Claire Austin Sings "When Your Lover Has Gone" |
| 5003 | Mel Henke | Now Spin This! |
| 5004 | Pepe Romero | !Flamenco Fenomeno! |
| 5005 | Victor Feldman | Latinsville! |
| 5006 | Shelly Manne and Jack Marshall | Sounds Unheard Of! |

### Contemporary 3600/7600 series

The 3600 (mono)/7600 (stereo) series of 12 inch LP records commenced in 1962 and ran until around the early 1980s. After 3624 all releases were stereo only.
| Catalog | Artist | Album |
| 3600 | Phineas Newborn Jr. | A World of Piano! |
| 3601 | Helyne Stewart | Love Moods |
| 3602 | Art Pepper | Smack Up |
| 3603 | Barney Kessel | Let's Cook! |
| 3604 | Joy Bryan | Make the Man Love Me |
| 3605 | Jimmy Woods | Awakening!! |
| 3606 | Teddy Edwards | Heart & Soul |
| 3607 | Art Pepper | Intensity |
| 3608 | Leroy Vinnegar | Leroy Walks Again!! |
| 3609 | Shelly Manne | My Son the Jazz Drummer! |
| 3610 | Prince Lasha Quintet featuring Sonny Simmons | The Cry! |
| 3611 | Phineas Newborn, Jr. | The Great Jazz Piano of Phineas Newborn Jr. |
| 3612 | Jimmy Woods | Conflict |
| 3613 | Barney Kessel | Barney Kessel's Swingin' Party |
| 3614 | Hampton Hawes | The Green Leaves of Summer |
| 3615 | Phineas Newborn, Jr. | The Newborn Touch |
| 3616 | Hampton Hawes | Here and Now |
| 3617 | Prince Lasha and Sonny Simmons | Firebirds |
| 3618 | Barney Kessel | Feeling Free |
| 3619 | Harold Land | The Fox |
| 3620 | Elmo Hope | Elmo Hope Trio |
| 3621 | Hampton Hawes | The Seance |
| 7622 | Phineas Newborn, Jr. | Please Send Me Someone to Love |
| 3623 | Sonny Simmons | Rumasuma |
| 3624 | Shelly Manne | Outside |
| 7625/6 | Sonny Simmons | Burning Spirits |
| 7627/8 | Woody Shaw | Blackstone Legacy |
| 7629 | Shelly Manne | Alive in London |
| 7630 | Art Pepper | The Way It Was! |
| 7631 | Hampton Hawes | I'm All Smiles |
| 7632 | Woody Shaw | Song of Songs |
| 7633 | Art Pepper | Living Legend |
| 7634 | Phineas Newborn, Jr. | Harlem Blues |
| 7635 | The Poll Winners | Straight Ahead |
| 7636 | Art Farmer | On the Road |
| 7637 | Hampton Hawes | Hampton Hawes at the Piano |
| 7638 | Art Pepper | The Trip |
| 7639 | Art Pepper | No Limit |
| 7640 | Chico Freeman | Beyond the Rain |
| 7641 | Ray Brown | Something for Lester |
| 7642 | Art Pepper | Thursday Night at the Village Vanguard |
| 7643 | Art Pepper | Friday Night at the Village Vanguard |
| 7644 | Art Pepper | Saturday Night at the Village Vanguard |
| 7645 | Miles Davis and The Lighthouse All-Stars | At Last! |
| 7646 | Ben Webster | Ben Webster at the Renaissance |
| 7647 | Terry Gibbs | Dream Band |
| 7648 | Phineas Newborn, Jr. | Back Home |
| 7649 | Chet Baker and The Lighthouse All-Stars | Witch Doctor |
| 7650 | Art Pepper | More for Les at the Village Vanguard |
| 7651 | Sonny Rollins | Contemporary Alternate Takes |
| 7652 | Terry Gibbs Dream Band | The Sundown Sessions |
| 7653 | Hampton Hawes | The Sermon |
| 7654 | Terry Gibbs Dream Band | Flying Home |
| 7655 | Curtis Counce | Sonority |
| 7656 | Terry Gibbs Dream Band | Main Stem |
| 7657 | Terry Gibbs | The Big Cat |
| 7658 | Terry Gibbs Dream Band | One More Time |

### 14000 series

The 14000 series began in 1980 with 12 inch LP records and in 1982 commenced releases on compact disc. After 1992 all releases were CD only.
| Catalog | Artist | Album |
| 14001 | George Cables | Cables' Vision |
| 14002 | Joe Farrell | Sonic Text |
| 14003 | Mike Garson | Avant Garson |
| 14004 | Tete Montoliu | Lunch in L.A. |
| 14005 | Chico Freeman | Peaceful Heart, Gentle Spirit |
| 14006 | Joe Henderson | Relaxin' at Camarillo |
| 14007 | Jay Hoggard | Rain Forest |
| 14008 | Chico Freeman | Destiny's Dance |
| 14009 | Bobby Hutcherson | Solo / Quartet |
| 14010 | Peter Erskine | Peter Erskine |
| 14011 | Bill Perkins | Journey to the East |
| 14012 | Bud Shank | California Concert |
| 14013 | Frank Morgan | Easy Living |
| 14014 | George Cables | Phantom of the City |
| 14015 | George Cables | Circle |
| 14016 | Jimmy Rowles and Red Mitchell | Jimmy Rowles with the Red Mitchell Trio |
| 14017 | Bob Cooper and Snooky Young | In a Mellotone |
| 14018 | Shelley Manne | In Zurich |
| 14019 | Bud Shank | That Old Feeling |
| 14020 | The Jazztet | Back to the City |
| 14021 | Frank Morgan | Lament |
| 14022 | Terry Gibbs | The Latin Connection |
| 14023 | Chris Connor | Classic |
| 14024 | Billy Higgins | Bridgework |
| 14025 | Joshua Breakstone Quintet | Echoes |
| 14026 | Frank Morgan Quintet | Bebop Lives! |
| 14027 | Bud Shank | Bud Shank Quartet at Jazz Alley |
| 14028 | Luther Hughes | Luther Hughes and Cahoots |
| 14029 | Art Farmer | Something to Live For: The Music of Billy Strayhorn |
| 14030 | George Cables | By George |
| 14031 | Bud Shank | Serious Swingers |
| 14032 | Jimmy Rowles | I'm Glad There Is You |
| 14033 | Barney Kessel | Spontaneous Combustion |
| 14034 | The Jazztet | Real Time |
| 14035 | Frank Morgan & George Cables | Double Image |
| 14036 | Terry Gibbs and Buddy DeFranco | Chicago Fire |
| 14037 | Tom Harrell and George Robert | Sun Dance |
| 14038 | Chris Connor | New Again |
| 14039 | Frank Morgan and the McCoy Tyner Trio | Major Changes |
| 14040 | Joshua Breakstone | Evening Star |
| 14041 | Kerry Campbell | Phoenix Rising |
| 14042 | Art Farmer | Blame It On My Youth |
| 14043 | Tom Harrell | Stories |
| 14044 | Barney Kessell | Red Hot & Blue |
| 14045 | Frank Morgan Quartet | Yardbird Suite |
| 14046 | Jackie and Roy | Full Circle |
| 14047 | Terry Gibbs and Buddy DeFranco | Holiday for Swing |
| 14048 | Bud Shank | Tomorrow's Rainbow |
| 14049 | Carol Sloane | Love You Madly |
| 14050 | Joshua Breakstone Quartet | Self-Portrait in Swing |
| 14051 | Rumsey, Howard | Jazz Invention |
| 14052 | Frank Morgan Allstars | Reflections |
| 14053 | John Campbell | After Hours |
| 14054 | Tom Harrell | Sail Away |
| 14055 | Art Farmer | Ph.D. |
| 14056 | Terry Gibbs and Buddy DeFranco | Air Mail Special |
| 14057 | Art Farmer and Frank Morgan | Central Avenue Reunion |
| 14058 | Kenny Burrell | Guiding Spirit |
| 14059 | Tom Harrell | Form |
| 14060 | Carol Sloane | The Real Thing |
| 14061 | John Campbell | Turning Point |
| 14062 | Joshua Breakstone Trio | 9 by 3 |
| 14063 | Tom Harrell | Visions |
| 14064 | Frank Morgan and Bud Shank | Quiet Fire |
| 14065 | Kenny Burrell | Sunup to Sundown |
| 14066 | Terry Gibbs | Memories of You |
| 14067 | Terry Gibbs | Kings of Swing |
| 14068 | Leroy Vinnegar | Walking the Basses |
| 14069 | Celedonio Romero and Celin Romero | Spanish Guitar Music |
| 14070 | Pepe Romero | ¡Flamenco Fenomeno! |
| 14071 | Helen Humes | 'Deed I Do |
| 14072 | Hampton Hawes | Something Special |
| 14073 | Chico Freeman | Focus |
| 14074 | Teddy Edwards | Back to Avalon |
| 14075 | Melton Mustafa | Boiling Point |
| 14076 | Michael Orta | Freedom Tower |
| 14077 | Howard Rumsey | Mexican Passport |
| 14078 | Terry Myers | Soul Mates |
| 14079 | Billy Ross | Woody |
| 14080 | Eric Allison | Mean Streets Beat |
| 14081 | Dennis Points | Images |
| 14082 | Jesse Jones | Soul Serenade |
| 14083 | Billy Marcus | Hamp |
| 14084 | Lanny Morgan | Pacific Standard |
| 14085 | Melton Mustafa | St. Louis Blues |
| 14086 | Art Pepper | San Francisco Samba |
| 14087 | Tom Ranier | In the Still of the Night |
| 14088 | Eric Allison | After Hours |