{"product_id":"pre-order-sonny-rollins-go-west-the-contemporary-records-3x-lp-box-set","title":"Sonny Rollins - Go West! The Contemporary Records - 3x LP Box Set { Vinyl LP }","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cheader data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e180g Vinyl 3LP Box Set!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003c\/header\u003e\u003cheader data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eIncludes 2 Classic Albums + 6 Alternate Takes from Both!\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMastered from \u0026amp; Lacquers Cut Directly from Original Analog Tapes to Lacquer by Bernie Grundman!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/header\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eGo West! The Contemporary Records Albums \u003c\/em\u003eis a 3LP collection that explores Sonny Rollins' output for Lester Koenig's revered Los Angeles jazz label.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eNewly cut from the original analog tapes by GRAMMY®-winning engineer (and former Contemporary Records studio employee) \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBernie Grundman,\u003c\/strong\u003e the 20-track set presents two classic albums from the legendary saxophonist's catalog: \u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWay Out West\u003c\/em\u003e (recorded in March 1957) and \u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eSonny Rollins and the Contemporary Leaders\u003c\/em\u003e(October 1958). Adding additional context are six alternate takes, culled from both albums. Originally released in 1986 on the long-out-of-print compilation album \u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eContemporary Alternate Takes,\u003c\/em\u003e these tracks allow listeners to hear Rollins and his fellow musicians develop such iconic recordings as \"Way Out West\" and \"Come, Gone.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe set is presented on 180-gram 3-LP pressed at RTI and includes an expanded booklet with new notes and interview by GRAMMY® Award-winning music historian \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAshley Kahn,\u003c\/strong\u003e including \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ea new 2021 interview with Sonny Rollins.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eIn the spring of 1957, 26-year-old Sonny Rollins was primed for a new adventure. For nearly a decade, the tenor saxophonist had worked his way up through the ranks of the New York City jazz scene. By the mid-'50s, Rollins was playing alongside such stars as Miles Davis, Clifford Brown and Max Roach, and Thelonious Monk, and had released his first albums as a leader on Prestige Records. The saxophonist had also established himself as a talented composer, through such now-iconic jazz standards as \"Oleo,\" \"Airegin,\" \"Doxy\" and \"St. Thomas.\" But while the Harlem-born artist was firmly entrenched in the East Coast hard bop scene, the opportunity to explore the sights and sounds of the West Coast (where the cool jazz movement was in full swing) had a strong appeal. Moreover, having recently concluded his contractual obligations with Prestige, Rollins was a free agent. In his new liner notes, Ashley Kahn writes, \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\"The idea of freedom comes up often in chronicles of Rollins during this period. It's noted in the music he was creating—particularly in his decision to perform and record with piano-less rhythm accompaniment, allowing for a harmonic freedom, but also in his extended improvisations that developed into lengthy stories of their own. Rollins was developing his sound and approach on a daily basis.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAt the center of the West Coast jazz scene was Contemporary Records. Founded in 1951 by former screenwriter and film producer Lester Koenig, the young label was home to some of Los Angeles' most exciting artists, including Shelly Manne, Barney Kessel, Hampton Hawes, Art Pepper and André Previn. From its state-of-the-art recording facilities to its high-impact jacket art, Contemporary Records had quickly established itself as an industry tastemaker—and Rollins wanted to take part in the action. Koenig, who had recently begun pairing East and West Coast musicians together, was just as eager to work with the rising star.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\"I think everybody on the scene knew about Contemporary Records. Contemporary had a very positive reputation, a good name,\" \u003c\/strong\u003erecalls Rollins, speaking to Kahn in 2021. \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\"[Koenig] seemed to be a very resolute fellow, a no-nonsense type of guy, and a very charming person. . . . He was very respectful and a supporter of the music. He knew the history.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eRollins commemorated his inaugural trip to California with \u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWay Out West.\u003c\/em\u003e Recorded in the early hours of March 7 with \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ebassist Ray Brown\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003edrummer Shelly Manne,\u003c\/strong\u003e the album marked the saxophonist's first in a trio setting. A loose concept record, \u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWay Out West\u003c\/em\u003e was comprised of originals (\"Come Gone\" and the title track), standards (Duke Ellington's \"Solitude,\" Isham Jones' \"There Is No Greater Love\") and a pair of Western classics: Johnny Mercer's \"I'm an Old Cowhand\" and Peter DeRose's \"Wagon Wheels.\" Engineer \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eRoy DuNann \u003c\/strong\u003e(whom Rollins refers to as \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\"the Rudy Van Gelder of the West Coast\"\u003c\/strong\u003e) recorded the sessions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe memorable jacket art, photographed by \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBill Claxton,\u003c\/strong\u003e was also conceived of by Rollins. The desert scene features the musician as a lone cowboy, drawing a saxophone from his gun holster. \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\"I used to go to the movies every week in Harlem and I happened to be a big cowboy fan,\"\u003c\/strong\u003e reveals Rollins. \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\"They were my heroes and they were always the good guys. They stood for justice. In the end, good would always win over bad.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eIn 1958, Rollins returned to Los Angeles—but this time he was a star. In the two years following his first visit, the saxophonist had released multiple albums (including the groundbreaking \u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFreedom Suite\u003c\/em\u003e), made his debut at Carnegie Hall and was hailed by critics as the decade's most influential tenor sax player. Rollins had also married his first wife, actress and model Dawn Finney, whom he met during his first trip to California. His follow-up for Contemporary, \u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eSonny Rollins and the Contemporary Leaders,\u003c\/em\u003e would bookend this eventful era—marking the musician's final album of the '50s, before he embarked on his first European tour and took a three-year hiatus, ahead of his next artistic phase.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eRecorded over three days that October, \u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eSonny Rollins and the Contemporary Leaders\u003c\/em\u003e found the horn player primarily in a quintet setting, backed by \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eManne, Barney Kessell (guitar), Hampton Hawes (piano)\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eLeroy Vinnegar (bass),\u003c\/strong\u003e with a guest appearance by \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003evibraphonist Victor Feldman\u003c\/strong\u003e—all of whom also recorded as leaders on the label, as the title implies. Bridging the sounds of both coasts, the album showcased the talents of each musician, as they played eight standards, including \"Alone Together\" (Schwartz\/Dietz), \"You\" (Donaldson\/Adamson) and \"How High the Moon\" (Lewis\/Hamilton).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\"I really like the mix of tunes we did on the \u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eLeaders\u003c\/em\u003e album, and I also like that the record shows there is a difference between the West Coast and East Coast musicians back then,\"\u003c\/strong\u003e notes Rollins. \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\"The musicians out there were just like the West Coast itself—beautiful landscape, beautiful weather, everything like that… East Coast jazz was more hard-edged. The bebop music we were playing at that time represented that divide—I could hear the difference.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eRollins' love affair with California wasn't just about the scenery, however. To him, these trips and their resulting albums represented a unique moment in his life—one filled with creative exploration, a thrilling sense of opportunity and romance. \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\"Being out West felt like new beginnings to me,\"\u003c\/strong\u003e he explains. \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\"That whole experience in L.A. was a moment of growth. I'm so grateful that I've lived to the age that I am and that I could learn. I'm still learning, you know, growing and learning.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"UMG","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56666403504460,"sku":"888072247543","price":25.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0979\/2913\/4412\/files\/crflp00434__09694.jpg?v=1770372009","url":"https:\/\/vinylpulses.com\/products\/pre-order-sonny-rollins-go-west-the-contemporary-records-3x-lp-box-set","provider":"My Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}