Contemporary Jazz Records Available Now
Reviews and Commentaries for Contemporary Jazz
If you buy only one Large Group Jazz Record from us, make it this one – the music is swingin’ fun and the sound is going to blow your mind.
And that’s doubly true if you own any modern reissue. (The best early OJC pressings can be good but often suffer from the standard problems OJCs tend to have — they lack weight, Tubey Magic and can get a bit hot up top.)
This is the kind of sound no later pressing from ANY era can compete with. Last time around we noted:
This vintage Contemporary stereo pressing has plenty of Modern Jazz Classics Magic. On a copy such as this you can really pick out each of the musicians and follow them throughout the course of the track. Being able to appreciate everyone’s contributions really gives you a sense of how much work went into the making of this album. It’s nothing short of epic.
This is one DYNAMIC jazz record — drop the needle on any track and prepare to be knocked out.
The sound is full-bodied and energetic, with breathy brass and plenty of studio ambience.
As is so often is the case with the best Contemporary records, thanks must go to Howard Holzer and Roy DuNann.
If I could only have one Art Pepper record, this would be the one.
Marty Paich, Brilliant Arranger
The amazing Marty Paich did the arrangements for this group of top musicians. As far as big band goes it doesn’t get much better than this. If I had to pick one big band album to take to my desert island it might very well be this one. The arrangements are lively and everyone seems to be having a good time in the studio.
Marty was one of the most sought-after arrangers back in the day. In discogs there are currently 512 listings under his name for writing and arranging.
Many consider this to be the best record Art Pepper ever made, along with Art Pepper Meets The Rhythm Section, and it’s hard to argue with either title as both are superb and deserve a place in any audiophile’s collection. I would add Art Pepper Today to that list, although we rarely have copies on the site of that title. The good pressings are very hard to find.
A Must Own Jazz Record
We consider Modern Jazz Classics a Masterpiece. It’s a Demo Disc Quality recording that should be part of any serious Audiophile Jazz Collection. Others that belong in that category can be found here.
The Players
- Art Pepper — alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, clarinet
- Pete Candoli — trumpet
- Al Porcino — trumpet
- Jack Sheldon — trumpet
- Dick Nash — trombone
- Bob Enevoldsen — valve trombone, tenor saxophone
- Vince DeRosa — French horn
- Herb Geller — alto saxophone
- Bud Shank — alto saxophone
- Charlie Kennedy — alto saxophone
- Bill Perkins — tenor saxophone
- Richie Kamuca — tenor saxophone
- Med Flory — baritone saxophone
- Russ Freeman — piano
- Joe Mondragon — bass
- Mel Lewis — drums
- Marty Paich — arranger, conductor
A Must Own Jazz Record
We consider Modern Jazz Classics a Masterpiece. It’s a Demo Disc Quality recording should be part of any serious Audiophile Jazz Collection.
Others that belong in that category can be found here.
TRACK LISTING
Side One
Move
Groovin’ High
Opus de Funk
‘Round Midnight
Four Brothers
Shaw ‘Nuff
Side Two
Bernie’s Tune
Walkin’ Shoes
Anthropology
Airegin
Walkin’
Donna Lee
AMG 5 Star Rave Review!
This is a true classic. Altoist Art Pepper is joined by an 11-piece band playing Marty Paich arrangements of a dozen jazz standards from the bop and cool jazz era. Trumpeter Jack Sheldon has a few solos, but the focus is very much on the altoist who is in peak form for this period. Throughout, Pepper sounds quite inspired by Paich’s charts which feature the band as an active part of the music rather than just in the background. Highlights of this highly enjoyable set include “Move,” “Four Brothers,” “Shaw Nuff,” “Anthropology,” and “Donna Lee,” but there is not a single throwaway track to be heard. Essential music for all serious jazz collections.