Complete Fifties Recordings

This wonderful 80-track edition compiles all existing recordings by Lennie Niehaus as a leader from his early years, originally issued on six Contemporary and one EmArcy LPs. The recordings here are presented for the very first time ever on a single set and in chronological order. After 1957, Niehaus didn't record another jazz album under his own name until 1989.

Born in 1929 and now 86 years old, Lennie Niehaus complemented his talents as an alto saxophonist with those of an arranger and composer, becoming a well-known figure on the West Coast jazz scene. After playing with the Stan Kenton big band, and various other jazz bands on the West Coast, Niehaus devoted himself to arranging and composing for motion pictures, including several produced by Clint Eastwood.

As a bonus, we have included three small group tracks that constitute Niehaus' only collaborations with Howard Rumsey, as well as a complete album by conductor and arranger Duane Tatro, again in a small group format that features Niehaus on alto on most tracks.