Lenox School of Jazz test pressings signed by Ornette and Steve Kuhn

$

1,725

From the collection of an Atlantic records producer comes one of the rarest recordings in post-war jazz – two deep-groove vinyl test pressings (Side 1 and Side 2) of the “Student Concert at the Lenox School of Jazz, Lenox, Mass.” For those who are unfamiliar with this extraordinary recording, some history is warranted: the Lenox School of Jazz was started in l957 as somewhat of a summer camp for jazz students from around the world and was presided over by some of the cream of professional musicians, e.g. Bill Evans, John Lewis, Jimmy Giuffre, Dizzy Gillespie, Gunther Schuller, George Russell, Kenny Dorham, Max Roach, and many, many more. Each season would conclude with a benefit concert by the students and faculty. On August 29, 1959, the concert was recorded by an Atlantic Records engineer and privately issued on one LP – SOJ (School of Jazz) - that was later sold on a very limited basis as a fund-raiser. No art cover was produced. The records were issued is a plain paper sleeve. The student and faculty participants on the 11 tracks consist, in part, of Perry Robinson, Attila Zoller, Gary McFarland, Kenny Dorham, Steve Kuhn, Don Cherry, Ornette Coleman, Jimmy Giuffre, and others. There has never been a legitimate re-issue of this recording. These are deep-groove engineer’s test pressings, which differ from standard test pressings in that they were circulated in-house only between the engineer, the producer, and company executives. The original plain sleeve is included, with “Nesuhi” written in the upper left corner (for Nesuhi Ertegun – producer and co-owner of Atlantic Records). The pressings are dated on the labels “11/11/59”, are in the typical Atlantic format, i.e. one side contains music from the concert and the other side contains unrelated music (in this instance, Bobby Darin). Both pressings are in near-new condition, with a high luster; perhaps played once. Their fidelity is far superior to any of the unauthorized issues. The records and utility sleeve have been signed by Ornette Coleman and Steve Kuhn. WE DO NOT ACCEPT PAYPAL. Please do not bid unless you are comfortable providing credit card information directly. The “Blue Note Records” book – “ A Guide for Identifying Original Pressings” is now available on eBay.