HutchFan

Now: Earlier:

Dub, It's just a question of the number of speakers that the recording is intended -- recorded & mixed -- to support. A 5.1 surround recording is made for two front speakers, two rear speakers, one center-channel speaker, and a sub-woofer -- as shown below: Usually, in 5.1 set ups, the rear speakers are smaller than the front speakers, and the center-channel speaker is purpose-built specifically to support movie dialogue. (There are purely musical recordings that use 5.1 surround. But I think the format really took off with the advent of home theaters and watching movies at home. OTOH, Quadraphonic was/is for music only.) Quadraphonic recordings are intended for two front speaker and two rear speakers. Unlike 5.1 systems, (I think) most folks used the same four speakers for Quad set-ups. Back in the 1970s when Quad LPs were introduced, you needed to purchase an amplifier that supported Quad LPs plus two "extra" speakers. Most folks assume that those extra costs are what caused the format to fail. Others objected to the format because it's not necessarily an accurate portrayal of how we hear music in "real life"; it's as if you happen to be sitting among the people making the music. Sound is coming at you from every direction. If you want a "realistic" concert hall-type reproduction, then Quad is not for you. So music-audio purists disliked Quad, just like they (usually) dislike surround set-ups. My assumption is that most listeners who buy a Quad recording today will be listening to them on their surround systems. If you've only got a two-speaker/traditional stereo set-up (like most music listeners, as opposed to movie watchers), then it wouldn't make any sense to buy a Quad recording. Good point! Hadn't thought of that.

Now streaming: Grachan Moncur III - Shadows (Denon, 1977) Andy Bey should've received a front-cover "featuring" credit, since his voice is so prominent throughout the album.

Miyazawa Akira Quartet - Kiso (Victor World Group Japan, 1970) Akira Miyazawa (ts, fl) Masahiko Satoh (p) Yasuo Arakawa (b) Takeo Moriyama (d) and Masahiko Satoh Trio - Transformation '69/'71 (Express Japan, 1971) Masahiko Satoh (p) Yasuo Arakawa (b) Masahiko Togashi (d, perc) An extraordinary album.

McCoy Tyner - Passion Dance (Milestone, 1979) with RC and Tony

Two terrific records.

More Japanese jazz today. Now: Masahiko Togashi - Spiritual Nature (East Wind, 1975) with Masahiko Satoh (p), Masami Nakagawa (bass fl), Keiki Midorikawa (b, vc), Yoshio Ikeda (b), and others Earlier: Takashi Kako - The Legend of the Sea-Myself (Trio, 1977) with Masami Nakagawa (as, fl), Keiki Midorikawa (b, vc), and Masahiko Togashi (d)

I assume that Quadio is a portmanteau of Quadraphonic and Rhino.

Tonight's theme is airborne instruments. A few moments ago, they floated over a sunbaked desert. Now, they're flying by Saturn like satellites: Libre - Con Salsa . . . Con Ritmo, Vol. 1 (Salsoul, 1976)

While watching Monday Night Football -- Eagles vs. Bucs -- with the TV audio muted: Grupo Folklorico y Experimental Nuevayorquino - Lo Dice Todo (Salsoul, 1976)

Now playing: Caribbean Jazz Project featuring Dave Samuels - Mosaic (Concord Picante, 2006) Dave Samuels (vib, mar) with: – On tracks 1, 2, 4 ,6, 7 and 8: - Christian Howes (vn) - Alain Mallet (p, org) - Boris Kozlov (b) - Dafnis Prieto (d) - Roberto Quintero (perc) – On tracks 3, 5 and 9: - Paquito D'Rivera (as, cl) - Andy Narell (steel d) - Alon Yavnai (p) - Oscar Stagnaro (el-b) - Mark Walker (d) - Pernell Saturnino (perc)

Yep. And it's great to hear Hendrix with Billy Cox on bass. He's so soulful and funky.

Is quadraphonic audio making a comeback??? EDIT: Disregard my question. I read the the Hoffman Board thread. I now understand Rhino is reissuing a few albums from the 1970s that were originally issued with Quadraphonic mixes.

Such a wonderful record.

Next up: Airto - Identity (Arista, 1975) as heard on this BGO compilation:

Eddie Henderson - Inside Out (Capricorn, 1974) Henderson's second album for Capricorn featuring his bandmates from Herbie's Mwandishi band. Badass.

Renee Rosnes - As We Are Now (Blue Note, 1997)

Probably my favorite Lonnie Smith.

You'll get no argument from me on that. In fact, I would suggest that Os Afro Sambas initiated a (roughly) decade-long run of amazing music from Powell. He combines disparate musical elements to make something unique: jazz from the U.S., European classical guitar, Brazilian folkloric guitar, and -- perhaps most importantly -- African & Afro-Brazilian rhythm. Rather than the typically sophisticated bossanova that takes it's cues from Rio, Powell's music is more rough-hewn and rooted in Bahia. I think others were making similar music (particularly Brazilian guitarists like Luiz Bonfa and Laurindo Almeida) -- but only those who came in Powell's wake combined all of these elements in a way that sounds like he did. Of course, these are only my impressions. And I'm still learning about Brazilian music, so I might be missing something or someone. But, so far, I haven't heard anyone else who sounds like Baden Powell.

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