Late

Oh yes — "spiritual." And take out "really" and "unique" ... and there are zero qualifiers.

Dusty Groove adds the illuminating comment: "... Irene Aebi sings her usual wordless kind of things ... " Dusty Groove's item descriptions have always bugged the &%$*@ out of me. I still shop there, but I can't read their vapid copy. I swear, if you deleted the words "little" (every other item is called "a great little record"), "angular" (somehow meant to portray anything except possibly Lester Young), and "genius" — well, their whole catalog of copy would have holes in it.

Sound is much improved over the GRP edition. Hey, wasn't the awakening also part of the same 2011 SHM series as the Coltranes, and they still used an older mastering for this? That's unexpected. As a result, it's no longer in my shopping cart. Thank you. UCCI 9227(SHM CD) Jamal,Ahmad(p)/The Awakening I know — it's the first time, in my experience, that this series didn't fall back, when it easily could have, on the SHM-CD remaster. I took one for the team! So, a heads-up for the board — I wouldn't recommend UCCI 9282. Try to find the 2011 edition.

UCCI 9282 = UCCU 3057 (2006 edition) Compressed. Loud. Hey, that's my philosophy too! And here's a handy visual aid for this series!

If you know the session already, and like it, you will not be disappointed with this new edition. At 1000¥, and with a superior (SHM-CD) remaster, it's a bargain. So far, I've been cherry-picking titles from this latest reissue batch that were previously SHM-CDs, and each title has — as I've posted above — used the SHM-CD remaster. Great way to get the music in excellent sound. Even better when you have CD Japan points stacked up.

EFF! Listened to this earlier in the morning. I've never heard the OJC, but this SHM-CD is very good. Lots of the so-called "air" in the remaster. And ... Woods is not on auto-pilot! Kenny Dorham sounds like maybe he didn't have his coffee that day (notice how Jones likes to double-time during his solos), but this is an above-average blowing session (which most here probably already know). Anyway, recommended for sonics and the album itself. PAIRING OFF. Q DOUG (—the only letters of sidemen printed in white ... representing unbreakable Cold War code)

UCCI 9246 = UCCI 9205 Listening to this right now. If you're a fan of this album, or if you've had it in your cart at CD Japan, do not hesitate. Sound is much better than the 1992 GRP edition (probably no surprise, however). Coltrane's horn is directly center in the soundstage, Tyner is far left, Garrison (can't always hear him, but this SHM-CD remaster is probably your best chance) is left of center, and Jones is right, sweeping into center with cymbals (not ride though). Damn! Even though Coltrane is often a few steps away from the mike (usually for altissimo screams), the clarity is remarkable. The booklet doesn't even try to represent a new edition — it is the SHM-CD booklet. No English, except for the miniaturized facsimile of the original (ugly) back and front covers. First Meditations sounds just as good as Meditations. Buy together for fun!

Thanks! Agreed. Always good to be able to add to the Teddy Edwards collection. ================= I wonder why these are being reissued using SACD jewel cases? Not complaining, just wondering ...

How are the Edwards Xanadu records? Couldn't find any on YouTube. Ditto. (Do you mean Cohn's Play It Now?) Both records are far above average. Some of the most harmonically adventurous Cohn playing on record.

Beyoncé doesn't like them.

Love all the Cohns on Xanadu — particularly America. I think Cohn did his best, most unleashed, playing for the label. I could never really get into the Dakar date for some reason; probably need to listen again. The Sam Noto sessions (there are four that I know of) are all uniformly solid hardbop sessions too. The two Bob Mover dates on Xanadu are very, very good. Good to see the label getting attention.

Second Bev's recommendations. I'm not familiar with all of Brian's recommendations, but yes (seconded) on Dutilleux, Szymanowski, and Neilsen. And perhaps Scriabin too? This one (below) gets raves on Amazon. I haven't heard it. Not what you asked for, but if you haven't yet heard Uchida's Schoenberg Piano Concerto with Boulez, it really is quite good, and I'm generally not a huge fan of Uchida. I'm probably more equipped to recommend chamber music (Xenakis, Dusapin, etc.) than orchestral music. Ives I'm still wrapping my head around.

Back on topic: Listening again to the latest reissue of Meditations (UCCI 9248), and I have to say this disc sounds amazing. You can turn it up LOUD, and there's little distortion. The first track is very, very busy, and yet the instruments are distinct. Coltrane's bass clarinet playing (what little there is) actually comes through much clearer than on the edition I previously owned. And Pharaoh — sheez. I'm not always in the mood for this album, but when I am ... pure energy. If you like this album already, find a way to hear this edition. It's affordable, and it contains the SHM-CD remastering.

You mean ... feel it? The boosted highs always make the cabinets rattle. Though I can understand, if we're talking retirement homes, how an Aural Exciter could be beneficial for the hard of hearing. I suppose just about everyone would like to be aurally excited now and then. Back on topic, I must now go on record stating that UCCQ 5043 is the best version I've heard of that album. Sold the APO hybrid SACD, which felt under-powered, as a result. I've now owned the 80's vinyl, McMaster, RVG, hybrid SACD, and SHM-CD of this record. Hopefully I'm done re-purchasing this title for a while.

And now she's posting on this board ... UCCI 9276 = UCCI 9224, by the way, Beyoncé.

Google Earth is already showing that David has been good on his word. The drive looks good, even after the car's been over it. Very sneaky of you, however, to slide in that one Beyoncé disc. Nice work trimming the hedges, I should add.

I have these two. The former I have as the 2011 SHM-CD, and it sounds very good, particularly the horns. I haven't yet listened to the Jamal, but I'm assuming it's from the 2011 SHM-CD batch. The best-sounding Impulse SHM-CD that I've heard is Oliver Nelson's Sound Pieces. That one was a huge improvement over the original U.S. disc. Beautiful "room" sound on it. I'll be spinning Meditations more today. The Tyner feature half way through the disc is considerably more opened up on this new remaster. One thing I also noticed is that it's now easier to separate out Elvin Jones from Rashied Ali — before, the drums were closer together on the soundstage (if that's possible; might just be placebo-effect). Fans of this album can now safely purchase the new "low-priced edition" knowing that it's the SHM-CD (sans super high). Bargain for 1000¥.

Been over a year since the Prestige 7000 SHM-CD series came out. I hope we'll see a 7100 batch. Then I won't have to buy the mono hybrid SACD of ...

I'd say that this is probably the case. * Stop the press * — I just checked the inner ring of UCCI 9248. What I expected: it says UCCI 9209. So, the new edition of Meditations does indeed contain the SHM-CD remaster, just without the super-high material. This could be good news for those who missed out on various titles in the 2011 SHM-CD batch. UCCI 9248 = UCCI 9209 UCCI 9263 = UCCI 9220 (just checked) There are more, I'm sure.

Listening now. Stereo! The U.S. Labson digipack edition is squashed into near-mono in comparison. Still, this new (re)reissue doesn't sound spectacular. Might be the limitations in the original recording, I'm not sure, but whoever remastered this Japanese edition seemingly didn't know what to do with the bass. It sounds boosted to me. Max's drums sound good, but are deeply recessed. I have to imagine this was a frustrating project, recording-wise, for both Roach and Thiele.

Yes. (It also contains Sonny Rollins' first appearance on records.)

Listening to UCCI 9248 right now. I think this may be the SHM-CD remaster. Liner notes have a 2011 date, the album's separated into five tracks (my 1989 MCA copy has only two), and the sound is very good — especially beginning with track 3 (which is the LP's B-side). UCCI 9263 also has 2011 liner notes, which leads me to believe that it too may come from the SHM-CD remaster. UCCI 9255, in contrast, is labeled UCCI 9167 on the spine, back cover, and inserts, so this one comes from the 2010 edition. I haven't listened to it yet. "Low-priced edition" essentially guarantees no new remaster, but sometimes you get a superior (earlier) remaster for a better price ... and then sometimes not.

Perfect. Thanks much. I have some reading/listening to take care of. I realize I've heard Evans many times before, but haven't paid enough attention, as I have with Lester Young, and been able to say "Now this is Herschel Evans ... "

Please direct me to representative Herschel Evans solos, and what compact discs they can be found on. Thanks!

"Splanky," translated into Spanish is ... Splanky. (Though auto-correct does suggest "spleeny.") Neal Hefti was an early supporter of Esperanto.