Late

Sometimes it sounds (to me) like Rollins is improvising harmonies, or harmonic counterpoint, to a melody that nobody else can hear. In other words, he's playing "under" an improvised melody that he's hearing but not necessarily playing. Does that make any sense?

And now ... I can't tell if this is a terrible record or a hidden gem. But I am spinning it.

The schmaltz level is so high that it's somehow, blackhole-wise, a good record.

Been spinning this one (and Black Saint) all morning. The track "Priestess," for some reason, feels like a memorial track today.

Important point — and the same can be said, probably not coincidentally, of a number of creative icons. Equally important to the music he made, is his power of perseverance — to keep going in the face of that one repeated word: No.

I love the track order. It's one of the few best-of comps, for nostalgic reasons I suppose, that I consider an album to itself.

Interesting that this Vee-Jay title is in the batch. My Japanese P-Vine copy sounds like cr@p. Will probably take a gamble on this new edition.

I heard my first Ornette record when I was sixteen years old. I checked out (vinyl!) The Best of Ornette Coleman, on Atlantic, from my local library. I was entranced — some of the most natural sounds I'd heard from a saxophone. Later, I found out, his music was "controversial." His legacy will only expand.

300 Low-Price Jazz Masterpieces The above link was posted in the Blue Note SHM-CD thread, but I thought this new Japanese reissue campaign, coming out in September 2015, deserves its own thread. A multi-label reissue series, it initially seems something of a mess. Great titles for sure, but likely no new remasters. Still ... what remasters will be used? SHM-CD remasters? Rudy Van Gelder remasters? Are there titles that you'll actually buy? The price is right, no question. Some titles are more obscure than others, so there's a little — seemingly — for everyone. I'll probably (finally) pick up Blue Mitchell's Blue's Moods. I've lived with the music for some time, but not physical product.

I haven't heard it. Always passed it by for some reason.

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.