DrJ

Thanks for the recs so far, folks...I'm keeping track of all of them and doing research, giving each very serious consideration. Will ultimately post on decisions and hopefully add some photos to the growing gallery of audio geek images on the board! Please, KEEP 'EM COMING! Lon, thanks for reminding me about the Decware stuff, I know you'd given me a link to a universal player a while back that looked mighty tempting...the pricing on these seems incredibly fair. mgraham333 - I've been consistently amazed at the audio quality of my Denon AVR-3300 receiver, really outstanding considering it's a home theater-oriented rig. They were very forward thinking with things like including 6 direct ins well before SACD became commonplace, having a direct pass to allow turntable signals to bypass the digital downsampling circuitry, etc. It also has a PCM switch that allows one to get the full benefit of higher resolution CDs (a feature I didn't even discover until last year, after having had it for several years!). Clearly they were aiming at folks like me, who wanted great listening and also needed home theater capability - and it's not going anywhere as far as the family room surround sound theater set up goes, will hopefully be a mainstay for at least a few more years. A longwinded way of saying given my happiness with that product I'll give their universal player a VERY careful look for my listening room! One question for you about the Denon - when you were buying, did you compare it against the less expensive Pioneer DV45-A? That's the universal player I currently have. Would be interested in your comments if you did.

Reinier: Can you elaborate a bit on this - where did you get your info? Is it straight from Mosaic or is this well-informed speculation? It's an important distinction to me, because if you have it from Mosaic that this is the case, I will be pulling the trigger on the VeeJay sets very soon. Thanks in advance for clarifying.

That Columbia NEW YORK SESSIONS is indeed great - and unlike many of the earlier Columbia / Legacy CD reissues, the remastering is excellent. Still having said that, Hayes' playing does wear a bit thin on my ears over extended listens. It's probably my own inadequacy rather than anything "wrong" with his playing, but those long long lines with few breathing pauses are exhausting after a while! Kind of like listening to Art Tatum on piano, a few tracks at a time is the best way to really appreciate that kind of thing for us mere mortals. I really like the two Emarcy live CDs mentioned below also.

Claude is right about the stereo mix on TOMMY TURRENTINE, it's WAY extreme...but I also had a prior Japanese CD issue of this, and it must be somehow preserved that way on the original tapes, definitely not something Hoffman did just for this reissue. The sound upgrade otherwise is phenomenal, and musically I like this one a lot more than Claude (although must admit it had to grow on me).

Label: Glory, number: 292

That's the same as THE WAY IT WAS then.

Chuck, I'm not sure if by "highs went away" you mean that somehow blow impacted on their ability to hear in the higher end of the range, but if so, that would definitely explain the sound on APOGEE as I hear it. Never heard the LP, but even on CD, which I'm sure has been improved, it's almost painfully bright and brittle sounding. Musically, for people who are contemplating taking the plunge, this is a good one, easily worth it for die hard fans of jazz tenor and/or Marsh, although to me the parts are way greater than the sum. For example, it's fascinating to hear the contrast between Christlieb and Marsh's playing styles, but the music doesn't really sound like a compelling group effort beyond the almost unbelievably tight interwoven playing by the tenors on the heads. Marsh sounds much more in sync with what's going on with the rhythm section here than Christlieb, who often sounds as though he's wandered into the wrong session. Other than his playing on pop records like with Steely Dan, I'm not that familiar with Christlieb, but on the evidence here his playing, while technically amazing, sounds like more bluster and emoting than deep substance. It's almost comical sometimes when set alongside Marsh's way more lived-in and mature playing. Listen to the opening track and the contrast (both in temperment and musical quality) between the two tenor solos and you'll see what I mean...I literally burst out laughing in delight, listening in the car on the way home, as the music moves to a whole other level when Marsh comes in and starts working his idiosyncratic magic after Christlieb has spent several minutes gratuitously napalming the studio.

Couldn't find CONQUISTADOR at my local store, which I went in seeking, so picked up NEVER LET ME GO instead - and it's sounding mighty fine in this RVG remastering! Love what these RVGs do with the BN organ jazz dates, it's either the 24 bit process or something that just allows layers more of the B-3's complex, lovely sound (particularly the bottom end) to show through. This always has been one of my fave of Stanley's albums with Shirley Scott, they just sound sooooo relaxed and in the pocket.

Wow, great news about the Reuben Wilson date! Hadn't heard about that. Have the Eddie Gales, they're terrific reissues!

We're moving, to a bigger place, 1st week of May. One of the many great things about the new place is that I finally get a dedicated music listening room! In the short term, I'll be using some stuff I have on hand to fill in there (the main surround system will remain in the living room), but over the next months to couple of years, I plan to assemble a nice dedicated music listening set-up (no home theater doubling!). That's where you good people come in! There's so much collective audio wisdom and experience here that I'd be crazy not to tap into it and get some ideas for optimal setup. Room dimensions are 11.5 x 14 feet, and probably the speakers will be oriented in the longer direction. The floor is going to be hardwood, but will have a large area rug to dampen reflections. The windows (2, relatively small), will have fabric blinds to further dampen reflections. I'm keeping a very open mind for now to any suggestions, although I have some things I'm interested in. This includes a range of costs. I'm not so much worried about all but the most expensive gear costing "too much," but I am very much interested in getting the most bang for buck - I don't have a deep need to have the most expensive option for each element, I just want great sounding stuff. SO - I'd like to get a range of opinions on any or all the following planned elements - what would you go for if you had the money and opportunity to do it? 1. Amplifier (I seldom listen to the radio and can do so in the family room when I do, so won't have any need for a tuner). I'm open to all options - tube, etc. 2. SACD/DVD-A/CD ("universal") player (I would like a top quality combo player - I know you can get high end CD players that probably sound better but it's just not going to be an option, at least for now). The new Teac Esoteric player looks VERY nice, great write up in Downbeat recently. 3. Speakers. Since I will have SACD and would enjoy the option of surround, I need recs on front, center, and rear speakers. 4. Cables/connectors - what's your poison? 5. Other gear - can include racks, comfy chairs, and other accountrements (nothing is too silly to mention if you feel it enhances your listening experience). I am sticking with my current turntable so no suggestions needed there. So have at it - please, help me get set up real good!

Sounds like this will be my chance to delve full tilt into Ayler's music. I've dabbled - I have the Impulse! live 2CD set, SPIRITUAL UNITY, and have heard some of the other Impulse! stuff - but not enough. Will definitely be picking up the box, hopefully at a decent price!

The Billy Mitchell really blew me away, I need to hear more of him. Archie Shepp's ATTICA BLUES is fantastic. One of my favorite of his Impulse! dates. "Steam" is groovy, a great lost FM soul hit! I'm picking up the Lateef today - the stereo LP copy I have sounded good and I'm expecting even better based on Lon's comments. Musically, it's first rate, perhaps his best Impulse! date. I agree that his tenor playing is very strong on this one. I'll just also mention a couple that others haven't. Alice Coltrane - UNIVERSAL CONSCIOUSNESS - whoah! Heavy stuff. I like Dizzy's AFRO a lot too - have to be in the mood, but when you want intense, driving, downright exhilirating music, this is your ticket!

This has always been one of my favorite of the Blue Note avant garde sessions. Even sounds great in the old McMaster CD version. I'm stopping off at the record store on the way home today to pick up the RVG!

For me, he never did it any better (just different) than the first one, QUARTET. One fantastic album that layed it all out - the distinctive tone, wonderful writing skills, the great choice of musical companions - it's all here, as it would be throughout his long tenure at BN. Maybe his greatest ballad writing and playing ever too in "My Sin."

Glad someone dredged up this thread, I'd missed it but enjoyed perusing. First, I was reminded of what a master BS artist mnytime was...I'm not sure what his actual occupation was, but I actually am an MD and I can tell you he was full of crap...decibels are decibels, whether the sound is eminating from a headphone speaker an inch from your ear or from a blazing Marshall stack or PA speaker 20 feet away. Crank either up regularly and you're going to damage your hearing over time. If Townsend actually believes he lost his hearing due to headphone use and that the over-the-top volume of the Who's countless gigs wasn't at fault, then old Trowser has fried more than just his hearing over the years! Anyway, back to the topic at hand - I've enjoyed my Sony MDRCD3000 reference headphones immensely, had them now for a few months. Very true reproduction with minimal artificiality and they sound good at any volume (including lower). Probably the best headphone I've ever heard in terms of reproducing the feeling of depth and space. I'm not the only one who likes them, though they don't seem to get mentioned around here much (probably because few think "audiophile" when they think "Sony"), they've been very favorably reviewed against comparably priced Sennheiser and Grado models. I paid about $400 for mine new, although they list for quite a bit more (around $700). Very comfortable for prolonged wear also. Here's a link to some reviews: Sony MDRCD3000-reviews1

Agreed, but I still voted! And I voted A SLICE OF THE TOP...although mostly because it needs to get more respect. Any number of his 60's recordings are among the finest anyone's waxed - SOUL STATION, ROLL CALL, NO ROOM FOR SQUARES, DIPPIN', and SLICE are probably my faves. WORKOUT may get my vote for most overrated - quite good, for sure, but for some reason it's just not one that I want to hear real often (maybe a bit too much in the "classic hard bop mold," and thus a little lighter in terms of Hank leaving his usual distinctive stamp).

I think it may have something to do with NEOHIPPUS being a little easier to find, I seem to see it pop up fairly frequently. In fact it's the only one that I have been fortunate enough to find for my own purchase (have only heard SUSPENSE).

Will do!

No, skeith, don't have that one but will make it a high priority. Thanks for the heads up.

Yes, I'd have predicted that the vinyl from that era would sound far superior - I have one of the Walrath BNs on vinyl and it sounds really good. That will be more what I'd expect a Select to sound like. I know some have slammed the DMM LPs but as I recall it had more to do with where they were manufactured (some places the quality was lower) than with the series as a whole...perhaps it was Chuck Nessa who had commented on that in another thread, was very illuminating. Luckily, the few I have sound great, certainly not through any informed buying on my part. Have you heard the Walrath Blue Notes? They are really fantastic, actually musically more rewarding than the Bennie Wallace dates but I agree with you, those are quite good and ought to sell well.

Just keeps growing in my estimation, I just ordered two copies, one each for my dad and father in law, both of whom are going to flip over it. No, it's not fire and brimstone or earthshakingly new what they're doing, but for a thoroughly modern and utterly intelligent take on bop, you simply can't beat it. The recording is also just amazing. I finally got a chance to listen on my home set-up and have to say that I've never heard a standard jazz CD (as opposed to SACD) that allows you to feel as much a part of what was going down in the room...this recording engineer KNEW what he was doing, let me tell you. Dailey is a revelation. Hearing this has prompted me to try and track down as much of his playing as possible...all I have except this for now is a very obscure Muse LP he did under guitarist Bruce Forman's leadership in the 80's called 20/20 (a nice date BTW - Forman, Daley, Tom Harrell in his early Bay Area days, Billy Hart, and bassist Mike Richmond - well worth tracking down). Dailey is on fire on that one, which is pretty driving stuff. On POETRY, he's more relaxed and expansive but certainly on the bop tunes he generates more than enough drive. Even if you're hot and cold or fully cold on Getz from other recordings, some of which were admittedly merely professional rather than passionate, please do yourself a favor and give this one a fair hearing, it just may change your opinions about him. Easily up with his best work.

Well thanks for the comments on STAR EYES, folks, I just ordered a copy from Cadence for about 8 bucks (pretty good price!).

Ah, I just posted a "heads up" about this little nugget of an announcement from the latest Mosaic catalog on another thread, and then came here - old news to many, it appears! Anyway, I'm stoked...thanks for posting on the planned contents. For my part I would have preferred to see a third disc of live/unreleased Pullen/Adams Quartet material in the Select rather than Pullen's two (relatively easy to find) trio CDs, but still that is great material and I'm not going to look this big old gift horse in the mouth! The possibilities now open up for a whole slew of 80's era BN Selects...the Newton would be good (although not sure how they'd round it up to 3 CDs with only 2 leader dates...maybe feature some other artist, kind of like some of the PJ Selects). But IMHO even better would be a Jack Walrath BN Select...those recordings he did for BN in the late 80's are MY-TEE fine, up there with the Pullen/Adams material to my ears in terms of creativity and sheer heart and soul. Perhaps a Bobby Watson/Horizon Select would also be nice (again even NICER if there's some unissued hot live material, that would seem a natural given Watson's passion on stage during that era). Bennie Wallace's discs for the label in the 80's also deserve to be reissued in better sound (they were issued right at the start of the CD era and sound like crap). Maybe they could be paired up with the Newtons, although thematically/musically they have little in common, I don't care if it gets the music out!

This is a killer listing of upcoming sets. Mosaic isn't losing any momentum over time, not in the least! ALSO: did anyone else see the other bit of FANTASTIC news in the latest Mosaic catalog? In Michael Cuscuna's little essay at the beginning of the catalog, where he talks about the Liebman/Beirach Select, he also mentions that the Blue Note recordings of the Don Pullen/George Adams band will be the subject of another Mosaic Select in the near future (later this year I believe)! Having seen many here on the board, including myself, clamoring for a Mosaic covering their work, this announcement ought to generate some excitement! I only have had the good fortune to track down one of their Blue Note CDs, BREAKTHROUGH, and it is nothing less than great, has to be one of the finest jazz recordings of the era. I am very pleased to see Mosaic experimenting with reissuing more 70's and even 80's stuff - yeah, they did it with the Woody Shaw and Phil Woods boxes, but that's only 2 over a period of many years, and now we're getting a couple of Selects dedicated to newer material in just the space of a year! BRING ON MORE (Arista/Freedom Braxtons, Horace Tapscott Nimbus recordings, anyone?)

Yeah, Randy mentions that Howard Alden Concord date TAKE YOUR PICK - I'm generally not much of a Concord Jazz kind of guy but that one is really good. Lew Tabackin, Rosnes, Alden, and a wonderful array of tunes including a couple by Herbie Nichols. Well worth a listen.