mtodde

I couldn't find the thread where the actual tapes where discussed. Here's something from someone that should definitively know...http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=45519 "I asked Blue Note's reissue producer, Michael Cuscuna about this and he replied: "Art Blakey - Orgy In Rhythm 3/7/57, was the first mono and stereo session. Sabu 4/28/57 was the second. All studio dates from that point on, up to and including Art Blakey - Moanin' 10/30/58, were recorded on both mono and stereo machines. After that all sessions were recorded in two track and folded down for mono." FYI, with this info in hand, the first session issued in mono that was actually made from a folded-down stereo master was BLP-4004, Art Blakey's "Holiday For Skins, Vol. 1". This also means that there is a mono master for Coltrane's "Blue Train". It was recorded 9/15/57, and if what I've read in the past is true, these mono masters will probably sound better. Supposedly Rudy Van Gelder only had a mono monitor set up during playback." I have issues with a number of things that Hoffman says/does but based on MY ears I think these statements have a lot of truth in them...Steve is VERY good at getting what is on the master tape... "Engineer Rudy usually has carefully split a band with a horn on the left and a reed on the right, bass and piano in the middle and drums on the right with a nice bleed through to the middle and thick, swirling stereo reverb that encircles the band in a 360 degree angle. This was not done in a haphazard fashion; it was done in a delicate, deliberate manner, well thought out and well balanced for the best stereo impact." "As I wrote in the other thread and as I keep trying to explain to the folks, certain cues are lost when RVG stereo tapes are folded down to mono. Also, all of the out of phase information that occurs when recording live CANCEL OUT in L+R mono. They vanish, poof! Nobody knows this more than RVG himself. The monos were good enough for a 1961 Webcor phonograph but just because that sound was a compromise back then doesn't mean we are stuck with it now. The actual stereo (binaural) tapes reveal a sonic panorama "time machine" back to the past. We are lucky to have such a clear record of such amazing music." "But NOT Van Gelder; his monos were not dedicated (like United, Radio Recorders, RCA-Victor, Western or Capitol) but just fold downs of the stereo master, redubbed L+R on a mono deck for extra tape hiss." What Steve describes reminds me of what Roy DuNann did using echo to overcome the fact that Contemporary was recording in their mailroom...and what I don't like about Steve's work is that while very transparent it tends to strip out the steps the mastering engineers took to overcome limitations of the day.

I remember reading that when Steve Hoffman & Kevin Gray started out on their project to remaster the titles in the Music Matters & Analogue Productions reissue series on 45 RPM vinyl (and SACD for the Analogue Productions set) they were surprised that many titles thought to be mono were actually recorded in stereo & folded down to mono.

Keep in mind that early stereo recordings will be very hard left/right with very little center fill on playback. That doesn't bother me but some people don't like it.

Another ebay purchase...I need to stop Paul Chambers - Whims of Chambers CD

Dexter Gordon The Complete 60s Blue Note Sessions CD Boxset

From eBay: Jackie McLean: 4, 5 & 6 K2 CD The Great Jazz Trio: Collaboration CD Cannonball Adderley: Somthin' Else Ron McMaster CD Sonny Clark: Sonny's Crib Blue Note Connoisseur CD

There has always been a lot of that unfortunately. In the case where something was never released it is probably the only way you'd ever get it though. When I was a member at Steve Hoffman there were several controversies about whether Steve was selling CD-Rs of things that were never released; I think one went for about $3k on a forum fundraiser even. $30 is a lot to get something other than the original and the seller certainly misrepresented the item for sale and violated some of eBay's rules & even some laws. I have found a number of fake MFSL & DCC titles for sale that were never released. I've always been interested in how they sound.

I've had very good experience with them and picked up several Japanese Verve LPs that were also good deals.

One of the problems with a revealing high end system is that you get whatever is on the disc and compressed recordings are pretty much unlistenable...and this one sounds pretty bad. I can handle mono but there is very little dynamic range due to the compression. There was a MFSL but I'm not going to pay $300 for it...hopefully I'll run into an early issue CD. I do plan to buy the SACD but will probably have my vinyl rig up and running before then. Otherwise it may be a few months before I listen to this again.

I like the idea of the dual LP/CD release however the CD versions are going to be the same RVG remasters that are out there. I've been replacing mine with Ron McMaster versions wherever possible...the LPs have been remastered by Ron so they'll at least have a good start but I'm not sure how the pressing quality will be. If you don't have a title $22 isn't too bad for the CD & LP but if you've already got the CD you'd be better off spending $11 more to get a good reissue from Classic Records...just my opinion...some folks love the current RVGs but I think Rudy has become deaf.

I have the Classic Records 33 RPM LP of Somethin' Else but I'm without a turntable for a few more months and am wondering if there is a better sounding CD version than the RVG I have. Unfortunately I'm not set up for DVD-Audio anymore because that may well be the best sounding digital version. If anyone has any suggestions I'm open to them. I'm not sure when the SACD will come out from Acoustic Sounds/APO. Thanks

How is CAT HOUSE PIANO?

That Jacquet/Webster album, The Kid And The Brute, is one of my favorite Elite's of all. I hope you can find a copy. I picked up The Kid and the Brute this past weekend at a local used record store. Every time I went in over the last 4 months I debated whether or not to pay $40 for it. I'm glad I did! It is a wonderful album!

That is a great article and it gives some insight into how the music was recorded.

first born & first grandchild

The Classic Records reissue of Time Waits by Bud Powell

I've had a VPI 16.5 for 3 months now and wouldn't part with it (unless I could buy one of the exotic cleaners). It does make a tremendous difference and makes the whole process quicker and easier. No hand cleaning method is going to removed the gunk you've stirred up like a vacuum machine. I even clean brand new records...there always seems to be something on them especially if they were pressed at RTI.

How High the Moon is my favorite Stitt album...I may have to pick up the three originals. Live at the Hi Hat, Sonny Side Up & Salt & Pepper are all outstanding. I also recommend Sonny Stitt Blows the Blues. His album with Bud Powell is another winner too; I picked up a 10" reissue recently.

Clark Terry's Serenade to a Bus Seat LP...wonderful album with a unique title.

Cannonball Adderley's Sharpshooters...an original but it is beat...still sounds good though

There have been some great Hawk vinyl reissues over the last few years. The Hawk Flies High was recently reissued by Mobile Fidelity on SACD & 180 gram LP (limited to 2000 copies). Both are outstanding but I prefer the vinyl. Analogue Productions has done a nice job with Night Hawk & The Hawk Relaxes on 45 RPM vinyl and while they are pricey @ $50 each they are worth it. Since each title is limited to 1000 copies they should appreciate over time. Pure Pleasure recently reissued the Candid LP Jazz Reunion with PeeWee Russell. Here's a link to some recent reissues for sale: http://store.acousticsounds.com/search_results.cfm

This was my introduction to stride and remains a favorite. I first came across mention of Lucky Roberts watching A GReat Day in Harlem. More Luckey Roberts to be heard on: -The Circle Recordings (Solo Art), which pairs Roberts' 1946 recording session for Circle (classics like "Pork and Beans", "Ripples of the Nile", "Railroad blues"...) with two sessions of Ralph Sutton (1949 & 1952). Absolutely recommended. -The Jazz Age, vol.2 (Grammercy), originally Period RL1929 "Happy go Lucky", a trad jazz standard session with the presence of saxophonist and clarinetist Garvin Bushell. -"This is Jazz", the Historic Broadcasts, vol.1 on Jazzology. Luckey Roberts is sadly underrecorded, mainly because he had great success composing musical comedies and leading society bands and didn't bother to visit the recording studios. Our loss!!! Liner notes to Tom Roberts' "Roberts plays Roberts" (Stomp Off Records) -written by the same Tom Roberts- are the most scholarly researched profile we have of one of the fathers of the stride piano. Thanks! I'll have to check these out.

This was my introduction to stride and remains a favorite. I first came across mention of Lucky Roberts watching A GReat Day in Harlem.

I love the Rubenstein RCA Living Stereo. The hybrid SACD sounds wonderful and can be had for $12 at most Border's.

Norman Granz Jam Session Volume 4 - Japanese pressing