Shawn

It only takes about a minute to register online (after you pick up the card at Borders), once you register they automatically give you a choice of gifts...I took the 30% coupon for a CD or DVD.

By the way...I'm not "for" compressing the shit out of stuff...I prefer "maximum peak value" normalization and that leaves you the original depth of the recording. Blame the Online music stores...lots of complaints were sent to the labels about CD levels not being consistent enough in their digital content. At least I think that's part of the reason. Nothing sounds worse than compressed Classical music...that drives me INSANE!

You can't compare digital audio meters to analog meters (like a cassette deck). In digital land, there is nothing above 0 VU, if you go over 0 you're into digital distortion land. Even with the waveform being compressed as hell...as long as it doesn't go over 0 then it's fine. When mastering you use a digital limiter that won't allow any peaks to get that high (or normalize, whatever the preference). That waveform looks exactly like I would expect a modern CD to look.

McMaster has improved because the gear he's using has improved. One other thing I've noticed...is that his remasterings sound better on my "all digital" setup (optical ouput from DVD/SACD to Sony DTS amplifier) than on my other system.

There are some odd ducks swimming around in this pond we call America....

Lon's word is gold with me...I'll be buying that one next. I'm a Dorham fanatic!

My guess is that they are using a digital limiter to maximize the volume of the CD. But that's pretty much standard practice these days.

...and Soundgarden was better than either of them. One of my friends used to say that there should be a road sign outside of Seattle that reads "Welcome to Seattle, Please Tune Down To D"

Taj Mahal plays Ahmad Jamal (alternate title: TajAhmadMahalJamal) Eminem Does My Fair Lady (retitled: My Fine Bitch) The Statler Brothers tribute to Emerson, Lake & Palmer Boney James plays Archie Shepp

The music is even more violent than the album cover...

I listened to my 3 favorite Jackie records tonight...a painful experience. R.I.P.

Amen! Some more favorites of mine (in no particular order): Nature Boy Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered A Fine Romance Lover Man I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good Please Send Me Someone To Love If I Could Write A Book Wave Lush Life

Well...they are earlier versions of songs (Gettin' & Jettin' is a pre-cursor to Up A Step/No Room For Squares, etc). But they are very different renditions. The main joy of this album though...is that it's a quartet setting...and it's Wynton Kelly, Hank & Wynton were definitely on the same wavelength.

I thought this was going to be about the Michael Mann movie starring James Caan.

Please...a new cover for Another Workout...PLEASE!!!! I've been waiting for this session to be re-issued for a LONG time, actually one of my favorite Hank's (anything with this rhythm section). It's a fun brain test as well, since Hank re-recorded the originals (and sometimes more than once) under different titles later on....

I'm pissed at these guys at the moment. I'm on my second order of the Miles Seven Steps box...checking the status page I see it's backordered *again*. If they can't get additional copies, they need to remove the fucking thing from their website.

You know Jim, I've always preferred the Prestige sessions to the early Columbia stuff...I like the fact that the band basically went into the studio and played their set. There is a "happy accident" quality since they are just winging it. Did it always work? Not totally, as I've often felt that some of the uptempo numbers are just a little too sloppy. This group TRULY worked fucking magic on ballads and mid-tempo pieces though! One thing that is underrated is Red Garland's influence on this quintet...if it hadn't been for him and his little book of "changes", I don't think Miles would have had some of these songs that this group performed.

The RVG has more tape noise.

Okay, I did a side-by-side comparison of "The Hawk Relaxes" this evening, the original OJC issue (mastered in 1991 by Phil De Lancie) and the new RVG. There are quite a few noticeable differences between the two. 1. The OJC was hard panned: Hawkins all the way on one side, Kenny Burrell on the other, etc. The RVG has been narrowed to around 10 o'clock/2 o'clock, I actually prefer this, the crazy stereo panning in the late 50's drives me bats...especially when there's only 1 horn player. For those still scarred by the whole JRVG thing...don't worry, they are not "almost mono". 2. The OJC had a TON of reverb on it (I'd guess that was done for the original vinyl master), the RVG is considerably drier by comparison. The sound of Hawkins' sax is much warmer, the original OJC sounded distant, while this new remaster is very "in your face". The rhythm section is also more distinct (you can actually hear the bass) even though they are still relatively low in the mix. 3. There is ALOT of tape noise! Part of that is in the remastering with the noise floor being more audible...but it really makes me wonder if they didn't CEDAR the older CD issue of this. It's not so bad as to be distracting and I'll trade more tape hiss for better tonal representation of the instruments any day. There are also a few places where tape degradation is audible. Overall it's definitely an improvement in my opinion. A couple noticeable moments: Check out the drum sound during the exchanges in Moonglow, they really "pop". The blend of sound between Hawkins & Burrell on Just A Gigolo is really stunning.

Yes, I'm all over this. *keeping fingers crossed*

Sent PM....

It's a good thing they got rid of Keyshawn before T.O. arrived...man, what a horrible combination of egos THAT would have been. Kinda like Freddie Hubbard & Nat Adderley on crack.....

I got the RVG of Dippin' this past weekend, to see if maybe it would strike me differently than in the past. I'm a Hank Mobley fanatic...but this album has never even been close to the top of my list. Anyway, I did enjoy it more than I remembered...however...the 2 things that irritated me the most about this album are still there. The heads of "The Dip" and "Ballin'" just sound cheesy as hell to me. Of course once you get into the tunes it's fine...but for some reason having the album bookended by two tracks that annoy me drops it down the list a ways. If they had let me choose the reissue, I would've released A Caddy For Daddy instead.

I've seen Lonnie in concert with Idris before (around 1998 or so) and I must echo the statements here that his albums never seem to reach the intensity of his live performances. His live performances on ballads can be subversive as hell...he sticks just close enough for the audience to "think" they know what they are hearing...but he's re-harmonizing like crazy and playing the most wacky shit...but only enough for the "hipsters" in the audience to get the joke. My favorite studio album is Turning Point, followed closely by Drives.

I'll stick with Bach, Paganini, Rachmaninoff, Debussy, etc. Mozart makes me feel like I need to brush my teeth after listening to him.