hopkins

https://www.discogs.com/release/11773562-Benny-Goodman-Swing-Swing-Swing-Rare-Recordings-From-The-Yale-University-Library-Volumes-1-5

Audiophile bars are a new trend. I came across an interesting one here in Paris: "Listener". https://listener.fr/coffee-shop-et-bar-a-vins/ It is located in a nice area, next to the Palais Royal gardens. The bar itself has a nice little system set up, but they have a dedicated listening room in the basement with a large horn system, that I was curious to check out. The listening room can be booked for 50€ an hour .. I went there yesterday, and by chance they were holding a free demo hosted by a young music critic, who was discussing the music of British composer John Barry. It was fun. https://www.jeanchristophemanuceau.com Here are a couple videos I took of this impressive system: Soundtrack from "Somewhere In Time". I'm a sucker for romance, and not ashamed to say that I love the movie. I'm not alone - the movie's Wikipedia page explains: "Despite reviews calling the film "horrible" and a "superficial tear jerker", the International Network of Somewhere In Time Enthusiasts (I.N.S.I.T.E.), an official fan club, was formed in 1990 and continues to meet regularly." Growing up here in France in the 70s, we had a very small selection of TV shows, and this series, The Persuaders, was a mainstay (titled "Amicalement Vôtre" in French). It was fun to hear the soundtrack again after all these years. I stayed for over an hour. The listening room has great acoustics and comfortable couches. Here's another track that I particularly enjoyed: Last week they held a presentation on Quincy Jones. I was sorry I missed that one.

Thanks for the link. I wish someone would interview the recording engineers that are currently working with Mosaic Records: https://www.swanstudios.nyc/swan-studios-nyc

Same here!

Well known track, that I played a number of times this week.

Wow Fantastic material. Thanks for all the links. A long train ride yesterday allowed to listen to the Webster tribute. Today I listened to some of the Quinichette recordings. Too bad he did not have a video camera!

Reading Jan Evensmo's solographies, I come across many sessions that were never issued but should be. Gene Ammons October 1946 session, for starters. GENE AMMONS Chi. Oct. 1946 Gene Ammons (ts), unknown (g), possibly Oscar Pettiford (b), possibly Petite Swanson (vo). Acetate, recorded by Bob Redcross Blues In A Flat I Never Knew Jan Evensmo's comments: "This is one of the greatest tenorsax archeological gems this year (2022)!! There is something unique with GA in these early years, a physical strength combined with perfect understanding of the modern trends. Nobody, yes nobody, can play better than early GA, with a few on his level. He has the blues inside him, more than anybody else, and this example of “… E Flat” is gorgeous. Except for a fine bass soloi n the middle, it is all tenorsax, five solid solo choruses and some riffing behind the vocal. I assume they continued for awhile after the acetate ran out. On “… Knew” hes hows us another side, the ability to improvise endlessly on an evergreen. First an introductory chorus, not really straight, and then a solid solo chorus. After a bass chorus he continues until time is running out, and one gets the impression he could go on forever, like Pres. Magnificent seven minutes!!"

Lionel Hampton set. I got stuck playing "Ring Dem Bells" on repeat for an hour... https://youtube.com/shorts/WygnOz9HOjM

Thanks. I did not find a discogs entry for the Quinichette record (will add it) but the label is there with that same info. https://www.discogs.com/label/618261-Dale-2?redirected=true&page=1 The record states that it was recorded using "cyclophonic hi-fidelity margin control equipment"...

I have the "Paul Quinechette Quintet" (notice the typo on his name) Dale EP 204, which is in fact a 45 rpm 7". I purchased on ebay. Great music. It has all been re-issued by Fresh Sound Records. What is the story of "Dale Records"?

This must be the Lester Young playlist - thanks for the tip.

Here is an example of a Spotify jazz playlist that will be sure to put you asleep: All the songs sound exactly the same. What would be worse - knowing that actual musicians made all this or that it was AI generated?

Thanks. The Wikipedia page mentions the Mantovani orchestra as an example. Here's "Misty"! My dentist always has the same station (or "playlist") of "mellow" covers of pop tunes to relax to while being worked on. It's always intriguing to listen to.

I find it just interesting that they are doing this, and apparently don't want it publicized. I have always wondered who produced and made elevator music...

I found this article interesting: https://open.substack.com/pub/tedgioia/p/the-ugly-truth-about-spotify-is-finally?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=209ad3 As I understand it, Spotify purchases, at low cost, "generic" music from fake artists, and promotes it in their playlists at the expense of "real" artists.

OK - it was a single track, not the whole box set! Mosaic has samples anyway if people are curious to compare them to whatever version they currently have: https://www.mosaicrecords.com/product/classic-vanguard-small-group-swing-sessions-limited-edition-box-set/

Thanks for letting me know, and sorry for my enthusiasm:)

I hope Mosaic Records will not take issue with me sharing a nice track from that Buck Clayton session, for those interested in hearing what it sounds like:

I received my set yesterday. My CD ripping software conveniently found all the track titles. I already had most of the sessions, but agree the sound is nice (they did not apply too much noise reduction; there are some clicks/pops on a few tracks). Last night I played the Buck Clayton July 1, 1954 session with Buddy Tate several times. Very nice! The recording itself is far from perfect, the tapes are 70 years old, but the Mosaic track sounds sharper, more vivid, than the digital version I had prior to that, which you can find on streaming services. https://www.discogs.com/release/8976533-Buck-Clayton-The-Essential-Buck-Clayton The liner notes describe how these Vanguard jazz recordings were first made: "In Brooklyn's Masonic Temple, Seymour [Solomon] had found his ideal recording venue. With Hammond as his new ally, Seymour hung a single microphone 30 feet over the stage, and recorded the first Vanguard jazz session on December 29, 1953... The new series was called the Vanguard Jazz Showcase, and the initial recordings carried a balanced soundstage with the instruments surrounded by natural echo emanating from the room's wooden walls and floors." These single microphone recordings required setting up the instruments correctly, and that was not always the case, as is explained in the liner notes: "As is abundantly clear by now, there are plenty of benefits to the single-microphone recording system. However, one of its critical failures can be heard on the opening track of this session [Just a Groove]...one microphone cannot correct a faulty balance on stage! At the beginning of this track, it sounds like Buck Clayton (cup mute) and Ruby Braff (straight mute) are standing behind the rhythm section, and at times, the acoustic guitar of Steve Jordan nearly drowns out the trumpets! The piano was provided by the Steinway company, and while Hammond reportedly moved it to different spots on the stage before the session began, the placement of the instrument seems distant and unfocused on this track.... But if th'e microphne can't fix the balance issue, certainly the musicians can. After Jimmy Jone's mystical piano solo, the trumpeters ditch their mutes and move to the front of the stage. The increased clarity makes an enormous difference."

Audiophiles don't listen to James P. Johnson I listened to the album and it sounds fine. Some tracks have more noise than others, as the source material is certainly of uneven quality - but it indicates that they did not make excessive use of noise reduction.

Listening to it now (streamed from Qobuz). It's a fun set. Some great beatboxing!

Here's another one I particularly enjoy: Portrait of Wellman Braud, from "New Orleans Suite". The album was recorded in quadraphonic sound. It was re-issued in quadraphonic sound on Blu Ray. https://store.rhino.com/en/rhino-store/artists/duke-ellington/new-orleans-suite-quadio-blu-ray-audio/081227815257.html I could not resist purchasing a copy, even though I have no way to listen to it in quadraphonic sound (4 speakers, with a special amp). However, I extracted the four channels of audio, to listen to them separately: https://storage.googleapis.com/cloudplayer/samples/Portrait of Wellman Braud - Channel 1.wav https://storage.googleapis.com/cloudplayer/samples/Portrait of Wellman Braud - Channel 2.wav https://storage.googleapis.com/cloudplayer/samples/Portrait of Wellman Braud - Channel 3.wav https://storage.googleapis.com/cloudplayer/samples/Portrait of Wellman Braud - Channel 4.wav - Channel one has Ellington's piano in the foreground - Channel two has Joe Benjamin's bass in the foreground - Channel three has the bass clarinet (Carney) and clarinet (Procope) solos and the saxophone section (if I am not mistaken) in the foreground - Channel four has the brass section and trumpet solo (Williams) in the foreground The instruments featured on each channel are really well recorded, and it is just interesting to listen to them individually. Perhaps some of you will be curious to listen to them, so enjoy!