Alec Posted March 7, 2009 Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 My local Newburys has a bunch of the K2s @ $5.99. Are they worth the upgrade? Which ones would you say are the best? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Nessa Posted March 7, 2009 Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 Monk's Music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sal Posted March 7, 2009 Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 (edited) Incredible Jazz Guitar sounds great too. edit to add that I really miss this series. Some of the best sounding jazz reissues I've heard. Edited March 7, 2009 by sal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Late Posted March 8, 2009 Report Share Posted March 8, 2009 All (yes, all) of the Monk K2's are significant upgrades, but, as Chuck mentions, Monk's Music is of particular importance. There's a long discussion here (somewhere) explaining why. The Bill Evans K2's are great, and Art Pepper's +11 as a K2 is also great. At $5.99, especially if you don't already have the music, they're probably all worth owning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted March 9, 2009 Report Share Posted March 9, 2009 At $5.99, especially if you don't already have the music, they're probably all worth owning. Yes. You won't ever see 'em that low again and you'll kick yourself later if you don't. I know: my ass is red from all the times I've kicked myself! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claude Posted March 9, 2009 Report Share Posted March 9, 2009 As mentionned, the "Monk's Music" is special, because it's actually a different recording of the same session, using different microphones, and in mono. I don't agree with the "Incredible Jazz guitar" recomendation, as this recording sounds poor on all digital reissues. The tapes are defective. Apart from that one, most K2s are worth getting, especially at that price. But because most of the OJCs already sound very good, the sonic upgrade is not always significant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
relyles Posted March 9, 2009 Report Share Posted March 9, 2009 Hopefully not a stupid question, are K2 remasters on other labels held in the same regard as the OJCs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claude Posted March 9, 2009 Report Share Posted March 9, 2009 (edited) You should not focus on the process or technology itself, which is secondary for the mastering quality. "K2" is one of those typical japanese marketing ideas. http://www.jvc-victor.co.jp/english/produc...igitalk2-e.html The sound quality of a remastering depends on who did it and what tape sources are available to him. The OJC K2 remasters were all done by the same team (supervised by Tamaki Beck of JVC), that's why the mastering quality is consistent. For other mastering engineers doing "K2" remasters for other labels, the results may be entirely different. Edited March 9, 2009 by Claude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
relyles Posted March 9, 2009 Report Share Posted March 9, 2009 You should not focus on the process or technology itself, which is secondary for the mastering quality. "K2" is one of those typical japanese marketing ideas. http://www.jvc-victor.co.jp/english/produc...igitalk2-e.html The sound quality of a remastering depends on who did it and what tape sources are available to him. The OJC K2 remasters were all done by the same team (supervised by Tamaki Beck of JVC), that's why the mastering quality is consistent. For other mastering engineers doing "K2" remasters for other labels, the results may be entirely different. Thanks. I was not sure whether it was the specific OJC remasters or something about the K2 that is special Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluesnik Posted March 9, 2009 Report Share Posted March 9, 2009 At $5.99, especially if you don't already have the music, they're probably all worth owning. yes, that's a very good price for K2s. but very, very good. i would go for Monk's and Bill Evans' albums and particularly Monk's Music (which i don't have) would be a good choice. i would like to have it as a K2 and would jump at it if i could get it at that price. and Art Pepper's +11 would also be very recommendable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spontooneous Posted March 10, 2009 Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 I'll put in a word for the K2 of "Outward Bound." Does wonders for the rhythm section. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluesnik Posted March 10, 2009 Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 For other mastering engineers doing "K2" remasters for other labels, the results may be entirely different. but weren't all (existing) K2s the same? i might be mistaken, but the Concord K2s (the ones in the cardboard box containing the jewel case) are the same remasters JVC used. at least i thought so. maybe it's not that way... i don't know were i got that from but i think it was a trustful source. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluesnik Posted March 10, 2009 Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 (edited) i got the 3cd box of the 25 june 1961 village vanguard concert by bill evans and it's fabulous. and it sounds great. i gave the OJCs of Live at the Village Vanguard and Waltz for Debby to a friend, although they also sound good. but it's a duplication of the material. Edited March 10, 2009 by Bluesnik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
king ubu Posted March 11, 2009 Report Share Posted March 11, 2009 What about the Monk Riverside 2CD set? I never ever saw any K2 over here, so I have the Monk as part of the 15CD and that recent 2CD set (used to have the OJCCD as well). I must have missed that earlier discussion! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewHill Posted March 11, 2009 Report Share Posted March 11, 2009 Yes, yes, yes, grab'em. I know not everyone here's a fan, but I really like this series. The Contemporary dates sound pretty good as well as the Prestige dates. Most of 'em just jump out at you, while some don't, like some of the Riversides; but you still can't go worng when they are this cheap. Don't pass up this deal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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