Pharoah Sanders and Alice Coltrane on Impulse- best sounding CD issues

[riverrat]

All- I'm looking for input regarding which CD versions of the Pharoah Sanders and Alice Coltrane catalogs on Impulse sound the best.

A related question would be that if the Japan UCCI versions, or some other hard to find and expensive, OOP issues are best, which cheaper alternatives would you recommend? The late 90's domestic Impulse digi-packs seem pretty easy to find..

TIA!

[J.A.W.]

I didn't like the Japanese UCCI reissues that I've heard, they sounded harsh to me, with boosted highs. The American digipaks that were mastered by Erick Labson in the mid- and late 1990s aren't my favourites either, but to me they sound better than those Japanese ones and they're cheap. Other board members' mileages vary

Until something better comes along, I generally prefer the 1987 (32XD prefix) or 1991 (MVCI prefix) Japanese Impulse! CDs; as far as I know they share the same masterings. I don't know which Pharoah Sanders and Alice Coltrane albums, if any, were released in those series, though.

Edited January 30, 2010 by J.A.W.

[jazzbo]

There's no "right" or "wrong" answer to "what's the best sounding version" of anything. You're going to get differing opinions.

I have some of these in Japanese Impulse 24 bit lp facsimile versions and prefer them to the sound of the 'nineties US digipaks. Others prefer the very first US releases. The US digipaks do sound very good.

[riverrat]

Thanks folks. I know its a bit of a loaded question, and I shouldn't plan on consensus but this helps!

[Late]

I'll echo Hans' thoughts. If you can find any of the 32XD titles (they're now 23 years old!), they're certainly worth picking up. (To me, they sound similar to DCC remasterings — nothing boosted about them.) That said, I've only ever seen (John) Coltrane titles (well, Mingus and Rollins too) with this prefix. (The 32XD issues of "Expression" and "Crescent" are especially nice. "Transition" and "Sun Ship" less so, in my opinion.)

In general, I'm happy with the 90's U.S. digipacks for Sanders and Alice Coltrane. Pick 'em up, dig into the music, and enjoy. (Then secretly carry on your campaign to find ancient Japanese or German remasters.) Way back in 1994, London's Picadilly Tower had a fair sized batch of the 32XD-prefix titles on sale. I bought as many as I could afford at the time, but regret not buying them all — around 20 titles, I think.

Oh — I think the UCCI versions of "Tauhid" and "Live at The East" sound pretty good. If you're jones-ing to hear them, they're worth a splurge, in my opinion.

[J.A.W.]

I'll echo Hans' thoughts. If you can find any of the 32XD titles (they're now 23 years old!), they're certainly worth picking up. (To me, they sound similar to DCC remasterings — nothing boosted about them.) That said, I've only ever seen (John) Coltrane titles (well, Mingus and Rollins too) with this prefix. (The 32XD issues of "Expression" and "Crescent" are especially nice. "Transition" and "Sun Ship" less so, in my opinion.)

Several others were also issued in the 32XD and MVCI series, such as Gil Evans, Oliver Nelson, Elvin Jones, McCoy Tyner, Quincy Jones, Keith Jarrett, Johnny Hartman, Count Basie, Art Blakey, J.J. Johnson, Charlie Haden, Albert Ayler, and Duke Ellington titles.

[hvbias]

Can anyone comment on the sound of the limited edition mini-LPs put out by Disc Union? I can see "24 bit by RVG" in the Obi from some pictures. Not sure if it is the same mastering as the UCCI.

Edited January 7, 2013 by Deepak