Jazz Beat record label -- needle drops or master tapes?

[monkboughtlunch]

I'm looking to pick up Extensions, a 1965 Cadet album by Ahmad Jamal. So I ping eBay looking for an old vinyl Lp, and i discover Extensions was released on CD in the EU by the "Jazz Beat" record label.

So what exactly can I expect in terms of sound quality and source material for Jazz Beat? Is this a "gray" area EU label skirting copyright laws and issuing CDs from vinyl Lp needledrops, with no money going to the publisher / label? Or do they have a deal with Universal and actually use the master tapes as source material?

I seem to recall Fresh Sound in Spain issued needledrops -- stuff like Jack Wilson's Ramblin. I was curious if Jazz Beat is of similar ilk. If so, I'll pick up the original vinyl instead of a dubious CD. Would appreciate any advice and experience with this CD and Jazz Beat label. Thanks!

[Niko]

iirc Jazz Beat is pretty close to the black side within the gray area... which doesn't mean, they wouldn't copy japanese cds if available instead of going through the troubles of dropping needles...

[miles65]

I'm looking to pick up Extensions, a 1965 Cadet album by Ahmad Jamal. So I ping eBay looking for an old vinyl Lp, and i discover Extensions was released on CD in the EU by the "Jazz Beat" record label.

So what exactly can I expect in terms of sound quality and source material for Jazz Beat? Is this a "gray" area EU label skirting copyright laws and issuing CDs from vinyl Lp needledrops, with no money going to the publisher / label? Or do they have a deal with Universal and actually use the master tapes as source material?

I seem to recall Fresh Sound in Spain issued needledrops -- stuff like Jack Wilson's Ramblin. I was curious if Jazz Beat is of similar ilk. If so, I'll pick up the original vinyl instead of a dubious CD. Would appreciate any advice and experience with this CD and Jazz Beat label. Thanks!

I have Jazz Beat 527 'The Complete Ellington Indigo's' and I don't think they had acces to the original tapes. If you had you would mention this.

No bad sound to my ears.

[Swinging Swede]

Jazz Beat is one of the "Andorran"/Spanish labels and they do not have a deal with Universal. It will be a needle drop if it hasn't been available on CD before, but as far as needle drops go, theirs are usually quite good.

[mikeweil]

I have the Booker Ervin Quartet double CD - definitely not a needle drop, but all of these tracks were on CD before.