music review, Jazz, vinyl record, Ornette Coleman,

 pictured here are albums from my "Spring Jazz Fling"

Audiophile Sound Quality Rating 8 / Musical content 10

Vinyl Record Review: Jazz, Modern Jazz, (avant-garde). Heavy Vinyl Pressing 180 gram on "Wax Time Record label". Audiophile Pressing Process (Direct Metal Mastering).

This is a stunning reproduction of the original recording, both in looking authentic with identical complete liner notes, and front & rear cover art. With the exception as noted on the rear cover, of an additional "bonus track" and of course the current record company's other informational necessities.

 original cover art

Engineering is stated on jacket as being done with the original George Neumann cutting system.

I gave the sound quality a rating of 8.  I'm trying to be more conservative in my ratings these days as it dawned on me that all of my record reviews are 9's or 10's. The reality is, I only write about recordings I'm really jazzed about (no pun intended). As an audiophile, this puts me in the predicament of only talking about the outstanding recordings (or ones which will be in the top teir of sound quality).  So from this review forward I am being more strict with this assement. 

This recoding suffers a little bit from noise between the tacks which could be a result of either the master or the fact the original tapes are from 1959.  Whichever the case neither the label or other reviewers specifies any info on this issue.  Apart from that however, the music itself is of exceptional quality and broad dynamcis. I could easily use this as a "test" disc for auditioning high quality turntables, speakers and audio systems.

It’s been a few weeks now since we lost another great American musician, and I’ve been reflecting on this since Springtime is Jazz time for me.  I call it my “Spring Jazz Fling”. I listen to Jazz and all types of music throughout the year, but I get into “moods” and center on certain types during the four seasons, and Spring is Jazz time for me.  It seems to help me think in original ways and to focus on various exploits I want to accomplish for the year.  

Ornette Coleman, the alto saxophonist and composer who was one of the most powerful and contentious innovators in the history of jazz, died on Thursday in Manhattan. He was 85.The cause was cardiac arrest, a family representative said. 

Mr. Coleman widened the options in jazz and helped change its course. Partly through his example in the late 1950s and early ’60s, jazz became less beholden to the rules of harmony and rhythm while gaining more distance from the American songbook repertoire.

180gram perfectly flat vinyl pressing - the weight and perfect playing surface add to the sound integrity & perfect pitch.

This statement from the Associated Press touches on Ornette’s identity as one of the “innovators" of the modern Jazz movement. He was considered one of the “great influencers” of this of-shoot of what’s considered jazz “standards”.  Jazz standards are those songs and themes which have been done over and over by the masses of even those famous and most celebrated Jazz artists – each taking a different and unique road along the same path, but essentially, not straying too far from it. Ornette often didn’t follow these paths at all – if he did, his road was so abstract, only occasionally could you figure out (without looking at the liner notes) which road he was actually following.

I have friends that get together with me to listen to Jazz and other musical art forms.  We typically enjoy the great “standards” artists – hey – they’re easy to follow. Occasionally, I’ll pull out Eric Dolphy or Ornate Coleman and the comments are always the same. The instrumentation, the phrasing, the musicianship and skill are “WOW” but my friends will go on to say “I would never buy such an album to just listen to”.  They might use it as a test disc to audition audio gear, because again, of the clarity and quality of the sounds, but not to enjoy this “abstract music”.       

excellent liner notes, great quality jacket and included inside is a flyer describing other excellent reproductions from Waxtime. I am very pleased with the quality.

When I listen to a great innovator like Ornette Coleman, it’s easy for me to understand this sediment. Most people like an easy to follow “melody”. I guess what’s harder to appreciate in Ornette is that he is one of those great artists who gave Jazz the moniker as being the “musician’s music”.  No one gets to the core of musical exploration better than Ornette Coleman, which is why I have to include his “Shape of Jazz to come”  in my Spring “Jazz” Fling every year! It is recognized as one of the “all-time great” Jazz records and is in a few of the “short lists” to own for any series collector. For me, it just “gets there” – and if you have to be a musician to truly understand this, so be it.  But I believe any true appreciator of great art and great musical art will also “get it”. My take is that he’s a little less “Dali” and a little more “Picasso”.

 

“cheers”

 

Vinyl Record Review: Heavy Metal Band Saxon, Album "Into The Labyrinth"

Review for www.RichsRecordEmporium.com

 

 

Audiophile Sound Quality Rating 9 / Musical content 10

Vinyl Record Review: Heavy Metal, Saxon “Into the Labyrinth” double Gatefold Album Set, Heavy Vinyl Pressing 2009 Steamhammer Reocrds, LC09002 German Import. Warner/Chappell Music.

Engineered and produced by Charlie Bauerfeind, Exec. Producer (as usual) Biff Byford, Recorded at Twilight Hall in Krefeld, Germany. Studio Assistance Daniel Klecker.

 

All Lyriks by Biff Byford. Music by Biff Byford (Vocals) , Doug Scarratt (Guitar), Paul Quinn (Guitar), Nigel Glokler (Drums), and Timothy Carter

 

Saxon is a British band formed in the late 70’s, and who achieved World Wide Success charting no less than eight (8) top 40 albums in Great Brittan in the 80’s. After this period, due in part to changes in lineup, some feuding among band members, and a short stint in court over who actually owns the name “Saxon” the many fans who were not of the fanatical variety loss interest. Which would prove to be “their loss” as this band has only got better with time. “Into the Labyrinth” is Saxon’s eighteenth (*18^th) studio album. There have been two more studio albums released since then (2009), Call to Arms (2011) and Sacrifice (2013).  I have all but five of the first 18 and every single one (every single song on each) is excellent.  This is one of those bands like (Neil Young or Willie Nelson) that seems to never run out of interesting material. Every time I “take a chance” on one I haven’t heard I’m blown away by how good it is – every single track. These guys are amazing, and the musicianship has only matured over time.

 

For this review I'm using Music Hall's extremely detailed custom cartridge (the "Mojo") in their venerable 5.1SE turntable $1089.00.  A beautifully detailed table that gives a series view in the window of true high-end audio performance.

Track One, Battalions of Steel starts with a chorus that sounds like it could be the sound track to “Game of Thrones – the movie” if there will ever be one. Track Three, The Demon Sweeney Todd could be the sound track for an episode out of “Sleepy Hollow” – I have to admit, the first side of this awesome four side set made me wonder – were they inspired by these shows, then I remember – oh – no, they would have had to write the material prior to recording it in 2009….hmmmm.

 

Regardless, this is a fantastic release for any heavy metal fan that likes it more melodic, yet with the steady grinding rhythms that drive any hardcore Metallica fan.  The woofs on my speakers were getting a great workout thanks to Nibb’s awesome bass guitar accompaniment to Glocker’s relentless riveting drumming (this guy’s like John Bohham on acid). …er..not that I would know anything about acid.

 

So if Saxon is one of those bands you never got into, or only heard during their 80’s years – its time for a return, or you could be missing some of the best British metal writing today!

On a side note - most "German" recordings are excellent quality so as such you'll definitely notice a 3D soundstage under the phones.  As usual, the CD or digital download is basically more two dimensional. "cheers"

New Record Releases Reviewed for Sound Quality and Musicallity

www.richsrecordemporium.com

Audiofile Rating: Music Quality 10 / Sound Quality 9, except for Seeds of Love, Sound Quality "10"

Batch Review:

There’s no question these five artists are outstanding examples of modern pop music today. I’m as guilty as anyone for falling into long stretches of time where I only listen to music I was exposed to when I was younger, High School – College era. But if you’re really into music, whether it’s hard rock, blues, whatever – and you find yourself doing the same thing – only buying music from your particular era “back then” than you are doing yourself a HUGE DISERVICE. Because if you are truly into great music, this batch represents modern music at its finest.

 

Some, like the Tears for Fears album pictured in the “Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab banner are not new, but a new release from the original master tapes – hence – new production of an older record. But tears was a band that for some reason got missed by many “not from the era” in which they were newly popular, and company’s like MO-FI are going back and grabbing that music which deserves to be immortalized on collector quality vinyl.

 

As for the truly newer artists highlighted here, The 2015 Capital Records release of the Decemberists is a production of impressive originality and musicality. If you like Neil Young, Mason Proffit or The band, it should be at the top of your list to pick up. They have an earthy grass-roots originality to them that speaks to you with wonderful stories and non-traditional lyrics. Three sides of music are included with this “gatefold” album, heavy vinyl pressings w/an interesting celestial design on the fourth non-playable side. This is one of my new-favorite records!  I think we’ll be expensing one of these for demonstration of the Hi-Fi gear next door at Uptown Audio.

 

Another amazingly original recording is that of the “Fleet Foxes” w/there 2015 release on Sub Pop records. Another Gatefold Album cover, the first is a full length 33 1/3 LP, the second is a full size EP w/about 15 minutes of material per side. Another outstanding recording lyrically, musically, and sound quality wise. The vocals on this in my mind are as good as “One Direction” -- Could use this next door as well, but have to limit how many “demo” records we have laying around…

 

The Mobile Fidelity Original Master Recording of Tears for Fears The seeds of love – what can I say – every “Mo-Fi” recording is painstakingly derived from the original master tapes, on top quality vinyl and are a number limited edition. Every single Mo-Fi record ever released when it goes out of production instantly goes up in value usually by a minimum of four times.  So even if you are not a collector – per say, if all you every bought were Mo-Fi releases – your record collection would be worth considerably more than you paid for it. Oh, and did I mention, these recordings are typically better than the original – earn a “10” for sound quality. 

 

As for the Black Keys, the material on this one is lush and syrupy, with excellent musicality and originality. Lots of reviews out there for this very popular band so once again, yes, sound quality is on par with what you would want music this good to sound like when you get it home to your very own vinyl spinner!

 

“cheers”

Equip Review, Accessory, SpinClean Record Cleaning Machine

Last Published 2014-09-09, for www.RichsRecordEmporium.com Collinsville, IL

Below is a quick review I did for a couple of Audio / Record Stores in the past, about the "SpinClean" and I cannot emphasis enough how important record cleaning and preservation is.  If you're like me, and you care about the condition of the records you own, you should get yourself a record cleaning machine of some kind. Many are motorized and much pricier.  One of my favorites of this variety is the SOTA, but whether its motorized or manual, they achieve the same thing. They remove all that crap in the grooves that if left there is only adding wear and noise to the record every time you play it, and causing micro damage to the grooves, forever loosing the fine musical detail there within. It's surprising to me also how many have not realized that "most records" are "limited editions", as many of the greatest artists of all time have expired, and you only get "so many times" you can use the original tapes to produce "new copies".  So if nothing else, consider yourselves the "stewards" in charge of preserving an art form which is both precious and scarce, and getting scarcer as time passes.    

Vinyl Record Cleaning Accessory
The “SpinClean” Record Cleaning Machine
Just got these in, and I cannot believe how effective they are. I have the usual assortment of items that remove dust and static from a record on the turntable, but this thing is sooooo much more effective that it’s almost UNBELIEVABLE! I mean, let’s take the average record in my collection which I’m thinking is clean, because 1. Can’t see anything on it now that I’ve brushed it, and 2. all the pop’s, clicks, and static must be from the tiny scratches and smudges I can’t really see, right? NOT!!! Even my “thought they were already clean” records were DRAMATICALLY improved after running them through the spin clean. Playing them sounded silky smooth, with complete silence apart from the music itself. Even records I thought were worn out and almost unplayable, sounded like new again! From this day forward, when someone asks me what the single most effective way to improve their stereo is (if records are a source) it’s a good record cleaning machine, and this one in particular, is the CHEAPEST one I know of; $79.95 Includes everything!
Mark/Uptown Audio