Alón’s Pick
Shoji Yokouchi Trio - Greensleeves
(Three Blind Mice/Impex Reissue)
In my earliest years as an audiophile, I was thrilled by a record label whose recordings I found to be my highest reference — Three Blind Mice from Japan. This label cared so much about capturing the sound of a live performance that I bought whatever LP of theirs I could get my hands on, despite their rarity and lofty price tags. A few years ago I invested in a mint copy of Midnight Sugar, a seminal Three Blind Mice release from 1974 by the Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio.
While I don’t mind spending a couple hundred dollars on a rare LP every once in a while, I didn’t want such an expensive collectible as my music pick for the month — but there’s great news that won’t need any deliberation or raise any WAF concerns: Yes, another worthy title in this label’s small list of releases is now available as a limited, numbered pressing (at RTI no less) from Impex, a audiophile label that acquired the original master tape and did justice to its original perfection in their 180 gram vinyl reissue.
The sound is nothing short of stunning… with energized air surrounding the instruments and the palpable solidity of the living, breathing musicians inhabiting the space of the studio is almost eerie…it truly feels like you are there. As a drummer, the lifelike shimmer and endless decay of the taps and strikes on the ride cymbal made me gasp the first time I played this LP on my system. I also have never heard a better more faithful presentation of the soft scrape and wobble of the Hammond B3 organ with the unique spinning “Leslie” speaker attachment. I literally have nothing negative to say — this is a huge milestone in today’s analog renaissance.
Kudos to Impex! If labels like this can profitably make more of this kind of sonic splendor available at these no-brainer prices… well, there’s hope for the future of our crazy hobby, as I imagine all these young new turntable owners acquiring such gems and finding out what their systems are capable of… and then, of course, upgrading.
So take a listen to the low rez YouTube video and take an inexpensive leap of faith. Buy this before it sells out (available at elusive disk) and tell all your newly indoctrinated jazz-loving vinyl aficionados, especially if they are your Millenial children. They will flip and you’ll be a hero.
Cheers, Alon
Jay’s Pick
Duke Ellington - July is Blues in Orbit
My album pick for July is Blues in Orbit by Duke Ellington and his band, recorded primarily at a post-midnight session in late 1959. I’ve been listening to a fairly recent vinyl version released by Sony / Music on Vinyl.
At our SFAS program this past April, Michael Fremer spoke about Masterpieces by Ellington, recorded in 1950. Michael called this mono record “one of the most amazing recordings I have yet to hear to this day.” He played “Mood Indigo,” a 15-minute track that he had played for people all around the world, and noted that everybody applauds at the end, though we didn’t have to.
Blues in Orbit is a different kind of album recorded at the end of the same decade. In contrast to Masterpieces, Blues is stereo and has shorter tracks. Some, such as “C Jam blues,” “Sentimental Lady,” and “In a Mellow Tone,” are very familiar since there have been so many versions over the years. The band’s playing is rhythmic but still loose, with fantastic improvisation. The performances are engaging and the soundstage and overall sonics are quite good. In my recent listen, I didn’t clap (though tempted), but there was plenty of toe tapping.
This Sony / MOV pressing is excellent. There are innumerable Ellington recordings spanning several decades, and regardless of sound quality, most are rewarding listens. This one definitely falls into that category and also features impressive sound.
Note: In case you were wondering, the SFAS program attendees sat in silence after the mono “Mood Indigo” concluded. Then, after a few seconds, they too broke into applause.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqpO1URqhzk&t=810s
Tidal: https://listen.tidal.com/album/1743536
Larry’s Pick
Bob Brookmeyer- Bob Brookmeyer And Friends
My music pick for this month is Bob Brookmeyer And Friends, Columbia mono CL-2237, 1965. This is a record I found in a second hand bin for a few dollars. I’d heard Brookmeyer on the KJAZZ radio station and was intrigued. Brookmeyer played (he passed away in 2011) a valve trombone which is a trombone with valves like a trumpet instead of the slide which allowed faster attacks on the notes he played. Brookmeyer primarily played with Gerry Mulligan and Stan Getz, but has a number of his own albums.
And Friends includes Stan Getz, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Gary Burton and Elvin Jones – quite a line up of friends! While Carter, Hancock, Burton and Jones make significant contributions to the album, Getz is most heavily featured with his saxophone layering beautifully with Brookmeyer’s trombone. One song that is particularly well done is “Misty”, if you listen carefully you can hear Getz taking breaths and the pads on his saxophone – close miking I guess? The arrangements make for a wonderful listening experience whether you’re listening to it with a stereo or mono cartridge.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqsOxwO1nUI
Tidal: https://listen.tidal.com/album/1312440
Kevin’s Pick
Christopher O’Riley (plays Radiohead) - True Love Waits
You may know the name Christopher O’Riley already, the album is called True Love Waits (Radiohead). He has hosted a radio program called ‘From the Top’ heard on NPR stations for the last 15 years. The program showcases talented young classical musicians. Mr. O’Riley accompanies the performers on the piano when needed and interviews each one.
During his discussions with these students he often asks them to name their favorite bands. I started hearing Radiohead mentioned frequently. Now being a Jazz and Classical fan Radiohead was out of my normal realm.
I became interested when I learned Christopher O’Riley had recorded transcriptions of his favorite Radiohead songs on the grand piano. I ordered the CD and really enjoyed it. I play this frequently.
Since the purchase I have added a Radiohead LP and have three Radiohead albums on my Tidal favorites.
While you are at it, check out some of Mr O’Riley’s classical recordings. He is quite the eclectic.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEN2zOYtr1k
Tidal: https://listen.tidal.com/album/1765874