Alice Coltrane – Journey In Satchidananda – Acoustic Sounds (Verve) 180G Vinyl
Seeking to offer definitive audiophile grade versions of some of the most historic and best jazz records ever recorded, Verve Label Group and Universal Music Enterprises' audiophile Acoustic Sounds vinyl reissue series utilizes the skills of top mastering engineers and the unsurpassed production craft of Quality Record Pressings. All titles are mastered from the original analog tapes, pressed on 180-gram vinyl and packaged by Stoughton Printing Co. in high-quality gatefold sleeves with tip-on jackets. The releases are supervised by Chad Kassem, CEO of Acoustic Sounds, the world's largest source for audiophile recordings.
Alice Cooper – Welcome To My Nightmare – Analogue Productions Atlantic 75 Series Hybrid Stereo SACD
Amanda McBroom Midnight Matinee XRCD24
Available for the first time on XRCD24 – this release was produced by Peter Bunetta and Rick Chudacoff for Ripe Productions, also the producers for Dreaming. (To their credits they have also produced Michael Bolton’s Soul Survivor, Smokey Robinson’s One Heartbeat and Patti LaBelle’s New Attitude.) Guests on the project include Bob James, who plays keyboards on two tracks, guitarist Robben Ford and keyboardist Brad Cole, who plays with the Phil Collins Band. Audiophiles who’ve enjoyed Amanda’s work for years will certainly want to finally include this XRCD24.
Anthony Williams – Life Time Blue Note Tone Poet Series 180g Vinyl LP
Drummer Tony Williams had joined Miles Davis’ band and played on landmark Blue Note albums by the time he recorded his 1964 debut album Life Time at age 18. These five adventurous original compositions featured Sam Rivers, Bobby Hutcherson, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Gary Peacock and Richard Davis. This stereo Tone Poet Vinyl Edition was produced by Joe Harley, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original analog master tapes, pressed on 180g vinyl at RTI, and packaged in a deluxe gatefold tip-on jacket.
ART BLAKEY & THE JAZZ MESSENGERS – DRUM SUITE – 180g Impex Records
Some of the greatest jazz musicians of all time have passed through Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers: Horace Silver, Hank Mobley, Kenny Dorham, Wayne Shorter, and Donald Byrd, among many others.
However brief their stay, working with the demanding and full-throttle drummer not only increased their visibility, but also their chops and interprative capacity. Blakey’s ability to drum up the best players in the game may have even eclipsed his superhuman ability to play drums.
Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers – First Flight To Tokyo: The Lost 1961 Recordings – Blue Note Records 180g Vinyl
A previously unreleased live recording of drum legend Art Blakey with a classic line-up of the Jazz Messengers, featuring trumpeter Lee Morgan, tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter, pianist Bobby Timmons, and bassist Jymie Merritt. It was captured on January 14, 1961, at Hibiya Public Hall in Tokyo during the band's first-ever tour of Japan. Co-produced by Zev Feldman and David Weiss, the audio was newly transferred from the original 1/4" tape reels.
Art Taylor – Taylor’s Wailers – Analogue Productions (Prestige 7117) 180g Vinyl
In 1956 drummer Art Taylor formed a group called Taylor’s Wailers. Donald Byrd and Charlie Rouse were members of the working group that debuted at The Pad, a Greenwich Village nightclub on Sheridan Square booked by Bob Reisner, the man who had run the legendary Open Door Sessions. In 1957 Taylor recorded the Wailers for Prestige, adding the alto saxophone of Jackie McLean to the front line. Two of the highlights are the Thelonious Monk compositions, “Well, You Needn’t” and “Off Minor,” with arrangements by Thelonious himself. One track, “C.T.A.,” by Jimmy Heath, is from another session featuring John Coltrane backed by Red Garland, Paul Chambers, and Taylor, a potent Prestige studio combination in those days. There have been many distinguished drummer-leaders in jazz. One expects their groups to be rhythmically exciting. Taylor’s Wailers are no exception to this swinging heritage.
Arthur Fiedler – Gershwin: An American In Paris – Rhapsody In Blue – Analogue Productions SACD
With Rhapsody in Blue, George Gershwin, a popular songwriter, established himself as a serious composer. His American in Paris tells the story of a trip through the streets and cafes of France. A first rate orchestra (The Boston Pops), a distinguished conductor (Arthur Fiedler), and a superb pianist (Earl Wild) combine to make this landmark recording something to be treasured.
Arthur Fiedler / Boston Pops Orchestra – Chopin: Les Sylphides / Prokofieff: Love For Three Oranges – Analogue Productions 200g Vinyl
Arturo Michelangeli – Concerto For Piano – The Lost Recordings 180g Vinyl
For decades now pianists and other musicians have acclaimed the recording of this concert, only available on video. It was of utmost importance to us to publish it as a record. While we were looking for the video recording in the BBC archives, we stumbled upon the analog stereo tape that had fallen into oblivion. We used it to bring this emotion-filled, historical evening back to life.
