Doug Watkins – Watkins At Large- Blue Note Tone Poet Series 180g Vinyl
Recorded in 1956 for producer Tom Wilson's short-lived Boston-based label Transition Records, Watkins At Largewas the first of only two albums that the great bassist Doug Watkins would make as a leader. The Detroit native had moved to New York and begun to garner recognition for his contributions to the Art Blakey-Horace Silver co-led iteration of the Jazz Messengers as well as Bud Powell's trio when Wilson decided to give him the opportunity to front his own recording date.
Along with a first-rate ensemble featuring trumpeter Donald Byrd, tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley, guitarist Kenny Burrell, pianist Duke Jordan, and drummer Art Taylor, Watkins swings through a stellar set of blues, ballads, and more including originals written by Jordan, Burrell, and Thad Jones.
Dr. John – Gris Gris – Analogue Productions Atlantic 75 Series Hybrid Stereo SACD
DS Audio DS-E3 Optical Cartridge and Phono Amplifier
DS Audio TB-100 Phono Equalizer
Experience a New Analog Era with Vacuum Tubes and Optical Cartridges.
The TB-100 features carefully selected, quad-matched ECC82 (12AU7) tubes, optimized specifically for this model. Using in-house tools, performance variations during operation are minimized to within 1% (0.1dB), ensuring peak performance. Each channel is equipped with an inner tube for voltage amplification and an outer tube for output buffering, delivering a rich, transparent sound quality. Moreover, the amplifier employs straightforward two-stage amplification circuit paired with low-impedance cathode follower output stages to provide a pure and dynamic audio experience.
Duke Ellington – Duke’s Big 4 – Analogue Productions 180g Vinyl LP
An outstanding Pablo pressing (A++ sound) featuring jazz piano legend Duke Ellington at the helm of a small group session with Joe Pass on guitar, Ray Brown on bass, and Louie Bellson on drums, recorded in January 1973 and released in 1974. Considered a timeless classic, Duke’s Big 4 is described by AllMusic as “One of Duke Ellington’s finest small group sessions from his final decade … Ellington’s percussive style always sounded modern and here he comes up with consistently strong solos. … Highly recommended.”
Duke Ellington – Ellington Indigos – Impex Records Numbered Limited Edition 180g 45rpm 2LP (Indigo Purple Vinyl)
Now in stock
65th Anniversary Edition 180g Double LP! First Time on AAA 45rpm Vinyl! Mastered by Chris Bellman & Pressed at RTI! Includes 4 All-Analog Mono Bonus Tracks on Vinyl for the First Time!
Special Los Angeles and Orange County Audiophile Society Edition Indigo Purple Vinyl Strictly Limited to 1,000 Numbered Pressings!
Very, Very Short Supply, Demand Will Be Massive
Duke Ellington & Ray Brown – This One’s For Blanton – Analogue Productions 180g Vinyl
Duke Ellington teams up here with bassist Ray Brown in a set reminiscent of Duke’s work with Jimmy Blanton three decades before. In addition to the four-part “Fragmented Suite for Piano and Bass,” the duo plays five standards (including “Pitter Panther Patter” from the Blanton days and three other Ellington-associated tunes).
Duke Pearson – The Right Touch LP (Blue Note Tone Poet Series) – Blue Note Vinyl
Perhaps the perfect starting point for a reappraisal of Duke Pearson’s underrated career is his fantastic and aptly titled 1967 album The Right Touch. The album stands as perhaps the finest in Pearson’s discography and is a showcase of his sublime talents as a pianist, composer, and arranger. The Right Touch is comprised of six memorable Pearson compositions arranged for a dynamic 8-piece band featuring trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, trombonist Garnett Brown, alto saxophonist James Spaulding, alto saxophonist/flutist Jerry Dodgion, tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, bassist Gene Taylor, and drummer Grady Tate.
