Strabo Posted September 21, 2007 Share Posted September 21, 2007 I shouldn't say anything because this will decrease my odds of winning but...[:#] SH.tv is giving away a test pressing of the first release ART BLAKEY & THE JAZZ MESSENGERS "The Big Beat". Make sure to sign up if you are a member. And thanks Joe H. for offering it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ctiger2 Posted September 30, 2007 Author Share Posted September 30, 2007 Looks like they're getting some good pre-release feedback: Ive heard a lot of Blue Note originals and myriad reissues over the years, but based on the sample test pressings heard so far, noneand I mean noneconvey the intensity of living, breathing music-making the way the Music Matters Blue Note series does. The sense of air, texture, and dynamic pop in these grooves is astonishing. The music, of course, speaks for itselfand bravo to Music Matters for realizing that the original graphics and Francis Wolff photos are an equally important part of the Blue Note vibe. I cant wait to see the finished products. Wayne Garcia,The Absolute Sound Theyre BIG and open and definitely work in stereo because theyre not hard left/right stereo. The cymbals are so "chimey" and the skins so open! Even Rudy's typical boxy piano isn't too bad. These are going to be really good....!!!! (Real time reaction after hearing his first test pressing of Horace Parlans Speakin My Piece LP.) Michael Fremer,Stereophile, www.MusicAngle.com As nice as they are, the RVG editions of the Blue Note catalog are about to be blown out of the water. A couple of long-time record industry jazz experts a producer and a prodigious collector have teamed up to release several dozen classic Blue Note sessions in definitive 2-disc 180-gram 45 rpm LP limited editions via their new company, Music Matters, Ltd. (musicmattersjazz.com). Weve found some real gems combing through the catalog, says producer Joe Harley. So dont expect the expected, but look for many overlooked titles in this series. Each gatefold package will contain two LPs they need double the vinyl real estate at 45 rpm and will be lavishly and generously decorated with dramatic Francis Wolff photos from the sessions, acquired with the assistance of producer Michael Cuscuna of Mosaic Records. Weve brought in Steve Hoffman and Kevin Gray to do the mastering and we are working with the original stereo mixes. By the way, these are the masters that were used to mix down one generation to make the mono versions.Knowing that all the figures involved in this project are incapable ofperforming at less than 1000 percent, these Blue Notes, withfirst-batch titles by Art Blakey, Lou Donaldson and Horace Parlanarriving at retailers as you read this, should provide new insight intothe way this music was originally intended to be heard. Its as thoughthe Holy Grail of jazz has finally been presented in high definitionTechnicolor. Examples Ive heard live up to the hype: the sound isjaw-droppingly dynamic, alive and holographic with none of thehigh-frequency tilt many have complained about in regards to the RVGremastered CDs, but rather, a satisfying balance from top to bottom,and an unbelievable soundstage, such that I could swear the musicianswere playing several feet past the limits of the two speakersthemselves. These allow you to actually hear INTO the music, as well asbe enveloped by it. After hearing your first of these, youll developthe Lays Potato Chip Syndrome you wont be able to stop at just one. Mike QuinnJazzTimes, November 07www.jazztimes.com Music Matters to These GuysThe buried treasure for those who frequent garage sales in search ofLPs are jazz titles from the '50s and '60s, especially from Blue NoteRecords. Some Blue Note LPs command big money on the used marketbecause their sound quality is considered definitive. But a new musiclabel is working to challenge this notion, reissuing classic Blue Notetitles on super-quiet 180-gram vinyl in the most authentic way possible.Music Matters is the creation of industry veterans Steve Hoffman, KevinGray, Joe Harley, Ron Rambach and Michael Cuscuna. Not satisfied withproducing just another series of reissues, the Music Matters teamdecided to create LPs that would improve upon the originals in terms ofmusical fidelity, pressing noise, and packaging quality. Each will be a45 spread over four sides, and the gatefold packaging will use theoriginal cover artwork and include unpublished pictures from therecording sessions. Such attention to detail doesn't come cheap -- $50per title -- but once you see what an original mint copy of HankMobley's Soul Station or Dexter Gordon's A Swingin' Affair costs,you'll think these two-LP sets are more than reasonable.The product of first-generation analog master tapes, the Music Mattersreissues have a refined sonic pedigree. Collectors and audiophilesprize the mono versions of Blue Note LPs for their supposed sonicauthenticity, but, as the Music Matters team discovered, the mono tapeswere often derived from the stereo masters. Therefore, many of thereissues will be in stereo, not mono. From the Music Matters website:"To our collective surprise, when listening to the master tape, thestereo was greatly preferred to the (summed) mono." The audio equipmentused for mastering and playback is some of the finest available, rightdown to the isolation products, which come from Silent Running Audio. Music Matters has an ambitious schedule planned: six initial releases, then two titles each month through 2009. There will be 63 titles in all, and they comprise a cross-section of the most important music from the golden age of jazz. Look for the first six titles -- Art Blakey's The Big Beat, Horace Parlan's Speakin' My Piece and Us Three, Kenny Drew's Undercurrent, Lou Donaldson's LD+3, and Hank Mobley's Soul Station -- later this year and in early 2008. Only listening will tell for sure, but the Music Matters reissues have all the outward signs of being the finest LPs available and becoming collector's items themselves. Maybe it's time to hold a garage sale of your own.... Marc Mickelson, editorwww.soundstage.com September 19, 2007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fini Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Geeze, one more review like that and I'd-a blown my wad! Seriously, I'm wet with anticipation! I may have to take the day off to cool down... ...or dry up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shload Posted December 24, 2007 Share Posted December 24, 2007 My first 2 came today from Elusive Disc. They are ALL everyone is saying they are. The artwork and packaging is super. Of course the vinyl is dead silent, but the air and smoothness of the recording is what is really is setting it apart from others that I have. This is after one side of "Speakin My Peace" More to come after more listening! Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rplace Posted December 26, 2007 Share Posted December 26, 2007 My first 2 came today from Elusive Disc. They are ALL everyone is saying they are. The artwork and packaging is super. Of course the vinyl is dead silent, but the air and smoothness of the recording is what is really is setting it apart from others that I have. This is after one side of "Speakin My Peace" More to come after more listening! Joe Wow, I have been poking around the Music Matters site and it all sounds too good to be true. Has anyone else had a chance to give them a spin? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rplace Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 Well, since nobody but Joe offered up opinions I decided to see for myself. I went to Music Matters and signed up for the subscription. One of the online LP joints was already sold out of the Art Blakey LP. I talked to the crew at Music Matters and they will give you all the same serial number if you get the subscription...if that matters to anyone. The first two arrived yesterday. In a word WOW! Not having the bankroll or the access to the originals I cannot offer up a comparison, but these discs are smoking good and the rest of the package is top shelf. The sound stage is excellent. They are dead quiet. A real treat all around. My wife took a listen with me and some of here comments were; "It really sounds like they are in the room", "Amazing", "This is so much fun" and "Unbelievable". I am really looking forward to the subscription as it will be a forced stream of a lot (not all) new music to me. I have spent countless hours on ebay tracking and buying Blue Notes with the 'ear' and RVG in the dead space. Many, many I do not score. The ones I do have been hit or miss in the 30-50 dollar range. If the rest are 1/2 as good as The Big Beat by Art and the JM's then it will be a great year of listening. I cannot wait for Page One by Joe Henderson to be released. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Lindsey Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 I signed up at Music Matters and my first 2 came yesterday as well (Art Blakey and JM - The Big Beat, Horace Parlan Quintet - speakin' my piece), and both are SN 248. I thought the Art Blakey LP's were very good, but the Horace Parlan LP's were outstanding! Not just the music, but the recording is better as well. I liked it so much I played it again this morning. It is a great album, and these re-releases are the real deal. For those of you that have an extra $100/mo to spare you need to consider this series. You won't be disappointed. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rplace Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 Mike, that is great news on the HP LP. If it is better then the Blakey disc I can't wait to give it a spin tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Lindsey Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 Hey Rich, Well, you know how opinions go... this is just mine. I had never heard either album before yesterday and was just more taken with the HP. Those Turrentine brothers sure can blow some horns! I think you'll love it, but will wait to hear your opinion. BTW, I have just started a 6 month project in Crystal City and will be there every mon-fri, and will stay an occasional weekend once it starts to warm up. Hopefully, we can hook up. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rplace Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 Mike, are you working for GSA at Crystal City? I did a 6 week stint there. Pretty cool set up with the entire city underground. One week I flew in on Sunday night, worked till Thursday afternoon and never got outside. I could go from the Marriott to GSA and ate all my meals in the mall.....crazy. I felt like a mole. We should try and get together for sure. I bet Gary would be up for it too. Since you have had the run of his joint a couple of times perhaps you (and other in the area) might want to check out my pad. I currently have 8 different home brews on tap. Something for every pallet. The only thing better then a movie and a beer at my place is a movie and 2 s. Actually, I think vinyl and a beer is better. Crystal City to my place should be 1.0 to 1.25 hours I have made it in under an hour. However, with typical traffic it will probably only take you 2.5-3.0 hours. Man, the D.C. traffic and all of I-95 sucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Lindsey Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 Hi Rich, This is a govt project where I will be implementing some Oracle apps for a couple of govt agencies. Yeah, it's cool coming off the Metro from DCA and you do not have to go outside. I can get to my office in about 5 minutes from the Metro stop which is pretty convenient. For this reason (and the price of parking) I do not rent a car while I am here, but will do so over the weekends I decide to stay there. Coming out to your place sounds cool, and we'll make it happen sometime in the spring. Let me know what you think of the HP LP... I just listened to it for a 3rd time already. [] Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Lindsey Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 Rich, Any chance to hear the Horace Parlan yet? Would like to hear your thoughts on that album. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shload Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 I'll jump back in : Played again last evening with my new amp and it still is amazing how "real" it sounds! Love the Piano playing in the center than having the horns come in from both sides. I put on an original Getz on Verve right afterward and it just does not come close. Only thing I notice is that the recording is so clean that some passages come out very bright with my Chorus, which are original and need to be updated. I have not played these recordings on my 4.5 Fostex yet, will this weekend. I had to send back sides 3-4 on the HP to Elusive Disc due to a bad scratch at the beginning of side 3. Should have a new 3-4 on the way to me. Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Lindsey Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 Yeah, the piano is slightly off center to the right, and the standup bass is slightly off center to the left, with the sax coming from the left channel and the trumpet coming from the right. At least that's how mine images. Very nice indeed! Bummer about the 2nd LP... on mine I had to glue both sides of the gatefold on the bottom as the seals had broken. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shload Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 I had heard about the seals and having to glue, but when I got my two there was not problem. The scratch was not that large, but did make noise for the first 10-15 seconds of the side. For $50, I thought I'd send it back, first time to return an LP. I was able to explain and get RA# via email from Elusive, very pain free! As stated before the stage is great on these....so many times you get everything mixed together in the center. Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rplace Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 I gave HP a whirl and it was great too. I found it to be more lush and rich (the bass was killer) but the Blakey LP to have a bit more detail and separation in the instruments. The imaging on both are out of this world. I swear as they move up the piano to higher notes the imaging moves more to the left as if the piano is facing you. It is as if the microphones can accurataly track the different locations of the piano strings. I fear as this collections grows I will never change my table back to 33. Perhaps I can sell the 50-100 old jazz LPs I have to offset this new venture. Perhaps the best part is not wondering if some guy on ebay's VG+ or NM- is that same as what I expect. You just know these LPs are going to be as shiny as a mirror every time you open them up. I can't wait for the next round.[] BTW, both sets were perfect in the LP and cover department. One corner on both are dinged just slightly. Guess the monkeys at FedEx still throw them around. My numbers are 0254. Nice to have them all the same and low...but I doubt I will ever part with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Harley Posted January 14, 2008 Share Posted January 14, 2008 Hi gang, You know I've been so busy with this project (and my "day gig" as VP of AudioQuest) that I had forgotten to check back in until tonight. You can't imagine how nice it is to read your reactions! I know how excited Ron and I get when we compare our original BNs with a new test pressing we've just done, but it is so rewarding to read that you feel the same way. The history of vinyl (and digital for that matter) Blue Note reissues has been checkered to say the least. As soon as we put up those first master tapes we knew that so far, no one had really heard what Rudy captured on tape. The tapes were so DYNAMIC! Rudy had to do what he had to do back in the day to get these records to play without "skipping". Now, finally...and with the substantial advantage of running at 45RPM, we can do these transfers wide open, with no compression whatsoever. You get to hear what is actually ON the masters. Ron and I would like to thank everyone at the Klipsch site for their support and kind words. Someone here made the offer to us to hear a fine Klipsch set up in Long Beach. I'd like to take you up on that offer. Please get in touch. There's a very nice new article about the series that just appeared on the Playback Magazine on line site. You can access it at: http://magazine.playbackmag.net/playback/200801partners/?folio=1 Go to the table of contents and then click on "Liner Notes" on page 104. The next two titles (Kenny Drew's great Undercurrent w/Hank Mobley and Lou Donaldson's classic "LD + 3" with the Three Sounds) will be shipping in about two weeks. We greatly appreciate your comments Klipsch people! With the music in mind.... Joe and Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garymd Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 Joe/Ron, You need to get in touch with Allan Songer. He's been busy due to the writer's strike but I'm sure his offer is still on the table. I'll give him a call him later today (it's not quite 6am in L.A.) and let him know you're interested. - Gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rplace Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 Joe, keep up the good work the first two sound fantastic. After reading that article I can't wait to hear the 5th and 6th release. I almost wish I did not know about the cable changes until after I give them a spin to see if I, in fact, noticed a difference. The only suggestion I would make is to look into your packaging of the LPs. FedEx must have tossed my box as the outside corner of the box was dinged a bit...but did not look bad at all. Both LPs had about a 1/4 wrinkle in the upper left corner at the top of the spine. Not a huge deal, but since the covers are so nice I hate to see them get banged up. I noticed on my last order from one of the on line LP shops that they have a "fin" of sorts that surrounds the main part of the box. This acts as a buffer to prevent such problems. My Classic Records reissue of Lou D's Blues Walk arrived in perfect condition. Thanks for your efforts! I don't think I will be setting up my table back to 33 for a while [] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan Songer Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 Hey Joe. I'm the guy in Long Beach with the Klipsch Cornwall system that I fine tuned SPECIFICALLY to make old Blue Notes sound as good as possible (to my ears, anyway). I am indeed SLAMMED in every way you can imagine due to the ongoing WGA strike, but my weekend afternoons are usually wide open and I would love to have you over to my place so that we could do some listening. I have to tell you, my system is probably not the end-all for your new pressings--I am sure that a modern plastic turntable with a $5000 cartrdige would really do them justice, but it would really cool to hear them here as well! Pop me an email: allansonger@omegacinemaprops.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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