Duke Ellington: Blanton-Webster recommendation?

Posted by: Old Mister Crow on 07 February 2007

Hello everyone,

While my tastes tend to lean more toward 60's bluenote and post-bop, I think that Ellington's band with Jimmy Blanton and Ben Webster made some of the most amazing music in the history of jazz. I own the following RCA issue of this period:



I've always enjoyed it, but now that I've finally got a decent (starter) system, the sound quality of this remastering really does detract. It makes my Nait5i/CD5i/SBLs sound like someone is playing a clock radio in a room somewhere down at the end of a long hallway.

I notice that there are several remasterings available, including this one:



Does anyone have any experience with these compared to the original RCA set? Is it worth upgrading, or should I wait for some yet future remastering to actually get it right?

Thanks in advance,
Carl
Posted on: 08 February 2007 by Cyrene
Well it took RCA three attempts to produce never No Lament but according to an old copy of Jazzwise magazine, it's very good. Both in terms of music (obviously) and sound quality. However, and you're no doubt aware of this already, but you can't do anything with the source material that'll make it sound like it was recorded yesterday.
It's gonna be better than your reissue so just go for it. In the UK we can get it for about £15!
Posted on: 09 February 2007 by Sigmund
The original cd was universally regarded as being a bad mastering. The reissue is taken directly from the now out of print 24 cd RCA Duke box and is very good. It's the best available pressing and not likely to be bettered since public demand doesn't support RCA rematering these sides again.
Posted on: 09 February 2007 by Sigmund
The *second* remastering is the best.
Posted on: 09 February 2007 by Old Mister Crow
Great - thanks for the advice. Just to make sure that I understand you, are all versions of No Lament the same, or is there a second remastering of that particular record?

Best regards,
Carl
Posted on: 10 February 2007 by Cyrene
no, there's just been the one issue of Never No...
back in 2003.
Of course the same material has been released before , just under different guises.