Music Matters Blue Note Re-Issues

I recently subscribed to the 33 reisse programme and received the current offerings of Out To Lunch and Maiden Voyage. They are indeed beautifully presented and the media content is fantastically produced. It is a shame, however that the 45 list is far more comprehensive than its 33 counterpart as I am yet to be convinced that 45 albums hold any attraction over the more practical 33 format.

I will be interested to see the views of those who have taken the 45 route.

RichardD

I have a number of both 33 and 45rpm Music Matters LPs. The 45rpm records, to me, just shade the 33rpm for SQ but it's minor and may be related to different mastering. I will only be buying the 33rpm now though because of convenience mainly. They have only been releasing the 33's for a year or so and the catalogue will grow in time, just as it did with the 45rpm issues.

Oh my, the 45s are pricey treats. Though I 2nd the convenience factor of the 33s.  I think the overall price/ease/value of the 33 is higher and they sound just fantastic. So now I can buy 2 for $70 instead of 1 for $50 and feel like its a deal '-)

Steve,

To my ears, MM's Undercurrent 45 and 33 were night and day.

The latter wins from sheer dynamics, speed and much lower noise floor.

It might be title dependent but I don't think their choice in the 33 releases was arbitrary. 

Or if you listened to Analogue Production's 45 Maiden Voyage vs. MM 33's current release, the former sounds pretty dynamically challenged albeit sounds pretty.

Kuma,

My comments were only mean't to be referring to the Music Matters 45 and 33, not 45rpm issues in general.

The only record I have a MM duplicate 45 and 33 is Moanin'. I just find the 45 a little more dynamic but they're both excellent. I also usually found the Music Matters 45 to be better pressed, and probably for that reason, less surface noise than the Analogue Productions 45. The only slight disappointment I've had with MM was with Kenny Burrell's Midnight Blue 33rpm where I had 'ghosting' on a couple of tracks. It must have been a pressing defect as the replacement was OK.

ATB

Steve 

Steve,

Yes I realise that.

To my ears, MM's Undercurrent 45 and 33 were night and day.

 The latter wins from sheer dynamics, speed and much lower noise floor.

My comments on the Undercurrent was both on MM releases. If you find the MM33 releases superior to their MM45 I am a bit surprised is all. 

My friend had a problem with 33 MM Midnight Blue with occurring popping noise. So far all the MM33s I've ordered just have been excellent in terms of production quality.

But I have also experienced that the same record CAN sound completely different on a different system. I never thought of that's possible alas but can happen.

I have been so impressed with these reissues I have purchased all current 33RPM releases and subscribed to all future releases. Without exception the ones I have received have been flawless in every aspect.

Larry

I am resident in the UK and am having difficulty finding an outlet with In Stock availability. Redspark music only have a couple of titles and Diverse vinyl only one at the time of writing. Is it better to order direct from the US? If so it seems likely that it could be a bit problematic if I received any faulty copies and needed to return them. Some posters say they have taken out subscriptions how does that work?
Thanks

Richard

Jazzhouserecords in Leicester have both 45 & 33 series in their (online) shop.

they state to be a mail order primarily, but are happy to receive customers by prior arrangement.

Midnight Blue was one of the first 33s I bought about a year ago. I've had no other issues with them since. I've decided to buy only selected titles this time as I have quite a large Blue Note collection, original and 45s.

I've bought some from Amazon UK but they're not obvious when you look for them. No mention is made of Music Matters, just import, but the release date and price usually gives it away. I've paid about £33 for those on Amazon by preordering but the price seems to go up to over £50 after release. 

Steve,

How is the MM33 copy of 'Somethin' Else' compared to your original Blue Note? ( first US issue???? )

I wish Kuma. I have had four copies of this album. The earliest copy was a Liberty Blue Note from my father's collection. I had an '80s French DMM Blue Note repress which gave to Julian H. I then bought the Analogue Productions 45 and then more recently bought the MM 33. The Liberty version is well played but still very listenable. I actually think the AP 45 and MM 33 sound better but this is probably due to groove wear on the Liberty copy.

The only first press Blue Notes I have are a couple of Jimmy Smith and Sidney Bechet albums from my father's collection. I used to enjoy Jimmy Smith but now find his music a bit dated. 

You should note that the AP 45 RPM Blue Note reissues and the MM 45 RPM reissues were all mastered by the same engineers (Acoustech - Kevin Gray and/or Steve Hoffman), on the same equipment and pressed at the same pressing plants (RTI, then QRP).  The only differences between the two, at the time, was who secured the rights and the quality of the sleeve/packaging.  There should have been no quality difference between the two labels in regard to mastering & pressings of the 45s.

The MM 33s are being engineered by Kevin Gray and pressed at QRP.

MarkyMck79,

I thought that Steve Hofmann was involved in AP 45 project along with Kevin.

Do you know who was calling a shot ? It is unusual to have two engineers tho.

Also, at the Music Matters, Ron Rambach I believe is involved in every remastering session.

There is no MM45 Maiden Voyage release, but when I listened side by side with AP45 ( Steve Hofmann/Kevin Gray ) the mix and overall balance are very different.

Steve,

I wish I get to listen to the original too! I haven't even seen one in flesh.

The closest is my dealer's 2nd pressing ( something to do with the address line on the label ) of mono Somethin' Else.

This is the same mono recording when I compared it to my Stereo Classic Records 'Somethin' else' a few years back and I thought Mono had a better immediacy in spite the record isn't completely silent. 

My dealer had an DMM Blue Note ( forgot which titles ) and MM33 was much better.

I've a Liberty copy of Maiden Voyage and aside from a higher noise floor, the balance of the mix is closer to the MM33 than AP45. ( latter sounding significantly laid back and simmery but lacking alacrity )

And just to be clear, all the MM33s are new remasters, regardless of who did the 45 (AP or MM).

At the risk of repeating myself, the new MM 33 RPM Maiden Voyage should sound different from earlier remasters, because they are using a different tape.  To quote Mikey Fremer:

"This new Music Matters reissue is the best sounding Maiden Voyage I’ve ever heard, elevating it from a major Blue Note sonic disappointment to a really great sounding BN. How is that possible? According to Music Matters’ Joe Harley and Ron Rambach, the original tape has long been lost in the vault due to its having been mislabeled. This reissue cut from the original tape takes the album from one that sounds underwater to one that will float your Blue Note boat!"

As for AP vs. MM 45 RPM reissues, of course no direct comparisons are possible, since they licensed different titles, but in my opinion the MM generally have greater dynamic swing and flow (PRAT, if you will), vs. a "pretty" sound for the AP.  It seems that Ron is responsible for this difference.

By the way, I had a chance to speak with him on the phone several months ago, and he confided that a new "Avant Garde" series in the works, with more adventurous titles than normally found in reissues aimed at audiophiles.  It will be interesting to see what albums are selected (may not be just Blue Note, I'm not clear on that point).

aht,

The balance should not change even with a newly discovered analogue tape they used, tho. No?

I can dream about MM doing Prestige or Riverside Bill Evans titles but highly unlikely. 

Or some of Charlie Parker. Like redo of Live at Massey Hall. 

There was chatter for a while that Analogue Productions was going to resurrect UHQR vinyl and start by reissuing the Bill Evans titles again.  I would assume this would lead to revisiting all the Prestige/Fantasy titles.

yeah. but I am done with 45s. 

What a PITA.

Unless they are talking 33? like their current Prestige mono series?

I am spoiled after MM. I mean AP's 45 series packaging is much to be desired. The printing quality of the jacket is worse than European bootlegs. MM seriously raised the bar on jazz reissue front.

But.

If they are going to redo their Evans 45s in 33s, I could be suckered into it again. :/

I Wish MM would redo 'New Jazz Conceptions'.

If by "balance" you mean the relative placement or volume level of musicians, probably not.  "Alacrity" is a PRAT issue, easily influenced by the electronics in the remastering chain, wouldn't you say?  What I notice most of all in the new version is excellent piano tonality, particular important for this album, obviously.  Clanky piano has been a perennial complaint about Rudy Van Gelder recordings, but here the exception proves the rule.

aht,

Yes I meant balance as how you described. 

i.e: the relative placement or volume level of musicians, 

Particularly the volume level and individual separations. ( this I think is related to a nose floor )

Dynamics is a bit more complicated one. Better the original tape, I'd think it would be more pitch accurate but also i'd think engineer's discretion ( how to repair in some cases ) and as you say electronics also influences, too. 

MM has done a remarkable job on Hancock's piano in Maiden Voyage but still not as vivid as other instruments in the mix. Or Kenny Drew's piano is still muted in Blue Train.

It is a peculiar thing with Van Gelder recording were everyone sounds terrific but piano for some reasons is always muffled. 

I am curious about upcoming Bud Powell's The Scene Changes. 

Perhaps they can sprinkle some MM magic so that the tunes do not sound like listening from inside the piano!

Some posters say they have taken out subscriptions how does that work?

Just go to the MM website create an account give them your credit card. MM releases two new titles each month. You will automatically receive these two reissues each month.

Kuma, you're right, most of the time "muffled" is a better description of Van Gelder's recorded piano sound.  Speaking of RVG the man, his much-touted 24-bit CD remasters as they first appeared in Japan in the late 90's are very disappointing, often too bright and compressed (some of the US RVG editions are better, IMHO).  On CD, I really like the early-90's Toshiba-EMI editions, very natural sounding.

aht,

I do not understand why people like Japanese reissues. I find them mostly poor across the board. Just about the only Japanese reissues that I can endorse is the XRCD.

I have a Japanese Toshiba-EMI 180G pressing of Maiden Voyage and compared to the rest, it's a messy musical soup where everything is blended into nothingness. :/

On the obi sleeve, it says that a Japanese engineer ( Toru Kotetsu ) cut the new master from the 24 bit file remastered by RVG from the original tape. I did not find the CD versions bright but I recall rather bloated and dynamically flat.

No kick, no spice, very bland compared to the MM33. US Liberty reissue is much better.