Music Matters Blue Note Re-Issues

 From Music Matters;

As good as the mono originals are, after the October 30, 1958 session at Van Gelder Studios the mono masters were made by folding down the original stereo master

Interesting Richard. I must revisit and excellent documentary on Blue Note I recorded last year. I seem to remember there was something with regard to this on the programme.

Richard.

Thanks for the the post on  MONO VS STEREO it certainly sheds some light on the debate.However, having never seen a Blue Note Mono or Stereo original never mind listened to one I cannot comment on the relative SQ of either. I did notice that the article was referencing the 45rpm stereo releases, which I think personally is a more interesting SQ debate in light of the 33rpm releases.

Regards Graham.   

One can track which album was a cut off for Stereo only recording.

Blue Note Discography and Recording Dates

I just checked Blue Train and this was released in 1957 so the mono is made NOT from a stereo fold down.

Cannonball Adderley's Somethin' Else is also still pre Oct. 1958, so the original mono I have heard is a proper mono.

However, Music Matters made a call to release in stereo instead of mono based on a sonic reason yet I found the original mono still had more natural tactile presence than their stereo release.

Altho the system I have heard it in were not my own and the MM release sounding a lot different from my own rig. So I would love to hear the original mono in my system some day...

One reissue I have not heard is Classic Record's mono pressing. After I have heard the original mono I was going to purchase it but alas, I neglected to do so when it was still in print.

Hi Graham,

Whilst the piece would appear to have been written during production of the 45rpm, it relates to the master tapes and original recording method, so applies to the 33rpm also.
With regard to the 45 vs 33, I haven't yet heard any of the 45 rpm pressings, but Music Matters themselves consider that the 33 pressings, produced from their upgraded mastering facility more closely represent the sound they were striving for and will be releasing all on 33 going forward
Cheers

Richard

Hi Kuma,

I think MM's reasoning for the Mono vs Stereo makes perfect sense from an audiophile point of view. Whilst original Mono's are prized by collectors, not necessarily audiophiles, MM's findings show that the Stereo's post 1958 are theoretically better in terms of sonics.
It is entirely feasible that the Stereo recordings were of a standard above what many home music systems were capable of at the time thus the folding down from the stereo master.

Cheers

Kuma

Richard:

I suspect not too many people had stereo rigs at home in 1958, hence the continued pressing of mono records. Now that most people have stereo, use of the stereo tape, when available, would seem to make sense.

Jay

Also, I suspect taht there is a lost opportunity when you only release 45s from convenience factor as well as the cost factor. 50$ for an album is pretty steep for most, with MM33s priced at 35$, they'll pick up more sales.

So wider audience get to enjoy the *true* Blue Note artists in the best possible sound. 

Somehin' Else original mono I have heard had that 'walked in' sound even more intense than the MM stereo pressing. I was not analysing sound itself per se but just that spooky feeling as if you are in the same room with the performer only a few feet away.

Absolutely Jay, and for modern day audiophiles the post 1958 Stereo editions will be closer to the source and thus most likely sound better.

Cheers

Richard

Just arrived well packaged from the US via USPS sent on 12 Feb

Hi Jay, the album that has really blown me away with regard to SQ is the February (2015) 33rpm release of Blue & Sentimental by Ile Quebec, with Grant Green /Paul Chambers / Philly Joe Jones.

Regards Graham.

PS The music is also sublime.

+1. Just played for the first time. Beautiful album, and immaculate sound quality as expected.

These reissues are simply wonderful. IMO, they're equal to, if not better than MM's 45rpm releases. I usually try to avoid buying reissues of albums I already own, this series is irresistable!

ATB.

Hook

Just ordered Maiden Voyage. I only have that on an '80s DMM Blue Note.

Probably a little premature to opine on the best sounding MM release as their are many yet to come. So far I cannot fault the SQ of any, I think it will really come down to subjective taste on the music in each title.

I have managed to set some time aside at the weekend to listen to the latest batch I ordered, see previous post.

Firstly my copy of Maiden Voyage has a nasty pressing defect on Side 1, looks like burring in the pressing and sounds scratched so waiting on a replacement.
In terms of SQ and musicality my picks so far are The Sidewinder or if you prefer your Jazz a little further out, Out To Lunch. Its hard to believe that this is from a 50+ year old master tape so fresh, clean and transparent is the sound.
A lot of undeserved hype often goes with "audiophile" records but in my view Music Matters really are deserving.

Pity the same couldn't be said for the awful sounding Physical Graffiti "40th Anniversary remastered by Jimmy Page" that I foolishly bought over the weekend, but thats for another topic.

Off on my hols now

Richard

I just came across this on the London Jazz Collector site which throws a slightly different light on the matter and, from memory, was also mentioned in an excellent Blue Note documentary I watched last year. 

"Early Blue Notes were simple one-track tape recordings, pressed as monaural/ mono. Around 1958, van Gelder started experimenting with two-track recorders,  simultaneously recording sessions in both one track and two track (the future source tape for some stereo editions) However the purpose of two tracks was to improve the quality of mono production. He soon abandoned the single track, recording solely on two track, able to generate the require mono master by “folding down” the two tracks to one."

https://londonjazzcollector.wo...he-blue-note-labels/

What a great way to end a nice relaxing holiday, returning home to find the latest Music Matters releases. Dexter Gordon, Herbie Hancock and a replacement copy of Maiden Voyage (my last one had a fault)    

I have been purchasing a few of these 33rpm reissues. I now have an instant jazz collection and they sound mighty fine.

My 4 favourites in no particular order are True Blue - Tina Brooks, Out To Lunch - Eric Dolphy, The Sidewinder - Lee Morgan & Cool Struttin' - Sonny Clark.

Are there any other must haves from these reissues only interested in 33rpm. I have plenty of 45rpm and I am getting lazier in my old age.

Thanks Prem.

I would recommend 'Cannonball Adderley - Somethin' Else' mainly for the playing of Miles Davis, Autumn Leaves is a classic.

Out of 4 records I've received so far, Blakey's Big Beat and Hancock's Empyrean Isles are another winners in terms of sound quality. 

Dexter Gordon's 'Our Man in Paris' was not recorded by Van Gelder and it has different balance all together. I think I am missing that certain 'Rudy' touch but Bud Powell's piano sounds greater than most Van Gelder's recording.

Thanks for that. I will order this one.

Thanks Kuma. I am going to order Empryean Isles and check the others out.

The Audio Beat review Maiden Voyage & Out To Lunch

http://www.theaudiobeat.com/mu...olphy_hancock_lp.htm