Music Matters Blue Note Re-Issues

Hi Richard, thanks for the link. It does not tell me anything I did not know already however, is nice to know my ears are still working 

ATB Graham

Audio Beat have also given Music Matters a deserved award.

Have a great weekend
http://www.theaudiobeat.com/ce...5/ces2015_awards.htm 

They sure deserve it!

Now I wish they would redo Riverside Bill Evans recording.

Still looking for that elusive 'New Jazz Conceptions' in better sound.

As for the next up for a piano player out of MM release, does anyone like Horace Parlan?

I am very familiar with this much immitated Reid Miles' cover art but know nothing of Parlan's piano playing. Looking forward to find out. 

For those of you in the UK, may be interested to know that Alan at Jazz House records now has up to date stock including back stock of all the 2014 titles

Happy listening

Hi All,

Bit late to the party I know but I have only just spotted this thread as I don`t step into this area of the forum much but can say I am also a big fan of the mm pressings I started buying them last summer and now have quite a few in my collection and agree they all sound superior to my DMM 80s pressings. 

I have a fair few mm vinyls both 45s and 33s I got a few direct from the mm site and found the delivery to be good but I also ordered a few from exclusive disc in the states, delivery was fast around 5 days however they ended up costing me a pretty packet as I had 4 lps and got hit for around £40 in customs charges, so an expensive lesson. I have had one 1 or 2 from Juno records in London without issue but not a big choice and a few from SN vinyl, had to wait for the odd lp as was coming from the states or on backorder but they have a large stock at very competitive prices and now take paypal.

I have just ordered all on 33rpm Herbie Hancock Maiden Voyage, John Coltrane Blue Train and from a recommendation by Quad 33 Ike Quebec Blue and Sentimental. Love Wayne Shorter Out to Lunch and JUJU also Cannonball Adderley Somethin Else and Cool Struttin Sonny Clark.

All the best.

rob.

Hi Rob,

I'm sure you'll enjoy the Ike Quebec.It might be worth having a look at RedSpark Music who have the odd MM 33rpm on sale.

http://redsparkmusic.com/

Regards Graham.

Cheers Graham, I will check them out.

I will post my impressions of the three on order when they arrive.

Regards  Rob.

Stanley Turrentine's Blue Hour and Horace Parlan albums are on their way.

Gene Harris' piano is said to be wonderful on this.

Next up my long awaited Bud Powell isn't too far behind.

I have no connection to Jazz House records but am a very happy punter to this newly discovered mail order supplier
http://www.jazzhouserecords.co.uk/

Both albums arrived earlier this week.Its my first listen this morning both are up to the usual superb MM SQ and pressing. The music on both albums is a joy however, I think the mellow gorgeousness of  Stanley Turrentine's Blue Hour just shades it but just like the election its too close to call.

Horace Parlan: Speakin' My Piece. 1960 release Stereo

1. "Wadin'" - 6:08
2. "Up in Cynthia's Room" - 6:20
3. "Borderline" (Stanley Turrentine) - 6:13
4. "Rastus" (Tommy Turrentine) - 6:54
5. "Oh So Blue" (Leon Mitchell) - 7:41
6. "Speakin' My Piece" - 6:11

Like many of Van Gelder Blue Note recording, piano does not have the brilliance of other instruments. Bass mix on his record is a subtle one. The star here is Turrentine brothers' dueling horns throughout. 

Love their swinging session. 

'Oh So Blue' must be a tribute to Miles as the trumpet reminds me of his in this easy relaxed  breezy tune. 

The title tune 'Speakin' My Piece' opens with trumpet and sax creating a nice rich harmony together then Parlan starts on his solo bits. He's not as intense or complex as Bud Powell, more of easy going cabaret style playing.

Well, I decided a few weeks ago to dig seep in the wallet and buy all the back catalogue 33 rpm titles to date following a shipment received by Alan at Jazz House records.
I now have all the 33's to date and my subscription continues.
It is no understatement to say in my view (and ears) that these are amongst the absolute best sounding and presented records I have had the pleasure of listening to in recent times. They have uplifted my spirit as the perfect antidote to all the cynical digital sourced re-issues saturating the market at the moment in the so called and industry manufactured "vinyl revival".
The clarity of sound and the quietness of the pressings (with a couple of exceptions) at times presents quite an uncanny listening experience, the master tapes are evidently in great condition, and at times I find it hard to believe that I am listening to a 50+ year old recording. At times I have found myself thinking that I am listening to some new, yet to be developed, super super Hi Res format!
I was initially unsure about duplicating titles I already owned on the excellent Classic Records pressings but having done so I can honestly say that comparisons are pointless. I have also concluded that to make recommendations of individual titles also rather pointless as they are all consistently excellent, and will boil down to subjective taste of the music on offer, of which most people on these forums I imagine will be familiar.
With regard to a couple of exceptions regarding pressing quality, I have along the journey so far received faulty pressings of Maiden Voyage, Undercurrent & Speakin' My Piece, however these were replaced without hassle or quibble promptly by Music Matters who shipped replacements without asking for the faulty copies back. Extremely helpful if like me you are in the UK.

Congratulations all round to all behind Music Matters, I hope you continue to flourish and deliver more musical delights going forward...Back To The Future

So Richard,

Have you done any 33 vs 45 comparison yet?

I just stumbled across the following quotation;

"Harley once stated that his favourite title was the one he just listened to"

.
The last one I listened to was Grant Green - Matador, I am not familiar with this title and it is sublime, I am particularly surprised with the beautiful reading of My Favourite Things which until now I have only heard interpreted by John Coltrane

Hi Kuma,

Sorry, I missed your question.
No, at the moment I am collecting the 33's
But if you have done the comparisons, please share your findings

Cheers

Re Kenny Burrell - Midnight Blue

just wondering if anyone else here has noticed the ghosting on Mule (side 1 track 2)?

Print through on the master tape or groove echo in the pressing?

Stanley Turrentine with the 3 Sounds: Blue Hour

1960 Recording

• Stanley Turrentine - tenor saxophone
• Gene Harris - piano
• Andrew Simpkins - bass
• Bill Dowdy - drums

Very rare that the Blue Note record starts off with a solo piano. Here the intro tune 'I Want a Little Girl' starts off with brilliant Gene Harris' piano in a slow bluesy feel. Also note that the piano sounds great for a Blue Note recording.

Turrentine's smokey sax is nice throughout but for me the nice surprise is Gene Harris' simple but sharp piano playing compliments breathy tone of sax perfectly. Andrew Simpkins laid back yet growling sure footed bass also adds solidity and warmth. Add to that is a Bill Dowdy's peppery snares ( any other reissue recordings usually sound fake and out of place but no with this MM 33 )  all working just about the perfect blend for the genre. 

Side A is by far my favourite on this album. 

LOve the last tune swingy Blue Riff written by Harris picking up a speed a bit wrapping up the side. Here's Gene Harris in the middle.

Richard,

I thought you had a bunch of MM45s. 

I haven't been able to compared aside from Kenny Drew's Undercurrent. I haven't been able to compare with friend's MM45s. Still would like to tho! 

Now Grant Green's Matador would be a good one to compare.

Grant Green : Matador 

Recorded 1964

• Grant Green - guitar
• McCoy Tyner - piano
• Bob Cranshaw - bass
• Elvin Jones - drums

His Idle Moments is quite popular but I can't take that slow tempo too long. My favourite jazz genre is a bop or hard bop and some post bop.

The title track 'Matador' is written by Green. With catchy intro melody, I love this swingy groovy tune. McCoy Tyner adds further sophistication with lyrical riffs and rhythmic foil to Elvin Jones drums. Swinging much harder than Green's usual smooth'n'mellow guitar playing. 

Another thing I noticed that there are a few very fusion like harmonics heard on this album in that I had to check the recording dates. I thought it was possibly done much later. 

Incidentally, this album was only released in Japan Blue Note in 1979 and had a different cover done by a Japanese graphic designer. US pressing wasn't done till 1990 and only on CD. 

So Music Matters US release is the first US vinyl release of this title. The album cover is done by Music Matters house graphic designer to mimic Reid Miles' cover. I think he's done a terrific job here.

This is the album I think would be interesting to compare amongst various releases because each one had a different mastering engineer for the release:

Original Japanese release 1979 : Tony Sestanovich

1990 US Blue Note CD release: Ron Mcmaster

2010 MM 45 release: Steve Hoffman / Kevin Gray

2015 MM 33 release : Kevin Gray

Elvin Jones' drum is just kick arse in 'My Favourite Thing' migling with Tyner's piano. This tune is a more showcase for piano and drums.

Side B opens with sunny contemporary sounding Green Jeans ( written by Green ) with gorgeous chord progression. LIght and swinging. Again here it has 70s fusion like riffs with George Benson-esque riffs. Hard to imagine this was done early 60s.

Note for those who can't stand a player singing along, you can hear Tyner ( I am guessing ) singing faintly in the background. 

On this album, too piano recording is pretty darn good for Rudy. Probably this is the best I have heard of Tyner's piano playing on vinyl.

Sorry Richard,

I don't have that record. 

Bud Powell : The Scene Changes 1959 release

• Bud Powell – piano
• Paul Chambers – bass
• Art Taylor – drums

Classically trained, Bud Powell is one of my favourite piano player. He's a man of fewer keys but the ones he strikes are all the right notes. 

My favourite tune is 'Coming Up'. A groovy tune with a constant drum accents with addictive walking bass line and Bud gliding through them above. There are several stereo typical *bop* numbers as well as short'n'sweet lullaby like 'Borderick' which is written for his son. 

Incidentally by reading up on the original liner note, a little boy peeking through Powell's shoulder is indeed his son. 

Whilst I wish MM reissued Bud's earlier work there are no filler in this album and the sound is the  best I have heard of any Bod Powell reissues I have heard. There are some uneven spots but the clarity and dynamics are huge improvements from the past reissues. And for a change, piano has a much better presence equaling other instruments unlike other Van Gelder recordings.

Bop tune packed program with several delightful duelling bits between Art Taylor and Paul Chambers. Just listen to Chambers' brush work and Paul Chambers getting into the free style in 'Down With it'. Then nick of time, Powell enters and *breaks up* the fight.

I also got to listen to the RTI Test Pressing. It comes in just white card board sleeve and the label looks like this. Just the date it was made and the catalogue number. 

This is the first time I listen to any test pressing and actually expecting a worse sound than the standard reissue pressing. 

Turned out this one sounds just incredible. It has a very different balance from the regular release. The bass is more upfront ( better delineated ) and clarity is even better. The noise floor in this test pressing seems to be better. My friend commented that the bass line was buried in the 'Coming Up', but on the test pressing now Chambers' walking bass is clearly heard. Also the channel separation is harder on this. The standard pressing has more of mono like blend across the channels.

Anyways, I love a simple trio like this with no horns. 

One word of caution is that if you do not want to hear musicians singing along, this isn't the album for you. But if you want to bop along this tight ensemble with Bud Powell's piano in the best fidelity, there's nothing finer from the Blue Note catalogue.