What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol. XIII)

Steven Wilson : to the bone, snap, just downloaded a hires of that

great 4th!

EJS posted:

First 'spin' of the hires issue, freshly downloaded on USB thumbdrive via the Bryston BDP2 (which, IMO, remains the ultimate solution if you want to listen to high resolution audio without resorting to streaming).

EJ

For those contemplating to upgrade: sound quality is fine. The remastering was judiciously done: overall sound stage is a bit smoother in high-res and there is a good body to the sound. No obvious tinkering with the sound balance, obvious tape cuts that weren't there before, no increase in tape hiss, obvious noise reduction, artificial boosting of frequencies, equalisation or other pampering to the itunes crowd. Most importantly I didn't notice the excessive spotlighting of the voices that so disfigured the '09 remastering. 

I can't imagine anyone knowing this opera not knowing this recording; it's almost perfect, but the producer should have convinced Pav to hold his operatic sobs at the end - Alagna in his recording with Pappano shows how much more effective this scene - possibly opera's most melodramatic moment ever - is without them.

Cheers

EJ

Stevee_S posted:

(1994)

A great debut album from Toby Marks that hits all the right funky, techno, electro, ambient, psychedelic buttons.

Playing this on Tidal now, thanks Stevee. We are liking it very much. Will audition some of Banco's other albums later.

Klyde posted:

Stevee_S posted:

(1994)

A great debut album from Toby Marks that hits all the right funky, techno, electro, ambient, psychedelic buttons.

Playing this on Tidal now, thanks Stevee. We are liking it very much. Will audition some of Banco's other albums later.

Pleased that you're enjoying it Klyde. He has a fair catalogue of work, perhaps Farewell Ferengistan might be worth trying next and Apollo a more recent album. Enjoy!

A kind of a Strange album, but enjoyable...

Lester Young with the Oscar Peterson trio.

From allmusic.com

Defying what has become conventional wisdom, tenor saxophonist Lester Young cut some of his greatest recordings in the 1950s -- that is, when he was reasonably healthy. On this wonderful effort with pianist Oscar Peterson, guitarist Barney Kessel, bassist Ray Brown, and drummer J.C. Heard, Prez performs definitive versions of "Just You, Just Me" and "Tea for Two," and plays a string of concise but memorable ballad renditions: "On the Sunny Side of the Street," "Almost Like Being in Love," "I Can't Give You Anything But Love," "There Will Never Be Another You," and "I'm Confessin'." This is essential music from a jazz legend. [Some reissues augment the original dozen songs with a version of the good-humored "It Takes Two to Tango," which features Young's only recorded vocals, plus a rather unnecessary false start (on "I Can't Get Started," ironically), along with some studio chatter.]

Pavarotti commercially recorded Trovatore twice; here, he sounds a bit drier than in the first, but otherwise this performance is far preferable. At the time this was issued, Pav was a superstar and somewhat hard to take seriously as an opera singer... 25 years later, it's easier to accept him as a superb singer, who steals the show here for all the right reasons: vocal personality, charisma and dramatic sensitivity.

cheers,

EJ

Fairport Convention, the first 10 years 7 CD box set. What I actually went into Hebden Bridge to buy yesterday. 1st listen to one CD, great sound quality, lovely to hear Sandy's voice in some performances I don't know as well. Next CD 3 with unreleased performances.  Excellent box set, well worth the high price, annoyingly dbPowerAmp has only auturecognised the first 3 and the 6th discs, so I'm having to hand tag the others, but well worth the trouble.

GraemeH posted:

All this talk of getting stoned put me in the mood...

G

Indeed. Everybody must get ...

sorry I couldn't resist 

Duke Jordan - Flight to Denmark.

From allmusic.com

Although he had a long career, Duke Jordan will always be best known for being pianist with Charlie Parker's classic 1947 quintet. A little earlier, he worked with the Savoy Sultans, Coleman Hawkins, and the Roy Eldridge big band (1946). After his year with Parker (his piano introductions to such songs as "Embraceable You" were classic), Jordan worked with the Sonny Stitt/Gene Ammons quintet (1950-1951) and Stan Getz (1949 and 1952-1953). He started recording as a leader in 1954, debuting his most famous composition, "Jor-Du," the following year. Although he worked steadily during the next few decades (writing part of the soundtrack for the French film Les Liaisons Dangereuses), Jordan was in obscurity until he began recording on a regular basis for Steeplechase in 1973. Duke Jordan, who was married for a time to the talented jazz singer Sheila Jordan, lived in Denmark from 1978 until his death on August 8, 2006. He recorded through the years for Prestige, Savoy, Blue Note, Charlie Parker Records, Muse, Spotlite, and Steeplechase.

Now playing.....

Jakob Bro - December Song

Jakob Bro (guitar), Lee Konitz (alto saxophone), Bill Frisell (guitar), Craig Taborn (piano), and Thomas Morgan (double bass)

Last album played yesterday was Jacob Bro's "Balladeering" so starting the day with his "December Song." Music is perfect for a beautiful Sunday morning!

From review at All About Jazz found here:

December Song is the final part of a trilogy which started with Balladeering (2009) and continued with Time (2011). It started with the fivesome of Jakob Bro himself, Bill Frisell, Lee Konitz, Ben Street and the late Paul Motian. When Time was recorded in September 2011 at Avatar, Thomas Morgan subbed for Ben Street. Paul Motian could not make it anymore. He passed away soon after. Notwithstanding he can be sensed on both Time and December Song very clearly. To fulfill the mission, pianist Craig Taborn been invited for the third part.

Since this part of a trilogy and I have heard the first and now the third, then 'Time" will be listened to at some point today.

Pierce Brothers, young Aussie duo, twin brothers Jack and Pat. I saw them at the Cropredy festival in 2016, and again in 2017, it takes a special act to get 20,000 people averaging late 50s up and dancing. They blew the audience away both times, charismatic as hell, great catchy numbers, played with flair, Pat on guitar and harmonica, Jack on percussion and didgeridoo. This is their new, second, EP, full of catchy songs, nothing groundbreaking, but very enjoyable listening. If luck goes their way, they could end headlining major festivals, they have the crowd pleasing numbers and the personality to do so, that may sound a bit damning with faint praise, this is excellent well written folk rock.

Porcupine Tree - Fear Of A Blank Planet, on vinyl...  

1971 - vinyl - U.K. Pressing...

Santana, Caravanserai. I bought this yesterday after it received a few mentions on the 'albums to get high to' thread. It was delivered today. This is the first time I've ever heard this rather excellent album. Stone cold sober too!

Curtis Stigers - Baby plays around.

Very nice jazz album by Curtis Stigers.

• Curtis Stigers - Vocals, Tenor sax
• Larry Goldings - Piano
• Randy Brecker - Trumpet
• Dennis Irwin - Bass
• Chris Minh Doky - Bass
• Bill Stewart - Drums
• Adam Nussbaum - Drums

Another disc from the Fairport box set. Slightly dodgy SQ on the 1st 5 live tracks, but not enough to distract from the excellence of the music and the musicians. Fairport in their early days were a very creative and  ground breaking band, I can see these rips getting  a lot of playing, I have quite a lot of this on the originals and on other collections, but a lot is new to me. I'm very pleased with this purchase, the mosspt obsessive Fairport  ompletistsnwill have most already, but for other Fairport fans I'd say worth the steep price. 

Clive B posted:

Santana, Caravanserai. I bought this yesterday after it received a few mentions on the 'albums to get high to' thread. It was delivered today. This is the first time I've ever heard this rather excellent album. Stone cold sober too!

It's probably not accepted good practice to respond to your own post, but this album is absolutely brilliant!!! Already half way through it for a second time. 

No real reason, apart from the fact that I'm still working my way through it. Disc three of Cherry Red's excellent four-CD survey of formative Euro electronica:

A Bach's Aria ( "Die Seele ruht in Jesu Händen") transcribed by Walter Rummel and performed by pianist Jonathan Plowright. A perfect fit for a steamy Sunday afternoon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQbFgKoE03Q

ewemon posted:

Great choice. My favourite Hawkwind album.

steve

On original vinyl

Why? Wife's out and I found the volume control. Saw them on this tour at Wembley.

steve

Clive B posted:

Clive B posted:

Santana, Caravanserai. I bought this yesterday after it received a few mentions on the 'albums to get high to' thread. It was delivered today. This is the first time I've ever heard this rather excellent album. Stone cold sober too!

It's probably not accepted good practice to respond to your own post, but this album is absolutely brilliant!!! Already half way through it for a second time. 

For me it's the gem of the Santana albums, the band split after this , with Greg Rolie and Neal Schon forming Journey. Heavily influenced by jazz greats like Miles Davis and Gil Evans, the music weaves in some great guitar solos from Schon and Santana, just replayed this myself today.