LATEST ADDITIONS

Michael Fremer  |  Nov 29, 2018  |  15 comments
Billed as “The Expanded 1963 New York Studio Sessions”, Resonance Records’ Black Friday offering Eric Dolphy Musical Prophet is anything but one of those RSD repackaged assemblages of cast off secondary material meant for fanatical completists. The phrase “connective tissue” kept running through my head as I listened to the 3 LPs and read “mouth agape” the vital annotation that threaded together the confused recorded history.

Michael Fremer  |  Nov 28, 2018  |  59 comments
During last fall's "Blues Masters at the Crossroads" concert weekend at Chad Kassem's Blue Heaven studios, attendees were invited to tour Quality Record Pressings where workers were busy assembling the just-released Electric Ladyland box set containing a Bernie Grundman all-analog remastering from the original analog tapes of the double LP set, a double LP of early takes, a double LP of Jimi Hendrix Experience Live at the Hollywood Bowl, a Blu-ray disc containing a 96/24 high resolution version of the original double LP, a 5.1 channel Eddie Kramer mix at 96/24 resolution and an expanded documentary including interviews with the late Chas Chandler, Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding and in-the-studio footage. There's also a full-sized 46 page booklet in the box. I'm working my way through the box for a review.

Michael Fremer  |  Nov 27, 2018  |  18 comments
To help pay for her self-funded debut EP Sophia Pfister worked in a mortuary. Now, two years later, she’s released her first LP—also self-funded. Since that first effort she’s expanded her web presence on her own website as well as on most social media platforms and streaming services. Most importantly, she’s steadily gigged, performing live around the Los Angeles area.

Michael Fremer  |  Nov 26, 2018  |  2 comments
Peekskill New York based Soundsmith launched at last October's RMAF a new ES line of moving cartridges that includes ES versions of their Otello, The Voice, Aida, Carmen MKII, Zephyr MKIII, Zephyr MIMIC, Hyperion, Paua MKII, and Sussuro MKII.

Michael Fremer  |  Nov 26, 2018  |  8 comments
North American SME importer Bluebird Music recently announced "significant" across the board price reductions on all SME products, effective November 23, 2018.

Michael Fremer  |  Nov 26, 2018  |  2 comments
The Blue Note Review subscription box set series returns with "customer feedback" based improved Volume Two. You'll like both what's in the box and what the label has done to improve its overall quality. Plus it will be easier to obtain than was the first set, limited to 1500 copies. Volume Two will be a 2000 set edition.

Michael Fremer  |  Nov 26, 2018  |  First Published: Jan 01, 2004  |  15 comments
Sumiko's Blackbird phono cartridge

Bose ran a full-page ad for its Wave radio a few weeks ago in the New York Times. The headline was "Proof That Great Ideas Get Heard." The company patted itself on the back for winning a technology award for the radio from "Forbes ASAP." The award cites the Wave as being one of 15 "world-changing" technological breakthroughs, on an equal footing with Bell's telephone, Edison's light bulb, and the invention of the CD.

When I read that, my morning coffee went up my nose and back into the cup.

Michael Fremer  |  Nov 25, 2018  |  10 comments
Here's the third and final video shot at Audio Video Show 2018, Warsaw, Poland that concluded November, 18th. Almost all of this footage was from the PGE Narodowy football (soccer) stadium exhibits (Thumbnail is radio interview conducted at the stadium, show organizer Adam Mokrzycki on right).

Malachi Lui  |  Nov 23, 2018  |  5 comments
By the time Jeff Beck recorded 1976’s platinum-selling Wired, the former Yardbirds guitarist had moved on from the blues rock of the 60s and chased a new musical obsession: fusion. With George Martin at the production desk, and prominently accompanied by Jan Hammer on synthesizer, Narada Michael Walden on drums, Wilbur Bascomb on bass, and Max Middleton on Clavinet, Beck recorded an entirely instrumental album of fusion material.

Michael Fremer  |  Nov 23, 2018  |  9 comments
Winner of the 2003 Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album, this sublime collaboration with Cuban guitar great Manuel Galbán was issued on vinyl for a blink of the eye and was quickly out of print. Now it's again available on vinyl.

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