Album Reviews

"Sonny Rollins Way Out West" Deluxe Edition From Craft Recordings—What Was, What Is, What Could Have Been

Michael Fremer  |  Mar 3, 2018

Way Out West Deluxe Edition
Sonny Rollins
 
Craft Records/Contemporary 2 180g LP Box Set
Produced by: Lester Koenig (Reissue Producer Nick Phillips)
Engineered by: Roy DuNann
Mixed by: Roy DuNann
Mastered by: Joe Tarantino (lacquers cut by George Horn and Anne-Marie Seunram
 
MUSIC
SOUND
In March of 1957 during his first trip to the west coast, 26 year old Sonny Rollins, then a member of The Max Roach Quintet, booked a session at Lester Koenig’s Contemporary Studios. With Ray Brown also in Los Angeles starring in Oscar Peterson’s Trio, and Contemporary Records regular and Los Angeles based Shelly Manne also available, Rollins could fulfill a long running desire to record sans piano.

Primary Category: 
Album Reviews
Category: 
Album Reviews
Artist: 
Sonny Rollins
Album: 
Way Out West Deluxe Edition
Cred Label: 
Craft Records/Contemporary 2 180g LP Box Set
Cred Prod: 
Lester Koenig (Reissue Producer Nick Phillips)
Cred Eng: 
Roy DuNann
Cred Mix: 
Roy DuNann
Cred Mast: 
Joe Tarantino (lacquers cut by George Horn and Anne-Marie Seunram
Michael Fremer
In March of 1957 during his first trip to the west coast, 26 year old Sonny Rollins, then a member of The Max Roach Quintet, booked a session at Lester Koenig’s Contemporary Studios. With Ray Brown also in Los Angeles starring in Oscar Peterson’s Trio, and Contemporary Records regular and Los Angeles based Shelly Manne also available, Rollins could fulfill a long running desire to record sans piano.

Album Reviews

Steep Canyon Rangers "Out in the Open"

Michael Fremer  |  Mar 2, 2018

Out in the Open
Steep Canyon Rangers
 
Ramseur Records 212588 180g LP
Produced by: Joe Henry
Engineered by: Jason Richmond
Mixed by: Jason Richmond
Mastered by: Kim Rosen at Knack Mastering (lacquers cut at Welcome to 1979 by "CJH"
 
MUSIC
SOUND
Bluegrass non-traditionalists Steep Canyon Rangers recently released this, the group's 12th album, without part time "front man" Steve Martin but with producer Joe Henry helming an exquisitely conceived and executed set of modern originals (plus one Bob Dylan cover) that preserves the traditional bluegrass sound while moving the genre into the contemporary musical world.

Primary Category: 
Album Reviews
Category: 
Album Reviews
Artist: 
Steep Canyon Rangers
Album: 
Out in the Open
Cred Label: 
Ramseur Records 212588 180g LP
Cred Prod: 
Joe Henry
Cred Eng: 
Jason Richmond
Cred Mix: 
Jason Richmond
Cred Mast: 
Kim Rosen at Knack Mastering (lacquers cut at Welcome to 1979 by "CJH"
Michael Fremer
Bluegrass non-traditionalists Steep Canyon Rangers recently released this, the group's 12th album, without part time "front man" Steve Martin but with producer Joe Henry helming an exquisitely conceived and executed set of modern originals (plus one Bob Dylan cover) that preserves the traditional bluegrass sound while moving the genre into the contemporary musical world.

Analog Gear News

Phono Loco Coming From Sutherland Engineering

Michael Fremer  |  Mar 2, 2018

The usually conservative (engineering-wise, don't know his politics) Ron Sutherland has thrown all electronic caution to the wind and will shortly introduce the Phono Loco, his first venture into what's commonly called a "current mode" phono preamplifier.

Analog Corner

Analog Corner #76

Michael Fremer  |  Feb 26, 2018  |  First Published: Nov 1, 2001

All four standard record speeds have now been covered in this column: 16 (2/3)rpm, 33 (1/3)rpm, 45rpm, and this is "Analog Corner" #78(rpm). Seventy-six columns and going strong. Hard to believe, considering that vinyl was declared "dead" a decade ago, and is still so declared by the digital hardcore.

Phono Preamp Reviews

Arcam’s Surprising rPhono Offers Up to 82dB Gain, Rumble Filter and Variable MC Loading

Michael Fremer  |  Feb 24, 2018

Phono preamps arrive here by the stack. It’s difficult keeping up. To be honest, Arcam’s rPhono arrived before the JC3 Jr. but here, anything with John Curl’s name attached automatically goes to the head of the queue, especially considering the Jr.’s remarkable $1495 price.

Phono Preamp Reviews

Does Curl's Jr. Have the Beef?

Michael Fremer  |  Feb 24, 2018

First released in 2010, Parasound’s JC 3 MM/MC phono preamplifier began as a dual-mono John Curl-designed phono section retro-fit for its JC2 line stage. With vinyl’s popularity on the rise, Parasound’s Richard Schram figured a stand-alone version priced right might find an audience.

News

Updates and Corrections to Recent Technics SL-1000R Preview Story

Michael Fremer  |  Feb 21, 2018

In the recent story about the week I spent with Technics' new SL-1000R turntable, the difference between what's commonly referred to as an arm's "effective length" and how Technics uses the term in its literature led to some confusion and a series of conceptual errors on my part for which I take full responsibility.

Analog Gear News

Merrill-Williams Audio Announces The R.E.A.L. 101.3 Turntable

Michael Fremer  |  Feb 20, 2018

Merrill-Williams Audio LLC of Memphis, Tennesseejust introduced the latest version of its celebrated R.E.A.L. turntable, the model 101.3. The R.E.A.L. 101.3 retains the essential elements of the 101 and 101.2 models while adding fundamental improvements.

Analog Gear News

Swedish Analog Technologies Announces New Pick Up Arm Lineup

Michael Fremer  |  Feb 20, 2018

SAT (Swedish Analog Technologies) announced today two new pick up arms, the LM and CF1 series that replace the original SAT arm, now discontinued after a successful run of 70—an impressive number considering the arm's cost of more than $30,000.

Analog Corner

Analog Corner #75

Michael Fremer  |  Feb 16, 2018  |  First Published: Oct 1, 2001

First, the news you've all been waiting for: the name of the winner of the "Send in the funniest caption for this picture and win an autographed copy of Mikey's 1970s comedy album, I Can Take a Joke" contest (see p.44 of the August 2001 Stereophile).

Pages

X