Bill Evans Trio’s Seminal 1961 Live Album Sunday at the Village Vanguard Shines on New 180g All-Analog Cohearent Audio-Mastered, RTI-Pressed 1LP Edition From Craft Recordings

It’s almost an impossible task trying to “review” an iconic album like Bill Evans Trio’s October 1961 live masterpiece, Sunday at the Village Vanguard. I mean, what hasn’t been said that newbie jazz fans don’t even know? Best live jazz recording ever? Check. Symbiotic musician interplay? Check. Stunning group communication? Check. Jazz gateway LP? Check. Gamechanger? Check. Conversational performances? Check. Highly influential? Check — and mate.

Primary Category: 
Artist: 
Bill Evans Trio
Album: 
Sunday at the Village Vanguard
Cred Label: 
Craft Recordings/Riverside
Cred Prod: 
Orrin Keepnews (original album)
Cred Eng: 
Dave Jones (original album)
Cred Mix: 
-
Cred Mast: 
Kevin Gray (all-analog mastering from the original master tapes at Cohearant Audio)

It’s almost an impossible task trying to “review” an iconic album like Bill Evans Trio’s October 1961 live masterpiece, Sunday at the Village Vanguard, but a new 180g 1LP edition under Craft Recordings’ revival of the Original Jazz Classics series umbrella is most definitely worth a closer look — and listen. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see why this AAA edition of an all-time jazz classic belongs in your collection. . .

Paul McCartney & Wings Celebrate 50th Anniversary of Band on the Run on February 2, 2024, With a 2LP Edition Featuring Previously Unreleased “Underdubbed” Mixes on LP2 and a Separate Half-Speed-Mastered 1LP Version of the Original 1973 Release

The jailer man and Sailor Sam are at it again. Paul McCartney & Wings will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Band on the Run on February 2, 2024, with a 2LP edition featuring previously unreleased “Underdubbed” mixes on LP2, and a separate half-speed-mastered 1LP version of the original December 1973 release. Read on to see just what “Underdubbed” mixes entail, and if these new versions of Band on the Run

DS Audio Grand Master EX Optical Cartridge

So many great new products to be seen at the most recent Capital Audiofest (CAF), so little time. Well, that’s not entirely true, as our intrepid analog-centric editorial team spent quite a lot of time on the case at CAF 2023. That said, there’s some additional gear that was on display at CAF we wanted to take a deeper dive into, one of those items being DS Audio’s Grand Master EX optical cartridge. Read on to see what the impressively high-end Grand Master EX cart has to offer. . .

Capital Audiofest Show Report, Part 2

Welcome to another installment of analog highlights from Capital Audiofest (CAF), which was held November 10-12, 2023, at the Twinbrook Hilton in Rockville, Maryland. As we noted last week in Part 1, CAF has expanded to a reported 114 exhibit rooms across more than four floors in addition to various conference rooms throughout the hotel. Read Part 2 of Julie Mullins’ comprehensive show report to duly digest a second helping of the best analog gear CAF 2023 had to offer. . .

Expanded 50th Anniversary 180g 3LP Sets for The Beatles’ Legendary Red and Blue Albums Offer Colorful Listening Session Options for All Fab Four Fans, Both Old and New Alike

Primary Category: 
Artist: 
The Beatles
Album: 
1962-1966 (Red Album) and 1967-1970 (Blue Album)
Cred Label: 
Apple/Capitol/UMG
Cred Prod: 
George Martin, The Beatles, Phil Spector (select tracks)
Cred Eng: 
Norman Smith, Geoff Emerick
Cred Mix: 
Giles Martin, Sam Okell (remix and production, at Abbey Road Studios); Peter Jackson (WingNut Films’ audio de-mixing)
Cred Mast: 
Miles Showell (half-speed-mastered lacquers, likely cut at Abbey Road Studios)

The history of the storied 1962-1966 and 1967-1970 retrospective albums by The Beatles, alternately known as the Red Album and the Blue Album, is quite fascinating — and now they’re both newly available in expanded, 50th anniversary 180g 3LP editions with a number of additional tracks not on either of the original 1973 releases, one of them being the “final” Bealtes song, “Now And Then.” Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see if either/both of the new Red and Blue 3LP sets belong in your collection and on your turntable. . .

Muarah MT-3 Turntable and MY-1/9 Tonearm

Polish turntable and tube amp manufacturer Muarah launched their new MT-3 turntable and MY-1/9 tonearm at the recent, 25th edition of the Audio Video Show in Warsaw, so we figured they were both well worth a respective closer look. Read on to see more about the MT-3’s impressive specs and features. . .

Record Doctor X Vacuum Record Cleaning Machine

Pangea Audio has just announced the soon-forthcoming Record Doctor X, a new edition of their acclaimed Record Doctor vacuum record cleaning machines that simultaneously cleans both sides of a record in order to “sav[e] time and effort over current versions” (their words). Read on to see if the all-new RDX VRCM fits your own current and/or future record cleaning needs. . .

Capital Audiofest Show Report, Part 1

It was a fine time to be in the Washington, D.C. metro area for the most recent Capital Audiofest (CAF) that was held November 10-12, 2023, at the Twinbrook Hilton in Rockville, Maryland. A growing show, CAF has expanded to encompass a reported 114 exhibit rooms across more than four floors in addition to conference rooms throughout the hotel. Read Part 1 of Julie Mullins’ comprehensive show report to see a fine selection of the best analog gear CAF 2023 had to offer. . .

Aavik Acoustics R-580 Phono Preamp

“Scandinavian design with an international twist.” So says notable Danish company Aavik Acoustics about their R-580 phono preamp, so we figured we’d take a closer look at this cool unit before we head on into the extended holiday weekend ahead. Read on to get all the R-580 specs and feature details. . .

Vince Guaraldi’s A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Finally Gets First Ever Serving on Vinyl for Special 50th Anniversary 180g 1LP Edition

It finally hit me on a bleak ’n’ blurry rainy Saturday morning in November as to why Vince Guaraldi’s music for the Peanuts animation franchise has touched the hearts of so many people around the world — it’s genuinely uplifting, universally appealing music that can heat up even the coldest of soul coals. And in these times of emotional upheaval and worldwide turmoil, it’s really, really good to have life-affirming music like this to keep us afloat as we try, if you’ll pardon The Beatles’ reference, “take a sad song and make it better.”

Primary Category: 
Category: 
Artist: 
Vince Guaraldi
Album: 
Cred Label: 
LMFP
Cred Prod: 
Sean and Jason Mendelson (reissue); Peanuts (original recording)
Cred Eng: 
Terry Carleton at Bones and Knives (remix engineer); Ken (original recording)
Cred Mix: 
-
Cred Mast: 
Vinson Hudson (restoration and mastering)

If it’s the holidays and we’re talking holiday-centric vinyl, then we should also be talking about Vince Guaraldi and his indelible work for the Peanuts animation franchise. To kick off the holiday season right, LMFP is serving up the first ever vinyl edition of A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving in celebration of the TV special’s 50th anniversary. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see if the new 180g 1LP edition of A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving should be cued up alongside your turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and/or whatever else is on your festive table. . .

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