180 Gram Vinyl Record

  • Sale! Elmo Hope - Informal Jazz  (Mono)

    In stock

    Elmo Hope – Informal Jazz (Mono)

    58,00 

    Overshadowed throughout his life by his friends Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk, Elmo Hope was a talented pianist and composer in his own right. He recorded in New York as a band leader (starting in 1953), and with greats Sonny Rollins, Lou Donaldson, Clifford Brown and Jackie McLean. But the loss of his cabaret card due to drug use made it difficult for him to make a living in New York. After touring with Chet Baker in 1957, Hope relocated to Los Angeles. He performed with Lionel Hampton in 1959, recorded with Harold Land and Curtis Counce, and returned to New York in 1961. A short prison sentence did little to help his drug problem; he died in May 1967. Although the album is titled Informal Jazz, reality dictates that a good deal of thought and care went into the recording session. The dynamic drum and bass team of Philly Joe Jones and Paul Chambers is "hardly the kind of rhythm section playing heard at a jam session, except possibly in heaven," All Music Guide notes. And Hope’s solo spots are the best part of the record — "It is a stretch to imagine an ’informal’ recording session where even material as complicated as this is played." Lastly, some of the most well-known and influential horn artists of the time make their presence known — tenor sax greats John Coltrane and Hank Mobley, as well as trumpeter Donald Byrd. Originally released in 1956. Elmo Hope, piano Philly Joe Jones, drums Paul Chambers, bass John Coltrane, tenor sax Donald Byrd, trumpet Hank Mobley, tenor sax

    Add to cart
  • Sale! Fritz Reiner - Mahler: Symphony No. 4/ Lisa Della Casa  (Chicago Symphony Orchestra)

    In stock

    Fritz Reiner – Mahler: Symphony No. 4/ Lisa Della Casa (Chicago Symphony Orchestra)

    58,00 

    Analogue Productions' RCA Living Stereo Reissue Series No. 2, with 25 newly remastered mainstay classical albums, will delight and astound your ears with their clarity and warm, rich tone. As with our first highly-regarded LSC series, shortcomings of previous editions have been improved upon — from the mastering, to the LP pressing, to the sharp-looking glossy heavyweight Stoughton Printing tip-on jackets that faithfully duplicate the original artwork, "Living Stereo" logo, "Shaded Dog" label and all! Mastered by Ryan K. Smith at Sterling Sound from the original 3-track master tapes, cut at 33 1/3, and plated and pressed at Quality Record Pressings — makers of the world's finest-sounding vinyl LPs, — no other editions match these for the quietest 180-gram platters available. "Mahler's Fourth and Das Lied von der Erde were Reiner's only Mahler recordings with the Chicago Symphony, and both are reminders of his orchestral wizardry and his prowess as a Mahlerian. Tempos are on the swift side for a piece many conductors like to linger over, but the forward flow doesn't obscure telling details. Reiner gives the slow movement a chaste solemnity, and the final heavenly vision is beautifully sung by the creamy voiced Della Casa. This Mahler's Fourth falls closer to Boulez's objectivity than to Bernstein's emotionalism and remains today what it was when recorded — one of the best Mahler Fourths in the catalog. It's also one of the best-sounding, as RCA's Living Stereo engineering holds its own even after decades." — Amazon.com

    Add to cart
  • Sale! Societa Corelli - Vivaldi: The Four Seasons

    Backorder

    Societa Corelli – Vivaldi: The Four Seasons

    58,00 

    Analogue Productions' RCA Living Stereo Reissue Series No. 2, with 25 newly remastered mainstay classical albums, will delight and astound your ears with their clarity and warm, rich tone. As with our first highly-regarded LSC series, shortcomings of previous editions have been improved upon - from the mastering, to the LP pressing, to the sharp-looking glossy heavyweight Stoughton Printing tip-on jackets that faithfully duplicate the original artwork, "Living Stereo" logo, "Shaded Dog" label and all! Mastered by Ryan K. Smith at Sterling Sound from the original 3-track master tapes, cut at 33 1/3, and plated and pressed at Quality Record Pressings - makers of the world's finest-sounding vinyl LPs, - no other editions match these for the quietest 180-gram platters available. The 13 string virtuosi who make up this conductor-less ensemble did well to name themselves after Areangelo Corelli. Both as a violinist and as a composer, Corelli brought the art of string-playing to heights never-before achieved, exploring new dimensions of dynamics and tonal richness. What makes the Societa Corelli virtually unique among interpreters of Corelli, Vaivaldi and other masters of that period is their style. Their tone production, use of vibrato and other subtleties evident in this performance are artistic, creative and vital music-making.

    Show item
  • Sale! Arnett Cobb - Party Time  (Stereo)

    Low stock

    Arnett Cobb – Party Time (Stereo)

    58,00 

    At the time he recorded this album in 1957, Arnett Cobb was in the process of rebounding from a serious automobile accident that broke both his legs. Cobb's indomitable spirit shines through in these tracks, whether he is calmly preaching on "When My Dream Boat Comes Home," grooving down the "Lonesome Road," or roaring through the song that is almost as closely associated with him as it is with Illinois Jacquet — "Flying Home." There are plenty of good blues, too, and pianist Ray Bryant's eloquence in this idiom is well exposed. Ray Barretto's conga adds another flavor to the rhythm section, especially on "Cocktails for Two." With Ray Bryant, Wendell Marshall, Arthur Taylor and Ray Barretto.

    Add to cart
  • Sale! Booker Ervin - The Freedom Book  (Stereo)

    In stock

    Booker Ervin – The Freedom Book (Stereo)

    58,00 

    "Rudy Van Gelder captured this Prestige title in stereo, and it reflects his consistently fine work. Tonally it's a touch on the light side, but otherwise the band's energy is clearly and dynamically captured, with a decent sense of air and focus. Kevin Gray did the mastering of this excellent QRP platter, so the quality of this welcome reissue is as good as it gets." — Music = 4/5; Sonics = 3.5/5 - Wayne Garcia, The Absolute Sound, September 2016. Booker Ervin's recordings with Charles Mingus and Randy Weston brought him good reviews and a bit of notoriety. But it was his series of Song Books for Prestige Records that broadcast the stentorian announcement that a jazz orator of gigantic stature had arrived. Ervin's tenor saxophone sound was haunted by the loneliness and spaciousness of the Texas plains where he was raised. The Southwest moan was an integral part of his playing. But his style went beyond the classic Texas tenor tradition to incorporate the intricacies of bebop and suggestions of the free jazz that was initiating one of the periods of self-renewal that keeps jazz fresh and interesting. The Freedom Book, recorded at the end of 1963, was one of Ervin's masterpieces. He is abetted by the power and drive of Jaki Byard, Richard Davis, and Alan Dawson.

    Add to cart
  • Sale! Gene Ammons - Nice An' Cool  (Stereo)

    In stock

    Gene Ammons – Nice An’ Cool (Stereo)

    58,00 

    A 1961 set of standards heavy on the ballads, Nice An' Cool is prime Gene Ammons. In front of a sympathetic piano-bass-drums trio (Richard Wyands, Doug Watkins, and the great J.C. Heard, respectively), Ammons' brilliantly soulful tenor saxophone really stretches out on the familiar melodies, but the relatively concise arrangements (all of the eight tracks are between three and eight minutes, with most hovering around the five-minute mark) don't allow him to wander too far afield as he occasionally does on less structured sessions. Nice An' Cool is first and foremost a mood album, with the unity of sound more important than the individual performances, but Ammons particularly shines on the extended opener, a tender, restrained version of The Music Man's "Til There Was You" that sidesteps the mawkishness of many interpretations in favor of a dignified grace. The backing trio is excellent throughout.

    Add to cart
  • Sale! Jimmy Forrest - Out Of The Forrest  (Stereo)

    Low stock

    Jimmy Forrest – Out Of The Forrest (Stereo)

    58,00 

    From the time Coleman Hawkins firmly established the tenor saxophone on the jazz map, it has been one of the most potent forces in the music, its best practitioners able to raise the roof with a jumping blues, soothe the savage beast with a tender love ballad, and do just about anything in between. At the time of this recording (1961), Jimmy Forrest, the St. Louis-born reedman, was a veteran of the Fate Marable, Jay McShann, Andy Kirk, and Duke Ellington bands. Later in his career he starred with Count Basie. Here he leads a quartet of teammates from the combo of "Sweets" Edison, including the young Austrian pianist Joe Zawinul, through a gamut of the aforementioned moods from "Crash Program" to the caressing "That's All," with a few tips of the cap to Ben Webster along the way. With Joe Zawinul, Tommy Potter and Clarence Johnston.

    Add to cart
  • Sale! Oliver Nelson - Screamin' the Blues  (Stereo)

    In stock

    Oliver Nelson – Screamin’ the Blues (Stereo)

    58,00 

    Posterity remembers Oliver Nelson (1932-1975) primarily as an arranger/conductor. When he first began to attract attention with a series of albums for Prestige and its subsidiaries, however, Nelson was hailed as a versatile leader of small groups and a composer/instrumentalist who could refresh the music's traditional verities while also looking ahead. There is no better showcase for these skills among his initial sessions than Screamin' the Blues, a rousing set of funky modernism interpreted by a sextet of players who shared Nelson's allegiance to both virtuosity and vision. The pairing of saxophonist Eric Dolphy with Nelson was particularly inspired as both men were adept on more than one instrument, and allowed this sextet to create an uncommon diversity of colors. Nelson and Dolphy would reunite a year later on both the classic Blues and the Abstract Truth and (with the band heard here minus trumpeter Richard Williams) on the looser yet intense Straight Ahead. With Richard Williams, Eric Dolphy, Richard Wyands, George Duvivier and Roy Haynes.

    Add to cart
  • Sale! Helen Merrill - Helen Merrill  (Mono Version)

    Backorder

    Helen Merrill – Helen Merrill (Mono Version)

    58,00 

    "Clifford Brown, probably the most acclaimed jazz instrumentalist in 1954, acts (here) as the perfect foil. ... He supplies the hot to Merrill's cool. His technical prowess is on display and he plays quick runs of notes with remarkable delicacy. ... the packaging is a tip-on jacket from Stoughton Printing. Unlike the original, it is a gatefold with session photos on the inside. An insert includes a bit of history about Robert Fine as well as detailed sessions notes. The pressing is a 180-gram slab of vinyl from Quality Record Pressings — enough said. This is a great reissue that, for all intents and purposes, is the only choice for serious listening. The original is priced out of reach for all but the wealthy." — Recording = 4.5/5; Music = 5/5 — Dennis D. Davis, The Audio Beat, May 27, 2020. Read the entire review here. "I confess my ignorance of jazz singer Helen Merrill — or so it was until a couple of weeks ago, when Chad Kassem of Acoustic Sounds sent me a test pressing of his forthcoming reissue of her eponymous 1955 debut LP (EmArcy MG 36006/Analogue Productions AAPJ 127). To say I was impressed is an understatement. The album was recorded in December of 1954 by the legendary Bob Fine, at Fine Sound Inc., 711 5th Avenue in New York. Merrill, then only 24, was backed by a combo that included Clifford Brown on trumpet, Oscar Pettiford on bass, and pianist Jimmy Jones, with arrangements by Quincy Jones — himself a mere 21 years old at the time. The mono sound is on the (pleasantly) dry side and very forward, with taut-sounding drums and bass and an intimate vocal sound that at times comes close to being overly sibilant but never quite carries out the threat. Merrill's intonation isn't always spot-on (as in the intro to 'Yesterdays'), but there's something about her voice — an odd combination of breathy innocence and husky-toned experience that pulls me in time after time. (In 'Don't Explain,' she intones the word quiet in a manner that could launch any number of ships.) And Clifford Brown's trumpet is, as one might expect, perfect. Prices for the original mono LP reach into four-figure territory, so news of an affordable reissue is very good news indeed. Torch on." — Art Dudley, Stereophile, March 2020 Helen Merrill attributed her childhood musical influence to her mother's singing. Truth is, she didn't wait long herself to make a mark as a teenage jazz ingénue, following-up with the notable self-titled LP you have in your hands, newly remastered, and reissued by Analogue Productions. Helen Merrill arrives, remastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearant Audio, and plated and pressed to 180-gram vinyl by the dedicated crew at Quality Record Pressings, supervised by plating expert and general manager Gary Salstrom. No less than an old-style, tip-on Stoughton Printing gatefold jacket would suffice for such a phenomenal-sounding reissue. Rare photographs inside the gatefold originally appeared as sleeve art for the 7-inch singles recorded and released in conjunction with the original 1955 album release. Helen Merrill was born in New York City on July 21, 1930. Her professional career began at the age of 15 when, after singing at theatres and winning amateur contests, she landed a job as vocalist with Reggie Charles' Band. Merrill made her recording debut in 1952 when she sang "A Cigarette For Company" with the Earl Hines Band; the song was released on the D'Oro label, created specifically to record Hines' band with Merrill. The session was also notable for including vocalist Etta Jones, who was in Hines' band at the time. Merrill was later signed by Mercury Records to their EmArcy label. Helen Merrill is her debut studio album, backed by among others, trumpeter Clifford Brown and bassist/cellist Oscar Pettiford. The legendary Quincy Jones produced and arranged the album when he was just 21-years-old! The success of Helen Merrill prompted Mercury to sign her for an additional four-album contract. AllMusic reviewer Scott Yanow gave Helen Merrill 4 1/2 stars. "The music is essentially straight-ahead bop, yet the seven standards ... are uplifted by the presence of Merrill (in top form) and Brown." Her success associated Merrill with the first generation of bebop jazz musicians. Merrill's career continued with recordings and concerts throughout six decades, until the early 2000s. Her emotional, sensual vocal performances, particularly this engaging debut, stand as testament to her immense talent. This is a high-quality reissue of a rare and valuable record. Original copies have sold for more than $1,000!

    Show item
  • Sale! Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis & Johnny Griffin Quintet - The Tenor Scene  (Stereo)

    In stock

    Eddie ‘Lockjaw’ Davis & Johnny Griffin Quintet – The Tenor Scene (Stereo)

    58,00 

    During the two-year existence of their "Tough Tenors" quintet, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (a Prestige artist) and Johnny Griffin (under contract to Riverside/Jazzland) satisfied their contractual obligations by recording five albums for each company. This was the pair’s first for Prestige, and the first of a four-album series taped over the course of an extremely productive evening at the legendary Minton’s Playhouse in Harlem. The album, also known as The Breakfast Show in an earlier reissue, gives the rhythm section several opportunities to shine, with Ben Riley’s drums dominant on "Woody’n You," "Bingo Domingo" featuring Larry Gale’s bass, and Junior Mance’s piano solo almost stealing the show on "Light and Lovely." It is the leaders, though, who consistently deliver with their complimentary brand of intensity, which is heard at the boil throughout and reaches a particular peak when they exchange ideas on "Straight, No Chaser."

    Add to cart
  • Sale! Lightnin' Hopkins - Goin' Away (Stereo)

    In stock

    Lightnin’ Hopkins – Goin’ Away (Stereo)

    58,00 

    "At times the guitar seems a bit low in the mix, but on this remastered Analogue Productions LP, cut from the original master tapes by Kevin Gray, it sounds warm and natural while the boisterous vocals have have a commanding presence; the recording also does a fine job of capturing Leonard Gaskin's deep bass tones and the timbre of Herbie Lovelle's brushes." — Music = 4.5/5; Sonics = 4/5 - Jeff Wilson, The Absolute Sound, September 2016. Read more here. Sam “Lightnin’” Hopkins, a true poet who invented most of his lyrics on the spot and never seemed to run out of new ideas, was a blues giant of post-war blues whose style was rooted in pre-war Texas traditions. While he cranked up his amp to fierce proportions when performing for his friends at Houston juke joints, producers who recorded him for the so-called folk-blues market usually insisted that he use an acoustic guitar for more “authentic” results. Either way, Lightnin’ seldom made a bad record, and this June 4, 1963, session on which he played acoustic was among his finest, thanks much to the sensitive support of bassist Leonard Gaskin and drummer Herbie Lovelle, who did a remarkable job of following his irregular bar patterns and abrupt song endings.

    Add to cart
  • Sale! Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd - Jazz Samba

    Low stock

    Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd – Jazz Samba

    44,00 

    The words "bossa nova" are often synonymous with the name Stan Getz. But North Americans might not have ever known the bright sound of bossa nova had it not been for Charlie Byrd. In 1961 Byrd returned from a tour of South America, where bossa nova music was thriving. The style was the invention of singer Joao Gilberto and songwriter Antonio Carlos Jobim — an adaptation of infectious Brazilian samba rhythms with the harmonic structures and "cool" surface of West Coast jazz. Byrd brought back records for Getz to hear, they planned a session, and the result was Jazz Samba — the first album of true bossa nova music by jazz artists and the one that broke the bossa nova wave in 1960s America. Originally released in 1962. Seeking to offer definitive audiophile grade versions of some of the most historic and best jazz records ever recorded, Verve Label Group and Universal Music Enterprises' audiophile Acoustic Sounds vinyl reissue series utilizes the skills of top mastering engineers and the unsurpassed production craft of Quality Record Pressings. All titles are mastered from the original analog tapes, pressed on 180-gram vinyl and packaged by Stoughton Printing Co. in high-quality gatefold sleeves with tip-on jackets. The releases are supervised by Chad Kassem, CEO of Acoustic Sounds, the world's largest source for audiophile recordings. Musicians: Stan Getz, tenor saxophone Charlie Byrd, guitar Keter Betts, bass Gene Byrd, bass, guitar Buddy Deppenschmidt, drums Antonio Carlos Jobim, guitar Bill Reichenbach, drums

    Add to cart
  • Sale! André Previn And His Pals, Shelly Manne & Red Mitchell - West Side Story

    Low stock

    André Previn And His Pals, Shelly Manne & Red Mitchell – West Side Story

    44,00 

    Craft Recordings and Acoustic Sounds are proud to announce the Contemporary Records Acoustic Sounds series, which continues for 2023 with seven album releases from the Contemporary Records catalog, celebrating 70 years of the legendary jazz label. The releases are supervised by Chad Kassem, CEO of Acoustic Sounds, the world's largest source for audiophile recordings. Each title, originally engineered by Roy DuNann and/or Howard Holzer, features all-analog mastering from the original tapes by legendary engineer Bernie Grundman (himself a former employee of the label), as well as unsurpassed audiophile pressing on 180-gram vinyl at Quality Record Pressings, presented in a Stoughton Printing old-style tip-on jacket. The series highlights gems from Contemporary's extraordinary catalog and features artists who both defined and expanded the sound of West Coast jazz. One of the best of a series of showtune albums — perhaps THE best — recorded by the trio of pianist Andre Previn, bassist Red Mitchell and drummer Shelly Manne. Here the all-star group is focusing on the music of West Side Story (AllMusic notes Previn and Manne alternated leadership, and it was the drummer's good fortune to have the famous My Fair Lady alum under his own name). The album has eight of the main themes from the famous musical, including "I Feel Pretty," "Maria" and "America." As usual, the melodies are treated respectfully yet swingingly, and Andre Previn in particular excels in this setting. Recommended. Founded in 1951 by film producer, screenwriter and record collector Lester Koenig (1917-1977), Contemporary Records became the epicenter of the West Coast jazz scene, while its cutting-edge approach to sound and design attracted some of the era's most exciting artists. The Contemporary Records Acoustic Sounds series — which launched in the spring of 2022 with titles by Art Pepper, Barney Kessel and Benny Carter, among others — honors the label's rich legacy through meticulous reissues that highlight the label's influential classics, as well as its must-hear rarities. Since its initial rollout, the series has earned accolades from a slew of outlets, including JazzTimes, which spoke to the impact of the label, reflecting: "Artists, producers, and engineers alike have held Contemporary aloft...as a label dedicated to presenting jazz at its absolute purest, richest, and live-est," adding that the new reissues "are living, breathing proof of that label's hotly cutting clarity." Audiophile Review, meanwhile, marveled at the stereo pressing of Art Pepper + Eleven: Modern Jazz Classics, which it called "top-notch," elaborating that it sounds "richer and more inviting...deliver[ing] a bit more cinemascopic ‘view' of the group." Praising Hampton Hawes' Four! as "pristine," Audiophile Audition added, "Kudos to Craft Recordings for re-introducing a brilliant pianist."

    Add to cart
  • Sale! Wynton Kelly Trio and Wes Montgomery - Smokin' At The Half Note

    Low stock

    Wynton Kelly Trio and Wes Montgomery – Smokin’ At The Half Note

    44,00 

    This important historic jazz record pairs guitar virtuoso Wes Montgomery with Miles Davis' rhythm section — featuring Paul Chambers on bass, Jimmy Cobb on drums and Wynton Kelly on piano. This is timeless music that has inspired innumerable jazz guitarists and aficionados. In fact, jazz guitar great Pat Metheny has said, "I learned to play listening to Wes Montgomery's Smokin' At The Half Note." Metheny additionally said that the solo on "If You Could See Me Now" is his favorite of all time. This legendary session was recorded at a New York nightclub. It captures Montgomery at the height of his improvisational powers. Many consider it the best performance on record by one of the most inventive guitarists in jazz history. Highlights include the Miles Davis opener, "No Blues" and the following track, Tadd Dameron's "If You Could See Me Now." And the album's versions of "Unit 7" and "Four On Six" have helped to establish these songs as jazz standards. Seeking to offer definitive audiophile grade versions of some of the most historic and best jazz records ever recorded, Verve Label Group and Universal Music Enterprises' audiophile Acoustic Sounds vinyl reissue series utilizes the skills of top mastering engineers and the unsurpassed production craft of Quality Record Pressings. All titles are mastered from the original analog tapes, pressed on 180-gram vinyl and packaged by Stoughton Printing Co. in high-quality gatefold sleeves with tip-on jackets. The releases are supervised by Chad Kassem, CEO of Acoustic Sounds, the world's largest source for audiophile recordings. Musicians: Wynton Kelly, piano Wes Montgomery, guitar Paul Chambers, bass Jimmy Cobb, drums

    Add to cart
  • Sale! Benny Carter - Jazz Giant

    Low stock

    Benny Carter – Jazz Giant

    44,00 

    Craft Recordings and Acoustic Sounds are proud to announce the Contemporary Records Acoustic Sounds series, which begins with six album releases from the Contemporary Records catalog, celebrating 70 years of the legendary jazz label. The releases are supervised by Chad Kassem, CEO of Acoustic Sounds, the world's largest source for audiophile recordings. Each title, originally engineered by Roy DuNann and/or Howard Holzer, features all-analog mastering from the original tapes by legendary engineer Bernie Grundman (himself a former employee of the label), as well as unsurpassed audiophile pressing on 180-gram vinyl at Quality Record Pressings, presented in a Stoughton Printing old-style tip-on jacket. The series highlights gems from Contemporary's extraordinary catalog and features artists who both defined and expanded the sound of West Coast jazz. The 1958 classic Jazz Giant showcases the alto saxophone, trumpet and arrangements of triple threat Benny Carter, whose majestic talent awed four generations of jazz artists (he's joined by a formidable cast including Manne, Kessel and tenor sax titan Ben Webster). Here, Carter displays three of his many talents, principally as an alto saxophonist, but also as a composer on two numbers and a trumpeter on two. The company he kept, with Webster and Frank Rosolino rounding out the front line, and such fellow giants as Andre Previn, Barney Kessel, Leroy Vinnegar, and Shelly Manne in the rhythm section (Jimmy Rowles replaces Previn on two tracks) left no doubt that this album would be a milestone in straight-ahead, small group, mainstream jazz.

    Add to cart
  • Sale! Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto - Getz and Gilberto

    In stock

    Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto – Getz and Gilberto

    44,00 

    "The Acoustic Sounds LP under review isn't the first audiophile LP reissue. I have a 200-gram LP version of Getz/Gilberto from Mobile Fidelity. To me, there are subtle differences. Listening to 'The Girl from Ipanema,' I hear a slightly more focused, precise sound on the new Acoustic Sounds LP. The stereo separation is a bit extreme, as it was on the original: I would have changed that. Familiar though it is, and successful though it was, the music remains marvelous. It's wonderful to relive the heft and forthright mastery we hear on Getz's solos throughout." — Michael Ullman, The Arts Fuse, Sept. 24, 2020. Read the entire review here. "Acoustic Sounds/Universal Music Group has released a vibrant 180-gram stereo vinyl of Getz/Gilberto. Engineered by George Marino (Sterling Sound) under the supervision of Acoustic Sounds founder Chad Kassem, this is a vibrant analog update of a jazz essential. ... The overall mix of this remastered 180-gram vinyl is excellent. The stereo separation is precise, with double bass/percussion on one channel and guitar/piano on the other. Getz' distinctive tenor is centered, as are the vocals. ... The pressing is superior with no hisses or pops." — 5 stars / Robbie Gerson, Audiophile Audition, Aug. 12, 2020. Read the entire review here. Seeking to offer definitive audiophile grade versions of some of the most historic and best jazz records ever recorded, Verve Label Group and Universal Music Enterprises' new audiophile Acoustic Sounds vinyl reissue series will launch July 31, 2020 with inaugural releases — the sensational collaborations, Stan Getz and João Gilberto's landmark Getz/Gilberto (1964) and the remarkable Louis Armstrong Meets Oscar Peterson (1959). Utilizing the skills of the top mastering engineers and the unsurpassed production craft of Quality Record Pressings, all titles will be mastered from the original analog tapes, pressed on 180-gram vinyl and packaged by Stoughton Printing Co. in high-quality gatefold sleeves with tip-on jackets. The releases will be supervised by Chad Kassem, CEO of Acoustic Sounds, the world's largest source for audiophile recordings. The Acoustic Sounds series will feature two releases a month highlighting a different storied label spanning Verve/UMe's extraordinarily rich archive. To begin with, the series will largely focus on some of the most popular albums from the ‘50s and ‘60s in their unmatched catalog. The July releases will celebrate two of Verve's most beloved albums, the aforementioned Getz/Gilberto and Louis Armstrong Meets Oscar Peterson, and will be followed in August by John Coltrane's immortal Impulse! records, A Love Supreme (1964) and Ballads (1963). Two of Nina Simone's legendary Phillips albums I Put A Spell On You (1965) and Pastel Blues (1965) will come in September which will be succeeded in October by two from the EmArcy Records vault: Sarah Vaughan's self-titled 1954 album, the vocal great's sole collaboration with influential trumpeter Clifford Brown, who is also represented alongside pioneering drummer Max Roach on the hard bop classic, Study In Brown (1955). November will spotlight Decca Records with the iconic Peggy Lee's first album, Black Coffee (1956), and composer George Russell's important New York, N.Y. (1959) performed by an all-star orchestra that includes Bill Evans, John Coltrane, Art Farmer and Milt Hinton, among others. All titles and exact release dates are listed below. Additional titles will be announced as the series progresses. "We are excited to launch our Acoustic Sounds series," said Bruce Resnikoff, President & CEO of UMe. "Verve and UMe have one of the richest jazz catalogs ever recorded and our goal is to give vinyl and music lovers the best possible versions of classic albums. The Acoustic Sounds series is designed to appeal to today's most discriminating fans, and those discovering this treasured legacy for the first time, looking for the very finest in both artistic content and audio quality." "We're very honored to have Verve and UME partnering with us to create what we believe will be the highest quality reissues of some of the world's greatest jazz albums. Each step in our production process — from title selection to mastering, pressing and packaging — is designed to meet the highest standards, and we want everyone who hears these albums to feel the love and hard work we put into everything we do," Kassem said. "We've long had a great relationship with UME, pressing classic titles at our Quality Record Pressings from many of their highest-profile artists. We look forward to strengthening that partnership even further with these reissues from Verve, home of the world's largest jazz catalog." Getz/Gilberto is not only a marvelous album, but one which had a profound influence upon the face of jazz and American popular music. This stunning 1964 collaboration between Stan Getz, one of the most popular and respected tenor saxophonists of the era, and the remarkable Brazilian guitarist João Gilberto, launched the bossa nova craze and the career of João's wife Astrud Gilberto with the hugely popular and iconic hit song, "The Girl from Ipanema (Garota de Ipanema)." Even more impactful, it introduced the famed Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Jobim to the English-speaking musical world. In addition to playing piano on the album, Jobim also composed six of the eight compositions, including two of his most popular masterpieces, "Desafinado" and "Corcovado," along with the aforementioned "Garota de Ipanema." While Getz had embraced the music of Brazil prior to this with two outstanding Verve albums — Jazz Samba and Big Band Bossa Nova — Getz/Gilberto, with multiple Grammy Awards and a permanent place on various Best Albums of All-time lists is the album that launched a revolution. Regardless of that, the collaborative blending of Getz's fluid, muscular virtuosity and João's impeccable acoustic guitar stylings and captivating vocals, Astrud's enchanting almost-whispered singing on two tracks, all backed by Jobim's minimalist subtlety on piano and the flawless support of Sebãstio Neto and Milton Banana on bass and drums, make this an utterly momentous musical experience regardless of its lofty place in musical history. Now these albums and many more will be heard better than ever in the exciting new audiophile Acoustic Sounds series.

    Add to cart