An Experiment with Platter Mats- the MyMat Introduction Until I performed some recent experiments with a product called the MyMat, offered by a long-time member of the Audiogon community, I rarely thought about changing out platter mats. I’ve owned … [Read More...]

Fuzzy Duck- self titled (Be With Reissue)
Fuzzy Duck- self titled (Be With Reissue) Fuzzy Duck’s eponymous album is relatively obscure- it didn’t sell much at the time of release, with a limited pressing run and the group disbanded. But instead of fading into complete obscurity, the album … [Read More...]

Woody Shaw- Blackstone Legacy
Woody Shaw- Blackstone Legacy Woody Shaw’s Blackstone Legacy, his first as a featured artist released in 1971, may be one of his best. Shaw had a steady career as a sideman, working with some of the … [Read More...]

Charles Tolliver-Connect
Charles Tolliver-Connect Charles Tolliver has just released a new album—Connect. Tolliver is a gifted composer, instrumentalist, producer and co-founder of the legendary Strata-East label. Unlike … [Read More...]

Gary Bartz and Maisha-Direct to Disc
Gary Bartz and Maisha-Direct to Disc Gary Bartz and Maisha eloquently answer the question about the direction of modern jazz today. Bartz is a heavyweight player whose credentials take us back to the … [Read More...]

Collocutor-Continuation
Collocutor-Continuation Collocutor’s Continuation is a modern jazz album in the same sense that King Crimson is a “rock group”—the elements are there but it’s put together in a way that makes the … [Read More...]

Nate Morgan-Retribution, Reparation
Nate Morgan- Retribution, Reparation Nate Morgan’s Retribution, Reparation follows his Journey Into Nigritia (covered here) and should be regarded in some ways a part of a continuum—Morgan was … [Read More...]

Pharoah Sanders Live at the East
Pharoah Sanders Live at the East Pharoah Sanders Live at the East was released after Sanders had already come into his own with the album Karma, released on Impulse in 1969. Sanders was well … [Read More...]

Azar Lawrence- Prayer for My Ancestors
Azar Lawrence- Prayer for My Ancestors Azar Lawrence, whose work as a sideman (including with McCoy Tyner after Coltrane’s death) is well recognized, has been enjoying a recent resurgence -two of his … [Read More...]

Two Rarities Reissued- Far Out and Stonewall
Two Rarities Reissued- Far Out and Stonewall You’ll be forgiven if neither of these albums-- Far Out and Stonewall-- was on your "pre-buy" list; both are somewhat obscure and highly collectible for … [Read More...]

Precision Aqueous Cleaning of Vinyl Records
Precision Aqueous Cleaning of Vinyl Records By Neil Antin Precision Aqueous Cleaning of Vinyl Records by Neil Antin applies processes and methodologies developed by the U.S. Navy for precision cleaning of critical systems—such as oxygen systems on submarines—to the much more prosaic task of cleaning vinyl LPs. Mr. Antin’s work, documented in the paper attached here as a download, is not presented as some extraordinary way to clean an LP that will render all other cleaning methods obsolete; to the contrary, Neil details a very basic, economical manual cleaning process and takes us through each step of his record cleaning process with the sort of detail and rigor usually associated with mil-spec technical manuals. Much of what is packed into the more than 80 pages of this paper explains the “why” of cleaning methods, a lot of it familiar, some of it not. Neil explains mostly in lay terms what is occurring during each step to the materials, the chemistry and how those affect the results. One benefit of applying a “mil-spec” mentality to the record cleaning process is that we can largely eliminate the anecdotal or subjective; instead, the methods outlined by Mr. Antin are anchored in previously proven methods that are repeatable. Neil then challenges us with two existential questions: “What is clean?” and “When is a record clean?” I was not familiar with Naval Systems Sea Command (“NAVSEA”) where Neil worked for more than three decades, but it is the organization responsible for procuring, engineering, maintaining and supporting the entire US naval fleet. That’s not just a lot of hardware. The ships and submarines are designed to last for 30+ years and the systems involved are truly “critical”: national security is involved and human lives depend on complex devices operating under extreme conditions. Cleaning and maintaining such systems to deliver consistently reliable performance in these conditions involves a level of quality and safety … [Read More...]

Worldwide List of Phono Cartridge Retippers and Rebuilders
Worldwide List of Phono Cartridge Retippers and Rebuilders Compiled By Rob (with an introduction by Bill Hart) In connection with the publication of Mike Bodell’s study on stylus wear, I thought readers might find value in the attached list of phono cartridge retippers and rebuilders. These folks can repair most phono cartridges and bring them back to life. I do think it makes sense to consult the original cartridge manufacturer first for advice on stylus life and options for inspection.This may prove particularly important if there is any possible warranty coverage, since once a cartridge has been modified or retipped by a third party, the original manufacturer may be unwilling to perform any work on it, whether or not under warranty. Apart from the original cartridge manufacturer, there are many third-party resources for cartridge repair and retipping if you choose not to have the manufacturer do so or do not have a local dealer who is qualified to perform such an inspection. The list which follows was compiled by my friend Rob, a long-time audiophile with a considerable amount of experience buying, using and enjoying some of the great hi-fi gear made over the decades. Rob contributed this list to a forum I frequent and allowed me to reprint it here.[1] Among the questions you might consider, apart from location, turn-around time and expertise, are whether the shop will do an inspection to determine whether a stylus needs to be replaced (including an estimate of time for inspection alone) and whether they are capable of replacing the stylus without replacing the cantilever. Motor assembly and suspension work may also be within their domain but I’d check first. There may be others and readers are welcome to add them via comments (and I’ll try to update the list accordingly). My thanks to Rob, who is always gracious and ever so knowledgeable. Here’s the “list”: Expert Stylus Repair (Wyndham Hodgson) are UK … [Read More...]