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What’s Happenin’ Now

  Sorry I've been absent. I've done some interesting research into music commissioned for the earliest days of television, and just resumed teaching again. I'm also thinking of going back to school to learn archival  practices and preservation among … [Read More...]

Professional record studio showing table, systems, lights

GEARBOX RECORDS- The Future of Analog? INTERVIEW with Darrel Sheinman

Those of us who have been spinning records for a while have had an interesting ride in the last few decades: first was the Death of Vinyl™ as record stores cleared out LP inventory to be replaced with racks of CDs. Many of us learned more about older … [Read More...]

Lady Blackbird- Black Acid Soul

Lady Blackbird- Black Acid Soul  Lady Blackbird’s Black Acid Soul does not fit neatly into any one genre. Yes, the artist (real name: Marley Munroe out of Los Angeles) chose a famous Nina Simone song … [Read More...]

Roots- (Barney Rachabane)

Roots- (Barney Rachabane)   Roots self-titled album, featuring Barney Rachabane, is somewhat obscure here in the States despite the international recognition accorded Mr. Rachabane for his work with … [Read More...]

Lou Bond- self-titled

Lou Bond- self-titled  Lou Bond is an under the radar soul man whose self- titled album is a mixture of deep period soul with tinges of pop, folk and more than a few surprise covers—not exactly a … [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...]

Precision Aqueous Cleaning of Vinyl Records-3rd Edition

The first edition of Precision Aqueous Cleaning of Vinyl Records appeared in The Vinyl Press in May 2020. It was subsequently revised by its author, Neil Antin, in March 2021 to reflect Neil’s experience in working with a range of users all over the world, who were applying his methodologies and formulas to particular situations. Apart from the fact that some of the basic chemistry available in the States was not readily available in other countries, there were myriad challenges presented by users who employed manual cleaning or the use of record cleaning machines, both vacuum and ultrasonic. Neil addressed these user questions in over 1,000 posts on various audio fora -- answering questions about chemical interactions, materials compatibility, mitigation of static, (rinse) water purity and zeroing in the multitude of variables to achieve best results for particular users.   The variety of different challenges presented by users led Neil to assemble what amounts to a definitive version of Precision Aqueous Cleaning of Vinyl Records. This, the 3rd Edition, takes account of different types of chemistry available in different parts of the world, adds an acid wash step that can dramatically improve results for those who are not using ultrasonic cleaning as part of their regimen (hint: this new step helps  remove the small particulate matter than ultrasonic cleaning is so effective in removing), takes account of the commercial demise of The Vinyl Stack™ product and expands on various filtration methods to minimize contamination from the ultrasonic bath. The section on ultrasonic cleaning alone has expanded by 14 pages and now even addresses cooling for those that wish to raise their ultrasonic cleaning process to near full-throttle factory throughput. For ease of reference, Neil has highlighted all new sections of the text in this 3rd Edition so readers can immediately see what has been added, compared to previous editions. What … [Read More...]

Clifford Jordan- Glass Bead Games Shoot-Out

Clifford Jordan- Glass Bead Games Shoot-Out  By Ken Golden I’ve been asked by Fearless Leader to do a “shoot out” comparison between an original Strata-East pressing of Clifford Jordan Quartet “Glass Bead Games” (SES 19737/8) and the recent reissue from Pure Pleasure Records out of the UK. Some brief background – Strata-East Records was co-founded by Charles Tolliver and Stanley Cowell.  The name was taken in tribute to the Detroit based Strata Records label.  The exclusive focus of the label was black jazz musicians.  The range of music touched on post-bop, hard bop, modal, and free jazz – typically embedded with a strong ethnic/urban flavor.  Exploration of the artists’ African heritage is a common theme.  The label has become known as the Godhead of the so-called “spiritual jazz” movement.  It wasn’t called that back in the 70s but a look in the rear-view mirror by jazz collectors and musical historians typically points to Strata-East.  Of course, there were many other labels that fit the sub-genre but that’s a story for another day. Many Strata-East albums were recorded at Minot Sound Studio in White Plains, NY.  Strata-East recordings ranged from borderline unlistenable (Music Inc. “Live At Slugs’”) to exceptional (The Heath Brothers “Marchin’ On”).  Mostly they fell right in the middle of the pack, meaning professional well recorded albums that would not deter from the listening experience.  The recordings done at Minot fit right here. As a reissue label, Pure Pleasure does good solid work. However, something seems to have changed over the years. It is not clear what source material they are relying on for these releases.  In fact the label seems to go out of the way to cloud the issue.  They nonetheless caught lightning in a bottle with their reissues of the Strata East catalogue.  With prices of original pressings spiraling out of sight, it’s no wonder.  Pure Pleasure reissues are pressed at Pallas and use Ray Staff for mastering.  You are going to get the … [Read More...]

In Brief:

There Is No “Magic Bullet” in Hi-Fi

There Is No “Magic Bullet” in Hi-Fi No Magic Solutions I’ve spent some time on the audio chat fora over the years. Many popular threads these days are devoted to cheap improvements that can be made using audiophile “tweaks” or repurposed non-audiophile products. These can be applied to isolate gear, enhance the signals or connections or otherwise address some perceived problem that, once solved, offers to raise the level of music reproduction. It’s like a cheap solution to upgrade your system: from audiophile fuses, special wires (beyond simply having a high-quality interconnect, speaker wire or power cable) and other tweaks, to contact fluids and other things that you can attach to power sources, equipment, or place in the room (bowls, various harmonizers or active resonators, noise harvesters, etc.) This is apart from room treatment, which is sui generis; that is, every situation is … [Read More...]

Milt Ward Reissue-release date May 6, 2022

Milt Ward Reissue-release date May 6, 2022  Andreas Vingaard, of Frederiksberg Records, dropped me a note that the Milt Ward & Virgo Spectrum record about which much has been written here will be available on vinyl beginning on May 9, 2022. However, several promo emails today, Friday, May 6, 2022 say the record is available NOW via Bandcamp (see link below). The reissue was done with the participation of Milt Ward’s family and includes comprehensive notes in a booklet. Given the price of original pressings, this should be worthwhile even if not taken from the master tape. I plan to get a copy and we’ll do a shoot-out with my “OG” pressing. I’m sure some of you are willing to brook a little sonic compromise to get access to an otherwise very hard to find, expensive spiritual jazz rarity. At the time of this writing there is one copy on Discogs in NM condition for media for over … [Read More...]

Milt Ward Virgo Reissue Coming from Frederiksberg

Although I don't have all the details yet, I have learned that Frederiksberg Records, a small, eclectic label from New York, is in the process of reissuing the hard to find (and even harder to pay for) jazz obscurity, Milt Ward and Virgo Spectrum. You can find out more by keeping tabs on Frederiksberg's Bandcamp page, https://frederiksbergrecords.bandcamp.com   I'm told there is a bootleg out there so be careful. Frederiksberg is doing this project with the participation of the family of Milt Ward, which is to be applauded. Hopefully, this will give more access to a great jazz record at a reasonable price. The Roots album reissue from Frederiksberg (which is sold out on vinyl on the Frederiksberg Records bandcamp site) still appears to be available through some online retailers as a pre-order, so that's another one to jump on now if you can find it-- the original is extremely pricey and … [Read More...]

Clem Snide- Forever Just Beyond

Clem Snide- Forever Just Beyond With a name derived from a character in the same literary work as the band name so famously identified with the Walter Becker-Donald Fagen duo, Clem Snide has an extensive discography, typically cataloged as “alt country.” This latest release is the work of one of its founding members, Eef Barzelay, who was responsible for much of the songwriting and singing. According to his bio, Barzelay suffered some serious bumps in the road during the last decade, including a failing marriage and financial ruin. At the same time, he learned that Scott Avett was a fan and they found inspiration in each other, leading to this album- a collaboration of artistry where Avett and Barzelay share some writing credits and Avett produces. The result is a fresh, upbeat set of tunes that are appealing in their simplicity and refreshing in their sincerity. The band is first tier … [Read More...]

Muriel Grossmann- Reverence

Muriel Grossmann- Reverence Muriel Grossmann continues her quest for musical ascension on Reverence, which was released on vinyl in early December, 2019 on the RR Gems label as a 2 LP set. The compositions are Grossmann’s, and the band is much the same as the group of seasoned musicians with whom she has worked for some time (and detailed in the review of her Golden Rule), but for one notable exception: the addition of a keyboard player who brings that rich, woody Hammond B-3 sound to a series of compositions devoted to Africa. In some ways, Ms. Grossmann’s exploration of the roots of jazz deliberately eschews any superficial attempt to make African music. Instead, she draws inspiration from its influences, which are wide ranging and deep—you can hear rhythm and blues sounds mixed with more traditional African instrumentation and polyrhythms and come away with something that is both … [Read More...]

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