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An Experiment with Platter Mats- the MyMat

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...]

In Brief:

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...]

Stylus Life- StylusTimer

Stylus Life- StylusTimer Stylus life is a recurring question in audio discussions. Some serious attention was devoted to the subject here, in Mike Bodell’s “The Finish Line for Your Phono Stylus.” That article examined the issue from a number of perspectives, including early studies, claims by cartridge manufacturers and real-life experiences by users. It also generated a long, interesting thread on the Steve Hoffman forum that is worthwhile to read. The Hoffman thread also generated an experiment by Ray Parkhurst who documented the wear of a new stylus under certain controlled conditions, which included a microscopic examination of the stylus at various time intervals over long hours of repeated play. See https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/the-finish-line-for-your-phono-cartridge-stylus-wear-by-mike-bodell.842572/#post-21292730.   Whether you lean toward more optimistic … [Read More...]

Incoming! (More Interesting Records)

Incoming! (More Interesting Records)  An "interesting record" to me offers something unexpected, whether it is a fresh take on a recognized genre, or something that opens a new way of experiencing instruments in combination. It does not have to be "strange" or challenging to listen to; in fact, I'm a sucker for a good melodic hook and enjoy technical prowess as much as anybody, but there has got to be something "more"-- an intangible that differentiates the record from the millions of others to which we all have access.   As mentioned in a recent editorial, a lot of records come in and not all get written up. It’s not an editorial decision or any reflection of the music or sonics; I only have so much time, and I tend not to write short blurbs, but longer (some may say ‘too long’) reviews. My “incoming” piles continue to grow as I publish. This series of short capsules is meant to … [Read More...]

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