2-06-2006 Montepilot
I just acquired my first set of tube monoblock amplifiers from Israel Bloom at Coincident and a Manley Shrimp linestage. It is all beautifully sitting in place like someone all dressed up with nowhere to go. I am still waiting for some long enough inteconnect I ordered to finalize the connections. So for now it all sits in silence. Until the interconnect arrives my stack of vinyl is anxiously waiting in the wings for me to relish and hopefully contribute to these threads. This entire segment has been thoroughly enjoyable reading. I send my warmest regards to all of you.
Fellow audiophile,
montepilot |
montepilot, 2-07-2006
Thanks Rushton,
I have enjoyed all of your postings. I am now on the hunt for the Tallis Scholars performance of the Allegri Miserere and the Bach Peasant and Coffee Cantatas you have written about. After some intense internet searching I have come up with zilch. Anyway the cables arrived today. After a proper burn-in period of the new equipment I will be ready for some serious auditioning.
I am currently using a VPI basic scout with no upgrades and have followed slipknot1's upgrading strategy on his VPI with great interest. I may wish to tap into some of his experience later as I seek to improve my phono performance.
Kind regards to all,
|
Rushton, Thanks for the record finder tips.
R f Sales: I'm discovering the painful break-in process myself. No getting to the promised land without going through the wilderness! |
Since my wife Rhonda is away for the weekend I'm dipping into my 20th century composers records this evening and through the weekend. This Friday evening I begin with the Gerhard Concerto for Orchestra (Argo ZRG 553) Rich palette of diverse percussion instruments w/harp & strings. Sumptuous.
Edgar Varese, Arcana and Ionisation. Mehta. Decca SXL 6550 A sonic delight. In regard to "Ionization" the liner notes say: "...the piece seems to evoke the sounds and harsh reality of city life, in contrast to the sounds of nature." Varese uses sirens that sound off at various times during the performance. I can relate to this music since moving from the quieter Bay Area in California to the city of Boston a few years ago.
Jay McShann, Just A Lucky So And So, Sackville reords. Joyful blues, what more can I say. Needed this to settle my mind after an initial foray in Bartok's Bluebeards Castle. After Judith goes through the first door to discover Bluebeards previous widow, I could'nt handle anymore 20th century composers in one sitting. Will have to resume later. BTW the recording is with Solti conducting the LPO. Decca SET 630. My copy is a bit beaten up and I am looking for a replacement. When I am up to it I want to compare it with a Hungaroton recording with Janos Ferencsik I acquired more than 20 years ago when I was first introduced to this work. Although it is a digital LP I remember it being quite vivid in my memory.
Have a great weekend all of you,
Kind regards,
|
R_f I understand your disappointment in not being able to acquire a record that has so many high recommendations. However to help you regain heart I recommend pursuing a number of the recordings on Harmonia Mundi that Rushton has written about over the course of these post. Many show up frequently on ebay and in used record stores. He occasionally mentions recordings on that label by the Clemencic Consort and his evaluations of those disk are spot on. I think you will find that series quite enjoyable from both a musical and audiophile perspective.
Rene Clemencic specializes in playing various flutes and recorder some quite old and unusual he being a collector of this instrument. The Clemencic Consort, of which he is founder and director, performs music of the medieval, Renaissance and baroque periods on authentic instruments. The cover of HM 497 "De Hongrie Et De Transylvanie" by the Clemencic Consert has a picture of some unusual looking instruments the musicians are playing. Incidentally this is a record Rushton had on his turntable in an earlier post no too long ago.
If you browse back through some of Rushton's post you will see various selections from this label. I would begin pursuing them now as I feel they still show up regularly enough on ebay to acquire, however I don't think many of the more popular from this series will continue to be so easy to find.
Regards, |
Rushton, My sympathy on your mishap. It has happened to me too. It was a number of years ago when I could hardly afford it, having squeezed all the juice out of my finances to purchase it. I had a Sota turntable with MMT arm and an Audioquest 404B cartridge. I loved that cartridge. The synergy with everything else was just right. I remember shouting something a little more severe to myself than 'BONEHEAD". When I attempted to replace it, it was no longer made having been replaced with another model. The newer model never measured up to my beloved 404B. Your experience just brought back this long buried painful memory. It sounds like you are still able to replace your cartridge. That's a good thing. In the end its still only money. As ancient King Solomon put it "there is nothing better for a man than to rejoice and to eat and drink and see good for all the hard work which the Lord has given him to do." The love of music and having the audio tools to bring this pleasure to life is costly but eminently rewarding.
BTW I don't recall ever seeing in any of your past post that you own a CD player. Do you have one as a backup?
Also I hear that on the Klimo label there is an all Harpsichord album. Do you have it? If so is listening to this harpsichord only record endurable? This is one instrument it is not usually easy for me to sit through. I've only forced myself to endure it when listening to my favorite flute player Jean Pierre Rampal when he performs duets with Robert Veyron Lacroix on harpsichord.
Kind regards, |
Slipknot1
Thank you for the recommendation. Northeastern University is not far from me here in Boston. There is a local music store here, Rayburn's, that sells and repairs intstruments for the Boston Symphony and many famous jazz musicians who pass through. They also carry Northeastern's catalog of CD's. I am going to see if they can assist me in locating the Boismortier on vinyl. A long shot I know but I will still try.
Regards, |
Rushton, I thought in a previous thread you mentioned listening to Miss Julie, the 2 Act Opera on Lyrita. I cannot find the thread. If indeed you have listened to this recording would you mind giving a synopsis. Since I still have not found the Allegri Miserere on CFP I am looking for a reference opera recording that can be used as an audiophile tool to gauge how the system is able to capture performers as they move about the stage. I have an opportunity to purchase the Lyrita, but since my want list is much longer than my pocketbook I have to use some discretion. As always thanks for sharing your extensive experience with this vinyl madness we are addicted to.
Kind regards, |
Slipknot1, Thanks much for the suggestion. BTW have you recieved your new turntable yet? I am looking forward to hearing your impressions on previously familiar recordings with the new rig.
Tonight I am listening to Ornette Coleman & Charlie Haden duets, album is Soapsuds, Soapsuds on the Artist House Label. Ornette's sax is vivid with Haden's thumping acoustic bass.
Clark Terry & Max Roach, Eighty Eights label, excellently recorded plus performances by two jazz giants. Acoustic sounds has limited quantities on vinyl. A must have. |
Rushton,found the Miss Julie thread and the link to the site describing the play which the music is based on. You said the recording brought the performers into the room, I guess that is a good enough recommendation.
Regards, |
Tarentule-Tarentelle
Atrium Musicae de Madrid
Gregorio Paniagua
Helped to restore my sanity after being caught in the Jet Blue airline fiasco trying to get home from vacation this past weekend. This ancient recording reminded me that there is life beyond jet planes, computers, cell phones and the fast pace of life.
If you are familiar with this recording you know it is very detailed and vivid. My recent acquisition of Zu Druid speakers and Coincident Frankenstein monoblocks improved my listening experience by an order of magnitude.
Regards to all |
Zaikesman,
Interesting to hear of the Roland Kirk all flute recording I was not aware of it. I am going to look for it. My favorite R.K. album is Kirkatron a Warner Bros. LP.
Regards, |
Thanks very much for the recommendations. Time to pull out the checkbook again! |
Rushton,
Thank you for responding. |
Arturo Delmoni: Songs My Mother Taught Me
Bill Evans Quintessence Analogue Productions 45 rpm, esp. Sweet Dulcinea
Prokofiev: Love For Three Oranges Suite, Classic Records 45 series.
Has anyone heard the Buck Clayton album "How Hi the Fi" on Pure Pleasure Records? I have heard the performance is outstanding. What about the sonics?
Thanks, |
I started at the very beginning of this thread to review all the entries made over past couple of years and came across some excellent selections. One entry was Rushton's recommendation of IL Cornetto. This generated great interest at the time, only to find out that slipknot had probably purchased the last copy at Elusive disc. Well here is some good news. Just for the heck of it I went to Elusive disc online site and purchased a copy today. They currently have it in stock. Hope you acquire a copy if you came up empty handed many months ago.
Another entry was 2 albums by Doc Watson. Home Again & Southbound. Since my interest is largely jazz, classical and some rock my knowledge of folk music is extremely limited. I would appreciate any input on these two records musically & sonically, as I am sure copies will not last indefinitely.
Most recent listening: Stravinsky's Pulcinella on Argo
Gil Evans: Out of the cool. Speaker's corner impulse reissue. |
Ravel, Rapsodie Espagnole-Paray/Detroit Symphony (Speakers Corner 45 rpm) After several months I finally opened to listen tonight. WOW WEE! The Habanera & Feria movements will knock your socks off! The reason it took so long to open this record is that I've owned the CD version when it first came out years ago and it always bored me. I could never listen through the entire piece. Now I know it was the CD recording, not the music. Highly recommended in Vinyl format especially the 45 rpm version.
Grieg: "Peer Gynt" Oivin Fjeldstad/London Sym. Decca (Speakers Corner Reissue)
Sonny Rollins: "Our Man In Jazz"-Classic Records Reissue. Listened to side one, Oleo,25 minutes long. Vivid live Jazz recording. Great improvisation.
It is so gratifying when good music & sound come together to put a warm satisfying smile on your face.
I recommend opening new records that you intend to keep for personal listening soon after purchase for inspection. I recently ordered the Great Jazz Reunion with Armstrong & Ellington. I rarely open records to play when I first receive them because of time constraints. Fortunately in this case I did. The record looked like it had been stepped on with golf shoes. I cannot imagine how this record could have ever been put into a sleeve and shipped. I did return it to Acoustic Sounds for a replacement. However what would have happened if I kept it unopened as long as the Mercury record listed above? What if it had gone out of print in the meantime? Buyer beware! |
Rushton, My turntable is no where near the status of your Walker however the 45 rpm Ravel, "Rapsodie Espagnole" in my system is every bit as dynamic and detailed as the Prokofiev,Scythian Suite 45 rpm of which I have. I would not be surprised if you found it the equal of Stravinsky/Firebird 45 rpm. Unfortunately I dallied too long in purchasing the 45rpm version of Firebird. If it shows up somewhere the price will no doubt be out of my reach. However I do have the 200g version and am happy to at least have this format.
I have just finish paying dearly for a couple of records that nearly doubled in price because there were only a few copies left in stock.
Today I just heeded some earlier advice to obtain Starker's Cello Suites/Mercury Speakers Corner before it goes out of print. Acoutic Sounds has it back ordered and some of the other outlets are out of stock. Fortunately Music Direct had it at list price so I did not delay any longer and purchased it today.
In a few years I think we will not regret the financial sacrifice of obtaining these remarkable reissues. I remember years ago when Sid Marks of the Absolute sound did his column on Mercury Living Presence and RCA Shaded Dogs how difficult it was to find clean first issue copies. And if you did find them the prices at least for me was prohibitive. To have them reissed with original cover art and superior vinyl is an analog lovers dream. |
Follow up to Ravel:"Rapsodie Espanol" 45 rpm. This set does not include Ibert's: "Escales" aka "Ports of Call" which is on the 33 rpm version. |
Can anyone offer input on the RCA Heifitz recordings on Classic records? I know the performances are excellent. Did Classic do a good job of remastering these performances?
Thanks |
Mozart, "Concerto for Bassoon"-Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra, Bernard Garfield, Bassoon. Columbia Masterworks Mono recording.
Offenbach, "Gaite Parisienne"-Fiedler, Boston Pops RCA 45 rpm & Chesky 180g pressing. I wanted to hear how the 45 rpm pressing compared to the Chesky.
Arthur Salvatore had this to say comparing the Chesky to the RCA 33 rpm: "The Chesky has the strong points of both and then some. It is even more natural than the original and has all the desirable qualities of the Classic; enhanced immediacy, lower distortion, superior dynamics and frequency extremes etc., while still avoiding its somewhat dry and "hi-fi" sound. The Classic is cut a few dB louder and has the real original cover; in stunning high gloss color no less. I suppose you can't have everything."
I am inclined to give a very slight edge to the Classic RCA 45rpm. Although it is a tough call. |
Midnight Sugar-TBM Supercut label. A swinging Japanese trio playing jazz & blues. Excellently recorded.
Are there any "high" recommendations for Dave
Brubeck's "Time Out" 45 rpm?
Thanks again |
Two different performances of Berlioz, Symphonie Fantastic.
One with Massimo Freccia, conducting The Royal Philharmonic on Chesky.
The other with Thomas Beecham conducting the French National Radio Orchestra on HMV Concert Classics. I love both performances with the Chesky having the edge in sonics.
Gil Evans, Out of The Cool. Classic Records Impulse Reissue. Especially La Nevada. Highly recommended.
Happy to hear of Rushton's comments on the Enigma Variations. I recently purchased this record but have not yet heard it. I first heard this record on the original shaded dog label in a collectors shop more than 10 years ago. He was asking $150.00 for the record which was way out of my range at the time. I was pleasantly surprised to see it reissued by Classic Records. I hope the "bright & hard" sound Rushton experienced does not overshadow my memories of the excellent original. |
Slipknot1, do you own or had an opportunity to hear your above mentioned Symphonie Fantastique, Argenta reissue on Decca by Speakers Corner? If so I am interested in your appraisal.
Regards, |
Great to be back. Finally obtained a new front end rig. Currently breaking in a new cartridge. This recent setup did not get in the way of a new record I recieved today.
Thorens 125th Anniversary 3 record set. First of all let me say the packaging of this set is phenomenal. A beautiful tri fold cover that when fully open reveals excellent color photographs of Blue Heaven Studios and the birthplace & photograph of Hermann Thorens.
This evening I played only one side which contains all blues selections. The recorded quality of the music and selection of songs were top notch. For me listening to this one side made me forget about audio and just revel in the music. Looking forward to hearing the other sides over the next couple of days. I want to savor this delectable treat. Highly recommended. |
Whew!!! Three Guitar Virtuoso's. Al Dimeloa, John McLaughlin & Paco Delucia.
"Friday Night In San Francisco" Philips Records. Speakers Corner Reissue. Stellar recording musically and sonically. Want to test the speed of your system? This is the tool. Fun listening how DeLucia & Dimeola transition from playing sketches of Pink Panther theme and sliding right into a funky blues.
Thorens 125th Anniversary Album. Tonight side 5 the theme is Jazz. Excellent. Again recommended as I indicated above. |
The Miyajima Mono cartridge has breathed new life into my jazz mono recordings. This evenings fare:
Cookin' The Miles Davis Quintet. My second issue blue label prestige outplays the Analog Productions reissue. 50's jazz at its best.
June Christy, Something Cool. Life like vocals. Listen to her sing the title track Something Cool and I Should Care. A nice Ella counterpart. Capitol records reissue by Cisco.
Louis Armstrong plays W.C. Handy. Both joyful and uplifting even after listening to the worlds woes from the Jim Lehrer news hour. Louis sings and plays his heart out. Highly recommended.
Sarah Vaughan, Emarcy records, Speakers Corner reissue. Up front stunning recording. All star lineup with Clifford Brown, Herbie Mann, Roy Haynes and others. Listening to Sarah sing Lullaby in Birdland and April in Paris will steal your heart.
This renaissance in jazz and classical vinyl is an uncommon pleasure of life. |
