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Post by Spencer on Oct 14, 2015 21:50:35 GMT
As you know, I'm no great fan of hard bop and all my favourite BN records are the least hard bop ones. That's why i like RIGHT NOW so much. McLean is branching out -- effortlessly, genuinely, pushing the boundaries...but free of the mannerisms of freedom he sometimes used at earlier times when he was finding the straitjacket of hard bop too confining... Yes, I do recall you mentioning disapproval with some of the formulaic nature of hard bop. Right Now turned out fine as pushing the boundaries. Jackie and his collaborators knew just how far to push and the right approach to take. |
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Post by gregorythefish on Oct 15, 2015 16:23:10 GMT
as a fan of free jazz myself, i must say i think my own love for hard bop is just a matter of finally understanding it through the lens of free jazz, retrospectively. i was into albert ayler and sun ra long before horace silver and donald byrd, for example. but now i love it, i think because i understand a little better what exactly causes hard bop to ebb and flow.
i would wager that when i have more time at home with my records for longer periods of time, the freer stuff will start to be a more substantial presence in my listening again.
i usually only listen to two or three records at a time, if that, but given a whole afternoon, i might play ten to fifteen if there is time. and then i will listen to freer stuff. i don't know why. but i really like the expediency of most hard bop, so maybe that's related.
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Post by Spencer on Oct 16, 2015 4:16:33 GMT
as a fan of free jazz myself, i must say i think my own love for hard bop is just a matter of finally understanding it through the lens of free jazz, retrospectively. i was into albert ayler and sun ra long before horace silver and donald byrd, for example. but now i love it, i think because i understand a little better what exactly causes hard bop to ebb and flow. i would wager that when i have more time at home with my records for longer periods of time, the freer stuff will start to be a more substantial presence in my listening again. i usually only listen to two or three records at a time, if that, but given a whole afternoon, i might play ten to fifteen if there is time. and then i will listen to freer stuff. i don't know why. but i really like the expediency of most hard bop, so maybe that's related. For me it's the groovy swing of hard bop that I most enjoy. I'm a strong believer in the Ellington adage that "It don't mean a thing if it don't got that swing". Now on the other hand I've learnt that some of the best Avant Garde/Free Jazz records can swing as well; certainly Jackie McLean's Right Now is a swinger. |
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Post by alunsevern on Oct 16, 2015 8:54:10 GMT
Greg, I share that approach to some extent. If time is limited and I'm looking for a quick fix of jazz then it will be something the swings. But with more time I'm likely to play something that requires a longer and more meditative listen -- Evan Parker, the von Schlippenbach trio, Ornette, Cecil Taylor, Irene Schweitzer... I think free and avant-garde jazz requires a longer, perhaps more concentrated listen -- you have to enter into the sound-world it offers, suspend certain expectations (and perhaps engage others).
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Post by Spencer on Oct 16, 2015 22:21:22 GMT
Greg, I share that approach to some extent. If time is limited and I'm looking for a quick fix of jazz then it will be something the swings. But with more time I'm likely to play something that requires a longer and more meditative listen -- Evan Parker, the von Schlippenbach trio, Ornette, Cecil Taylor, Irene Schweitzer... I think free and avant-garde jazz requires a longer, perhaps more concentrated listen -- you have to enter into the sound-world it offers, suspend certain expectations (and perhaps engage others). Could not agree more, Alun. |
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Post by gregorythefish on Oct 16, 2015 22:39:01 GMT
i totally agree alun. well-put!
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Post by Spencer on Oct 23, 2015 14:58:23 GMT
I received my subscription copies of Wayne Shorter Speak No Evil and Freddie Hubbard Hub-tones yesterday afternoon from Music Matters. I've never made a secret of my affection for Music Matters the record label and the work they do and this two recent reissues continues to reaffirm my faith in the series. SPEAK NO EVIL: As many of you already know Music Matters previously reissued Speak No Evil as part of their 45rpm BN series. That 45rpm version though nice sounding was nevertheless a bit lacking in the bass department. The how or what reason for that bass deficiency is irrelevant here, suffice it to say that Robert Hutton on his music blog discussed the issue to some length and you could look it up over there if you are so inclined. The point here is on that 45rpm 1/5 of the instruments recorded on that album appeared buried in the background. With the 33rpm the largely absent bass has been recovered and has now taken it's rightful place among the rest of the instrumentations. There is life-like articulation to Ron Carter's bass over all, whereas on the 45rpm it sounded two dimensional. But the improvements don't end there, by improving the bass, Music Matters has also improved the rest of the record. Wayne Shorter's slashing diagonal attack on the horn is more vivid, Elvin Jones' drum kit leaps out of the speakers. I don't ever remember enjoying the opening track "Witch Hunt" this much on the 45rpm. Because hindsight is 20/20, Music Matters has applied some lessons learned from its 45rpm reissue of this title to devastatingly good effect on the 33rpm do-over, and who can really argue with this kind of result. Hub-tones:This record is unjustly underrated by listeners. I can't recall the last time anyone brought up Hub-tones with regards to Freddie Hubbard. Part of the reason for this neglect I feel is cause this record is an atypical album for Hubbard. I don't know the logic that led Music Matters to put this album out with Wayne Shorter's Speak No Evil but it makes sense to me. There is a yin and yang to this pairing. Hub-tones is in what you'd expect from Hubbard if he were making a Wayne Shorter album and vice versa. You need look no further than the eastern tinged "Prophet Jennings" to spot Shorter's influence on this record. Much of the eerie quality on this umami drenched Jazz song is in no small part due to James Spaulding's meditative flute work. It manages to convey the Orient while sounding fleetingly Jazzy. For me though the centerpiece of the of record is the lengthy "Lament For Booker", one of Hubbard's four originals on the album. "Lament For Booker" is Hubbard's sweet and sour tribute to the passing of Booker Little. There is a great deal of sensitivity and emotions in the playing of everyone on this tune. The solos are poignant and heartfelt. Safe to say this is one of the sweetest expression of sorrow you will ever hear on a record. Makes all the sense in the world that afterward the record will conclude with the uptempo bluesy swinger, "For Spee's Sake". Yes, this might be an underrated record but the music is first class. The pressing is exemplary and since I had the AP 45rpm on hand I could not resist a comparison. I came away with a few impressions on both pressings, the MM is transparent and revealing while the AP 45rpm is veiled and overly warm sounding. I found the MM 33rpm to be more engaging as far as the music goes and that is really all one can ask from an analog reissue.     |
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Post by alunsevern on Oct 24, 2015 10:20:28 GMT
I shall be buying the Shorter as soon as it arrives in the UK - it's an MM33 I'm very much looking forward to...
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Post by Spencer on Oct 25, 2015 4:51:33 GMT
I shall be buying the Shorter as soon as it arrives in the UK - it's an MM33 I'm very much looking forward to... You won't be disappointed, Alun. It's so good I'm walking around with a smile on my face every time I finish listening to it. Let's hope I don't wear it out before I know it. Can't be helped I guess, darn thing happens to be my favorite W. Shorter record, ever. |
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Post by Spencer! on Oct 29, 2015 16:11:03 GMT
SO I WAS RIGHT ABOUT MUSIC MATTERS! A CHANGE IS IN THE MUSICAL AIR, SO TO SPEAK!
MUSIC MATTERS - GOOD NEWS! & NOW SHIPPING!
Better quality and service, price breaks on shipping coming your way!
Dear friends,
We're writing with some news that will affect you all, and hopefully improve service and shipping on exciting new titles coming this year. For some years now, Music Matters had released a large percentage of each title offering to wholesale distributors. That had the effect of getting the records out there into that distribution chain, as well as into small retail stores, but it also introduced a number of problems that we are now going to remedy. Some distributors and retailers began offering the records at inflated prices, and for each of them, there were different standards for shipping and packaging. We worked hard to produce quality in every aspect of these records, from mastering and the integrity of the sound, right on through to the gatefold jackets, photography, and presentation. Having that level of input and control over the product mattered to us as much as the music we have loved all these many years. But once they left us to wholesale channels, we lost that control. Records were sometimes not shipped with the care we would expect, and standards were different from one distributor to the next. That will all change now.
Effective immediately, Music Matters is discontinuing wholesale distribution of all past and future 33 RPM titles. Instead, we've sunk thousands of dollars into our on-line website in an effort to create the simplest and easiest shopping experience possible. So we will now become the sole and exclusive vendor of the music and titles we labored so lovingly and painstakingly to produce. Taking this all under our roof just makes perfect sense for us now, as it allows us to control the production, mastering, creative design, packaging, and finally, the shipping, fulfillment and customer service for these amazing records. There will be no more bent jacket corners and split sleeve liners due to the substandard shipping policies of others, and there will be no more creative pricing on our titles. As soon as existing stocks in the distribution channels dry up, the only water in the well will be with us, Music Matters. We'll stand fully behind everything we ship, and deliver top notch quality control and customer service every step of the way-our way-with tender loving care.
That's exciting to us, because now we can also introduce incentives and savings for customers that we just could not see happen when so many other people had a piece of the pie in the distribution channels. To begin with, we will standardize pricing on titles at $39.95 on all 33RPM titles, and eliminate situations where we've seen inflated prices of $50 or even $60 in some markets when the sale was out of our hands.
Starting now! we're going to introduce Record Orders Over $89.00 ship FREE Within the Continental U.S. That will be a big savings to customers picking up three or more records at a time, because that weight added a lot in shipping charges that will no longer be there.
On top of this, we've given some hard thought regarding the subscription model we presently have in place. We have titles ready to go, but were constrained due to this model, and by the fact that distributor orders could be intermittent. These factors impacted our production schedules. Now we don't have to bother with any of that. We can release any time we have a title ready. So there will be six more titles coming your way this year. That's the big news; better quality and service, even handed pricing, and price breaks on shipping coming your way!
Music Matters is also very happy to announce important improvements that our close partners at RTI have recently implemented, which will further improve the product we will be providing for your listening pleasure. RTI has recently sourced a vastly improved vinyl formulation, with more lubricants for more silent playing surfaces. The new vinyl will also have improved anti-static properties, further contributing to an even lower playback noise floor.
To take greatest advantage of the improved raw vinyl material, RTI has invested in a new state of the art boiler and temperature control system, which will insure that the vinyl is heated to the most exacting standards required for even flow of the formula while on the press. All in all, better vinyl, better vinyl processing equipment, better quality control. It all adds up to a superb "canvas" upon which we can "paint" with our wonderful Blue Note master tapes! You will hear the difference!
All current subscribers to the series nothing has changed! You will receive two titles per month at your current subscription price until the end of the calendar year.
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Post by gst on Oct 29, 2015 16:33:50 GMT
SO I WAS RIGHT ABOUT MUSIC MATTERS! A CHANGE IS IN THE MUSICAL AIR, SO TO SPEAK! MUSIC MATTERS - GOOD NEWS! & NOW SHIPPING! Better quality and service, price breaks on shipping coming your way! Dear friends, We're writing with some news that will affect you all, and hopefully improve service and shipping on exciting new titles coming this year. For some years now, Music Matters had released a large percentage of each title offering to wholesale distributors.... But they're still nearing the end of releasing new titles, correct? |
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Post by SPENCER on Oct 29, 2015 16:42:01 GMT
SO I WAS RIGHT ABOUT MUSIC MATTERS! A CHANGE IS IN THE MUSICAL AIR, SO TO SPEAK! MUSIC MATTERS - GOOD NEWS! & NOW SHIPPING! Better quality and service, price breaks on shipping coming your way! Dear friends, We're writing with some news that will affect you all, and hopefully improve service and shipping on exciting new titles coming this year. For some years now, Music Matters had released a large percentage of each title offering to wholesale distributors.... But they're still nearing the end of releasing new titles, correct? LETTER SAYS NOTHING ON THAT! |
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Post by gst on Oct 29, 2015 17:00:52 GMT
But they're still nearing the end of releasing new titles, correct? LETTER SAYS NOTHING ON THAT! Guess it's just rumor. Didn't mean to ruffle in feathers. I'm a fan or theirs after all. I've got all of the 45RPMs and a handful of the 33RPMs. |
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Post by Spencer on Oct 29, 2015 17:28:30 GMT
LETTER SAYS NOTHING ON THAT! Guess it's just rumor. Didn't mean to ruffle in feathers. I'm a fan or theirs after all. I've got all of the 45RPMs and a handful of the 33RPMs. Rumors, hearsay, innuendos, who knows? |
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Post by alunsevern on Oct 30, 2015 13:13:33 GMT
My UK dealer has just informed me of this. Even he is unclear about future production plans beyond this year, but has assumed they continue -- because MM's investment in its website and e-commerce facilities (referred to in the letter) wouldn't make sense otherwise. What *is* clear is that MM will no longer be using independent wholesalers/resellers for Europe. Now, that's bad news for us folks in theUK. I have just checked and buying a single MM33 direct from MM in theUS will cost me a total of $67 including international shipping/handling (about GBP44.00 at current rates -- i.e. GBP12.00 *more* than I was previously able to buy them for).
Sadly, my days of buying MM33s -- whatever there future production plans -- are over. I shall miss them.
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