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SACD

Harald Vogel – J.P. Sweelinck: Organ Works Vol.1 (2011) [SACD / MDG Gold – MDG 914 1690-6]

adminFebruary 9, 2026 7 Views

Title: Harald Vogel – J.P. Sweelinck: Organ Works Vol.1 (2011)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO

The Schwalbennestorgel is a remarkable survival of a type of organ called “swallow’s nest”, because of its appearing to have been glued onto the wall of the church – a look at the photograph on the disc cover shows this very well. The distinctive organ case was built between 1586 and 1595 by Dutch organ builders, and the loft and pedal cases were added by a Hamburg company in 1612. Many of their front pipes remain, with even their voicing preserved. A sensitive reconstruction by Altenahr in 2010 has produced an organ which is not only capable of playing music from the Renaissance, but also the high Baroque. Note that the organ’s mean-tone temperament with perfect thirds may at times and in some keys seem out of tune to ears used to modern pitches.
Vogel has evidently put a great deal of thought and scholarly preparation into this project, as his detailed notes indicate. His programme for the first in the series consists of a showcase of the types of organ pieces which distinguish Sweelinck’s music. Don’t expect flashy virtuosity and full organ with 32′ pipes; this is music from a generation earlier than J.S. Bach’s. The disc lasts for a generous 78’42”, and is well produced with copious notes and full specifications for the organ. Not having MDG’s 2+2+2 speaker configuration, I found the disc worked quite well with a 5.1 system, although it seems that the absence of that layer of the church ambience captured in the height microphones was missing in 5.1, giving the impression of a closer microphone placing. I understand from Werner Dabringhaus that the microphones were placed at least 12-15m from the console, and that the height speakers (if I had them) would image the organ about 10m above the church floor and also reveal the different locations of Hauptwerck and Oberwerck ranks. This is the first time that I have been aware of a substantial difference when playing a 2+2+2 optimised MC recording in the compromised 5.1 format. Quite possibly I would have awarded a full 5 sonic stars if it were at all possible for my large speaker system could be adapted to the 2+2+2 format. An excellent introduction to the organ music of Sweelinck and to the Swallow’s Nest organ of St Marien, stylishly played by Harald Vogel, who is an exemplary messenger for the composer. Recommended.

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3 min read

SACD

Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes – Black & Blue & Wake Up Everybody (1973 & 1975) [Reissue 2020] [SACD / Vocalion – CDSML 8571]

adminFebruary 9, 2026 9 Views

Title: Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes – Black & Blue & Wake Up Everybody (1973 & 1975) [Reissue 2020]
Genre: Soul, Funk, R&B
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

In a strong start to 2020, Vocallion has reissued another batch of quad hybrid SACDs. Fans are getting a lot of rhythm and blues among other classic 70’s quad reissues. The soulful and danceable Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes will surround listeners with a quad mix from their “Black & Blue” album along with the album “Wake Up Everybody”. Michael Dutton has gone back to the original analog masters and transferred them into the DSD domain in both quad and stereo on a single hybrid SACD.

Black & Blue Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes’ second album found the group continuing to ride its early peak, featuring the hit “The Love I Lost” (in a six-minute version longer than the one that made the pop Top Ten) and an additional Top Ten R&B hit in “Satisfaction Guaranteed (Or Take Your Love Back).” The album and its “The Love I Lost” single also became milestones for Gamble & Huff productions and Philadelphia soul in general for introducing the dance groove that became so integral to disco. But while the two hits and “Is There a Place for Me” were forceful uptempo tracks, they were balanced by a good number of effective ballads, the only misstep (and a most curious one) being the decision to lead off the album with a cover of “Cabaret”. Wake Up Everybody Philly soul staples Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes were in full swing on 1975’s Wake Up Everybody. Sporting their trademark lush, string-laden production from Gamble and Huff (who also wrote about half the album’s material), the smooth soul outfit delivers a mix of deep soul balladry and uptempo dance tracks. The title track, with its socially relevant messages, is a standout. There is no shortage of fine vocal performances all around, notably from Melvin and from future solo star Teddy Pendergrass.

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2 min read

SACD

Harold Mabern Trio – Somewhere Over The Rainbow (2018) [SACD / Venus Records – VHGD-300]

adminFebruary 9, 2026 9 Views

Title: Harold Mabern Trio – Somewhere Over The Rainbow (2018)
Genre: Jazz
Format: SACD ISO

A masterpiece showcasing the Mabern style at its finest, from swinging renditions of the great composer Harold Arlen’s standards to beautiful ballad performances, all delivered in a splendidly luxurious mood! SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW Harold Mabern Trio

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1 min read

SACD

Harold Mabern Trio – Kiss Of Fire (2002) [Japan 2015] [SACD / Venus Records – VHGD-69]

adminFebruary 9, 2026 6 Views

Title: Harold Mabern Trio – Kiss Of Fire (2002) [Japan 2015]
Genre: Jazz
Format: SACD ISO + DSF DSD64 + Hi-Res FLAC

Harold Mabern is a hard bop, post-bop and soul jazz pianist and composer. He is described in The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings as “one of the great post-bop pianists.” On this release, Mabern is joined by Nat Reeves on bass, Joe Farnsworth on drums, and Eric Alexander on tenor sax.

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1 min read

SACD

Harold Mabern Trio – Fantasy (2004) [Japan 2017] [SACD / Venus Records – VHGD-243]

adminFebruary 9, 2026 8 Views

Title: Harold Mabern Trio – Fantasy (2004) [Japan 2017]
Genre: Jazz
Format: SACD ISO + DSF DSD64 + Hi-Res FLAC

Harold Mabern was born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1936 and spent some of his early years in Chicago before moving to New York in the early 1960s. There he began to work with Lionel Hampton, Art Farmer’s Jazztet and J.J. Johnson. Mabern has accompanied many vocalists including Joe Williams, Sarah Vaughan, Dakota Staton, Irene Reid and Arthur Prysock. He’s also worked with Roland Kirk, Sonny Rollins, Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan, Roy Haynes, Wes Montgomery, Clark Terry, Billy Harper, Joe Newman and George Coleman. On this record, he’s joined by Joe Farnsworth and Dwayne Burno.

Fusing the always fashionable bop/funk school with the classic American Songbook, Harold Mabern remains extremely relevant: younger rock bands and music writers should listen to this musical giant, as their music will surely improve if they do. He has a big and commanding style, with tremendous appeal. Discover the big hands and richly melodic, ringing sound of Harold Mabern for yourself.

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1 min read

SACD

Harold Mabern Trio – Falling In Love With Love (2003) [Japan 2017] [SACD / Venus Records – VHGD-198]

adminFebruary 9, 2026 9 Views

Title: Harold Mabern Trio – Falling In Love With Love (2003) [Japan 2017]
Genre: Jazz
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Harold Mabern and his piano join together with George Mraz, bass, and Joe Farnsworth, drums, to compile a 10-track SACD full of jazz’s favorite staples from Harold Arlen, Michael Leonard and many more. A great piano trio album full of driving swing feel, groove and dynamism.

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1 min read

SACD

Harold Mabern – Misty (2007) [Japan 2017] [SACD / Venus Records – VHGD-222]

adminFebruary 9, 2026 9 Views

Title: Harold Mabern – Misty (2007) [Japan 2017]
Genre: Classical
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Harold Mabern is a hard bop, post-bop and soul jazz pianist and composer. He is described in The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings as “one of the great post-bop pianists”. This album has been released on the Japanese VENUS label.

Harold Mabern is one of many American jazz artists who have found a lucrative market for their recordings in Japan. This solo piano date is one of his very best efforts, opening with a hard-driving take of Bobby Timmons’ hard bop masterpiece “Dat Dere,” then following it with a thoughtful rendition George Shearing’s unjustly obscure ballad “She.” The pianist’s breezy hard bop treatment of “You Don’t Know What Love Is” makes one forget that it began life as a bittersweet ballad. Mabern’s upbeat performance of Quincy Jones’ “Wail Bait” provokes memories of Bud Powell when he was healthy. Erroll Garner’s “Misty” has long been one of the most requested tunes in night club settings, though Mabern’s percussive setting is quite different from the usual low-key approach. Mabern also includes a pair of originals, including his brisk “Mabern’s Boogie, which would have been right at home during the genre’s heyday, along with his dazzling, hard-charging “Wayne’s Blues.”

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2 min read

SACD

Hans Vonk, Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra, Male Chorus of the Netherlands Radio Choir – Johannes Brahms: The Final Sessions (2005) [SACD / PentaTone classics – PTC 5186 045]

adminFebruary 9, 2026 7 Views

Title: Hans Vonk, Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra, Male Chorus of the Netherlands Radio Choir – Johannes Brahms: The Final Sessions (2005)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Pentatone offer this volume as a premature termination of their survey of Dutch composer Hans Vonk’s work. Perhaps he was best-known in Europe, but his career had international elements as well. His conducting style was deeply rooted in the central European traditions, but his personal credo was service to the composer and to music rather than service to his conductor’s ego. It is astonishing to learn that these final sessions with his old orchestra were conducted from a wheel-chair, and with gestures limited by his disease. Clearly all the musicians were fully aware that his courage at the sessions in August 2003 probably meant the end of his conducting career, and possibly of his life. They responded magnificently. Brahms was one of his great loves and he certainly could create a real Brahmsian sound, but with much more clarity than managed by many other conductors. Brahms has gained a reputation as an indifferent orchestrator, as had Schumann before him. But both of them were used to very different bands compared to our modern symphony orchestras; smaller, with gut strings as well as quieter and more characterful woodwind and brass. Vonk, as demonstrated on this disc, was one of the few modern conductors to balance his orchestras to allow the wonderful details of Brahms’ scores to come through. Here he was also aided by the first-class, truthful and beautifully balanced DSD 5.0 sound for which Pentatone is famed. I have never heard such rich inner detail in all of these works. The Netherlands Radio Symphony play magnificently for him. Strength of purpose, certainty in the passage of tension to relaxation in the structure of the composition, and deeply felt lyricism are the features of these interpretations. Justly so, as Brahms himself was the perfect blender of classicism with romanticism. There are many passages in the Academic Festival Overture and St Anthony Variations which could almost have been written by Beethoven. Both works are given excellent performances which remain in one’s mind long after the disc stops spinning. They are, of course, essential companions to the four symphonies. Both end in triumph and joy and are uplifting indeed. Brahms’ setting of several verses from Goethe’s ‘Winter Journey through the Hartz Mountains’ became his three-part Alto Rhapsody. It has long been a favourite of mine, as it moves from the contralto’s loneliness of unrequited love through lamenting to receiving the sweet balm of consolation. While she may not be Christa Ludwig in her prime, Yvonne Naef here gives a beautifully dark-toned and deeply emotional account. She is splendidly supported by the men of the Netherlands Radio Choir, whose Chief Conductor is the almost legendary Simon Halsey. I have never heard the inner parts of the chorus so clearly depicted, thanks both to Vonk and Pentatone. I have only one gripe about this issue: the absence of the vital texts for the Alto Rhapsody from the insert. I suspect that Vonk himself might be with me in administering this rebuke, especially as the space was taken up with material about himself! While it may appear that this disc is a memorial worth only one playing, it is instead a set of beautiful readings of three essential Brahms works, fully in the Central European tradition. Moreover, it is not marmorial, but a real ‘feel-good’ and life-enhancing disc. What better memorial could a conductor have? Copyright © 2008 John Miller and ~sa-cd.net

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4 min read

SACD

Hannes Minnaar, The Netherlands Symphony Orchestra, Jan Willem de Vriend – Beethoven: The Complete Piano Concertos (2017) [SACD / Challenge Classics – CC 72763]

adminFebruary 9, 2026 7 Views

Title: Hannes Minnaar, The Netherlands Symphony Orchestra, Jan Willem de Vriend – Beethoven: The Complete Piano Concertos (2017)
Genre: Classical
Format: DSF DSD64 + Hi-Res FLAC

Here is the box containing Beethoven’s five Piano Concertos performed by Hannes Minnaar and The Netherlands Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Jan Willem de Vriend. So far two single volumes had been issued: while the one including Concertos nos. 4 & 5 was acclaimed by Gramophone as: “beginning a Beethoven cycle with the Fourth and Fifth Concertos is a bold move but one that pays off in all sorts of ways”, the same magazine welcomed the disc with Concertos nos. 1 & 2 for “its pleasing mix of finesse and drive”. Now the box also offers the so far unissued Concerto #3. Despite the very large number of recordings already made of this musical corpus, Minnaar and de Vriend have proved that they have something new and totally their own to say about this collection of masterpieces. And it is indeed the peculiar blend of sheer energy and esprit de finesse that can be identified as the distinctive brand or these recordings.

Pianist Hannes Minnaar has made a name for himself as a soloist with three albums to his name, member of the award-winning Van Baerle Trio, and most recently winner of the Dutch Music Award in 2016, the highest available from the Dutch Government. This means being in a safe pair of hands when it comes to the solo parts for Beethoven’s five Piano Concertos. These recordings have already appeared as individual CDs aside from the Third Concerto which, being too short in duration for a physical release, has been download-only until now. There is an interesting aspect of this recording hidden at the back of the booklet. Along with the selection of a Steinway & Sons concert grand by the soloist there is mention of the efforts made by tuner Gerben Bisschop to “prepare the historical tuning of the instrument.” This is not further clarified, but presumably implies a move from equal temperament to a more old-fashioned meantone tuning. You probably wouldn’t notice much difference here in comparison to alternative modern-piano recordings, though it I had to make a call on the character of the piano in relationship to the orchestra then it seems just a little warmer in tone. The trend for piano sound in recent years has been for sparkly brilliance, and this extra touch with regard to the preparation of the piano lends an extra waft of expressive nuance to the whole. That exposed first chord at the beginning of the Fourth Concerto is certainly interestingly textured.

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3 min read

SACD

Hank Mobley – Workout (1962) [APO Remaster 2011] [SACD / Analogue Productions – CBNJ 84080 SA]

adminFebruary 9, 2026 6 Views

Title: Hank Mobley – Workout (1962) [APO Remaster 2011]
Genre: Jazz
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

This is one of the best-known Hank Mobley recordings, and for good reason. Although none of his four originals (“Workout,” “Uh Huh,” “Smokin’,” “Greasin’ Easy”) caught on, the fine saxophonist is in top form. He jams on the four tunes, plus “The Best Things in Life Are Free,” with an all-star quintet of young modernists — guitarist Grant Green, pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer Philly Joe Jones — and shows that he was a much stronger player than his then-current boss Miles Davis seemed to think.

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1 min read