Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, Paavo Järvi – Anton Bruckner: 7th Symphony (2009) [SACD / RCA Red Seal – 88697389972]

Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, Paavo Järvi - Anton Bruckner: 7th Symphony (2009)

Title: Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, Paavo Järvi – Anton Bruckner: 7th Symphony (2009)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Paavo Järvi’s 2006 recording of Bruckner’s Seventh Symphony in E Major with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony, using the Leopold Nowak edition, channels the legacy of Hans Rosbaud, treating the work as a dynamic, evolving masterpiece with a streamlined yet radiant approach. The first movement emphasizes lyrical themes in hymnal syntax and Wagnerian harmony, blending bright clarity akin to Günter Wand with a propulsive rhythm and organ-like monumentality, captured vividly by Ruediger Orth’s engineering. Järvi’s etched orchestral colors, reminiscent of Rembrandt’s shading, and a fluid, Furtwängler-like transition to the recapitulation create an Elysian grandeur, while the Adagio, a glowing tribute to Wagner, balances taut pulsation with expansive architecture, culminating in an ethereal pianissimo. The Scherzo’s march-waltz evokes Valkyries with chirping fourths and fifths, relenting into a Schubertian trio, and the Finale recycles earlier themes with energetic concision, culminating in a seamless, Wagnerian peroration. This vast, rewarding interpretation echoes a Rhine Journey, blending monumental and bucolic elements with masterful orchestral interplay.

(more…)

2 min read

Art Garfunkel – Breakaway (1975) [Reissue 2018] [SACD / Vocalion – CDSML 8537]

Art Garfunkel - Breakaway (1975) [Reissue 2018]

Title: Art Garfunkel – Breakaway (1975) [Reissue 2018]
Genre: Rock
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Breakaway, Art Garfunkel’s second solo studio album, released in 1975 on Columbia Records and produced by Richard Perry, is his most successful, earning RIAA platinum certification despite peaking at #9 in the US, lower than his debut Angel Clare (#5). Featuring three Top 40 singles—“I Only Have Eyes for You” (US #18, UK #1), “Break Away” (US #39), and the Simon & Garfunkel reunion duet “My Little Town” (#9)—the album swaps the angelic style of Garfunkel’s first record for Perry’s lush pop production, recorded in studios rather than cathedrals. Standout tracks include Bruce Johnston’s “Disney Girls,” Stevie Wonder’s “I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever),” and Hal David and Albert Hammond’s “99 Miles from L.A.,” showcasing wise song choices that overcome the uniformity of Garfunkel’s vocal style with vibrant, polished arrangements.

(more…)

1 min read

Art Garfunkel – Angel Clare (1973) [Reissue 2018] [SACD / Vocalion – CDSML 8534]

Art Garfunkel - Angel Clare (1973) [Reissue 2018]

Title: Art Garfunkel – Angel Clare (1973) [Reissue 2018]
Genre: Folk, Rock
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Art Garfunkel’s debut solo album, Angel Clare, released on September 11, 1973, and produced by Roy Halee with Garfunkel, peaked at number 5 on the charts, featuring his only US Top 10 hit, Jimmy Webb’s “All I Know” (#9), alongside Top 40 hits “Traveling Boy” (#38 Adult Contemporary) and “I Shall Sing” (#38 Hot 100, #4 Adult Contemporary). Named after a character from Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the d’Urbervilles, the album showcases Garfunkel’s breathy tenor in stately, orchestral ballads, with a standout spirited cover of Van Morrison’s “I Shall Sing” echoing Simon & Garfunkel’s “Cecilia.” Featuring guitarists Jerry Garcia and J.J. Cale, the record balances lush arrangements akin to “Bridge Over Troubled Water” with a sophisticated, Johnny Mathis-like sensibility, meeting high expectations for Garfunkel’s post-Simon & Garfunkel career.

(more…)

1 min read

Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers – Caravan (1963) [Reissue 2004] [SACD / Riverside Records – RISA-9438-6]

Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - Caravan (1963) [Reissue 2004]

Title: Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers – Caravan (1963) [Reissue 2004]
Genre: Jazz
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Art Blakey’s Caravan, the first of his Riverside albums recorded in 1962, showcases one of the strongest Jazz Messengers lineups, featuring Freddie Hubbard (trumpet), Wayne Shorter (tenor sax), Curtis Fuller (trombone), Cedar Walton (piano), and Reggie Workman (bass), delivering unmatched musicianship and swinging force. Blakey, the group’s spiritual leader for nearly 15 years, drives the quintet with his signature blend of precision and power, most notably in his explosive solo on the fiery title track, a reimagined Duke Ellington piece. Hubbard and Shorter contribute memorable originals like the cohesive “Sweet ‘n’ Sour” and angular “Thermo,” while their soloing, alongside Fuller and Walton, ranks among the 1960s’ finest. The album’s synergy shines in both the sophisticated standards “Skylark” and “In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning” and the dynamic originals “This Is for Albert” and “Sweet ‘n’ Sour.” Remastered in 2001 with two bonus tracks (alternate takes of “Sweet ‘n’ Sour” and “Thermo”), this SACD release captures the definitive Blakey and Jazz Messengers sound with vibrant clarity, making it a cornerstone of hard bop.

(more…)

2 min read

Art Blakey – Art Blakey! Jazz Messengers! (1961) [APO Remaster 2011] [SACD / Analogue Productions – CIPJ 7 SA ]

Art Blakey - Art Blakey! Jazz Messengers! (1961) [APO Remaster 2011]

Title: Art Blakey – Art Blakey! Jazz Messengers! (1961) [APO Remaster 2011]
Genre: Jazz
Format: SACD ISO

An absolutely wonderful 1961 set from Blakey and company, who demonstrate here how to be note-perfect without leeching away the emotion of a performance. Aside from Blakey’s divine drum work, the standouts include Jaymie Merritt’s trippy bass fingerwork and Wayne Shorter blowing his heart out on tenor sax.

(more…)

1 min read

Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers – Keystone 3 (1982) [Reissue 2003] [SACD / Concord Jazz – SACD-1001-6]

Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers - Keystone 3 (1982) [Reissue 2003]

Title: Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers – Keystone 3 (1982) [Reissue 2003]
Genre: Jazz
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Art Blakey’s Keystone 3, a live recording from San Francisco’s Keystone Korner in the late ’70s to early ’80s, captures one of his finest Jazz Messengers lineups, featuring the dynamic swing of Blakey’s drumming alongside young talents Donald Brown (piano), Charles Fambrough (bass), Branford Marsalis (alto, tenor, soprano sax), Wynton Marsalis (trumpet), and Bill Pierce (tenor sax). This third live album, honored with two Grammy nominations for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance (Group and Solo), showcases a tight, ultra-melodic ensemble, with a formidable front line debuting Branford alongside Wynton and Pierce, replacing earlier members like Curtis Fuller and Bobby Watson. Highlights include a rousing “In Walked Bud” with Wynton’s growling solo and Branford’s Parker-esque lyricism, Pierce’s tender “In a Sentimental Mood,” the energetic 6/8 “Fuller Love,” the dynamic “Waterfall” with Wynton’s double-timed solo, and a precise, tension-filled “A La Mode.” Presented in stellar SACD sound by Concord Jazz, this recording ranks among Blakey’s best, highlighting his commanding rhythm and the Marsalis brothers’ emerging brilliance.

(more…)

2 min read

Art Of Noise – Reconstructed… For Your Listening Pleasure (2003) [SACD / ZTT – ZTT 182 SACD]

Art Of Noise - Reconstructed… For Your Listening Pleasure (2003)

Title: Art Of Noise – Reconstructed… For Your Listening Pleasure (2003)
Genre: Electronic
Format: SACD ISO

Trevor Horn has done it again: Inventive and great sounding multichannel mix (Dan Vickers is credited for the 5.1 mix), which you can use to impress your friends and to demonstrate the superior sound of SACD. There are several great moments on this disc, especially the beginning of “Moments in Love”, “Beat Box” or “Peter Gunn”. Your jaws are dropped, but unfortunately this does not always last throughout the whole track. An annoying singing voice or speeding up of the track does not sit well – maybe too inventive or ambitious at times? And there are definetely better tracks from AON, than selected here for this disc. Seeing (and hearing) what can be done with modern sound technology and talent, leaves you wishing for multichannel mixes of other AON masterpieces – for example a serious “reconstruction” of the great “The Best of Art of Noise – Art Works 12” CD from 1988 would be a perfect start.

(more…)

1 min read

Art Of Noise – Daft (1986) [Reissue 2003] [SACD / ZTT – ZTT184SACD]

Art Of Noise - Daft (1986) [Reissue 2003]

Title: Art Of Noise – Daft (1986) [Reissue 2003]
Genre: Electronic
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Daft, a compilation of Art of Noise’s early work, combines the LP Who’s Afraid of the Art of Noise? (with an extended “Snapshot” from the Japanese version), tracks from the Into Battle with the Art of Noise EP, and two “Moments in Love” remixes, offering a comprehensive overview of the group’s Trevor Horn-era before their ZTT label split. Re-released on Super Audio CD in 2003, this album outshines the official Best Of compilation, showcasing Horn’s stellar production and Anne Dudley’s compelling arrangements, which sound remarkably advanced and timeless. Highlights include the lush, elegant “Moments in Love” reworkings, with “(Three Fingers Of) Love” featuring quirky sound effects, while the liner notes by Otto Flake add a playful, possibly satirical jab at the band’s later incarnation. This essential collection delivers a vibrant hour of music, perfect for Art of Noise newcomers.

(more…)

1 min read

Arnie Somogyi’s Ambulance – Accident And Insurgency (2007) [SACD / Linn Records – AKD 306]

Arnie Somogyi's Ambulance - Accident And Insurgency (2007)

Title: Arnie Somogyi’s Ambulance – Accident And Insurgency (2007)
Genre: Jazz
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Arnie Somogyi’s Ambulance, featuring five of the UK’s most dynamic young jazz musicians and U.S. trumpet legend Eddie Henderson, delivers a vibrant debut album, Accident and Insurgency, nominated for ‘Album of the Year’ at the 2008 BBC Jazz Awards and ‘Best Ensemble’ at the UK Parliamentary Jazz Awards. Recorded in a single four-hour live session in 2007, the album captures the band’s raw energy, blending traditional jazz improvisation with modern electronic techniques and Suffolk-inspired soundscapes from their 2006 Snape Maltings residency. Tracks like “Walking Wounded” and “Captain Courageous” evoke Aldeburgh’s seascapes with tidal cymbal washes, birdsong electronics, and Tim Lapthorn’s trickling piano, while Paul Booth’s saxophones add power. Eddie Henderson’s gleaming trumpet, influenced by his time with Herbie Hancock’s Mwandishi sextet, shines in complex time signatures and the Miles Davis-like muted tenderness of “Tumbledown,” though “Solace” and “Adrift” feel less gripping. This elegant, imaginative album merges forceful jazz grooves with atmospheric innovation, making it a standout in contemporary jazz.

(more…)

2 min read

Arnett Cobb – Party Time (1959) [APO Remaster 2018] [SACD / Analogue Productions – CPRJ 7165 SA]

Arnett Cobb - Party Time (1959) [APO Remaster 2018]

Title: Arnett Cobb – Party Time (1959) [APO Remaster 2018]
Genre: Jazz
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Arnett Cobb, the “Wild Man of the Tenor Sax” known for his uninhibited style, recorded Party Time in 1959 for Prestige, part of Analogue Productions’ audiophile reissue series featuring 25 of Rudy Van Gelder’s finest recordings. After a debilitating 1957-1958 auto accident, Cobb made a triumphant return with three 1959 Prestige albums, Party Time standing out as the only one with him as the sole horn, backed by pianist Ray Bryant, bassist Wendell Marshall, drummer Art Taylor, and Ray Barretto on conga. His tough yet versatile tenor shines on tracks like “When My Dreamboat Comes Home,” “Blues in the Closet,” and a reimagined “Flying Home,” making this the definitive Cobb album of the era and a highly recommended gem for jazz enthusiasts.

(more…)

1 min read