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SACD

Art Pepper – The Way It Was! (1972) [MFSL 2008] [SACD / Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab – UDSACD 2034]

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Art Pepper - The Way It Was! (1972) [MFSL 2008]

Title: Art Pepper – The Way It Was! (1972) [MFSL 2008]
Genre: Jazz
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Despite his very erratic lifestyle, altoist Art Pepper never made a bad record. This collection is better than most. The first four titles team together Pepper with tenor saxophonist Warne Marsh, pianist Ronnie Ball, bassist Ben Tucker, and drummer Gary Frommer for generally intriguing explorations of four standards. One can feel the influence of Lennie Tristano (with Pepper in Lee Konitz’s place), although Pepper had his own sound and a more hard-swinging style. The success of the Pepper-Marsh front line makes one wish that they had recorded together again. The other three selections are leftovers from a trio of classic Pepper albums, and all are quite worthwhile. Pepper is heard backed by three separate rhythm sections, which include pianists Red Garland, Dolo Coker, or Wynton Kelly; either Paul Chambers or Jimmy Bond on bass; and Philly Joe Jones, Frank Butler, or Jimmy Cobb on drums. Overall, this album sticks to bop standards and finds Art Pepper in top form.

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SACD

Art Of Noise – Daft (1984) [Reissue 2003] [SACD / ZTT – ZTT184SACD]

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Art Of Noise - Daft (1984) [Reissue 2003]

Title: Art Of Noise – Daft (1984) [Reissue 2003]
Genre: Electronic
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

I think I own about every version of this album that was ever released, from the first Art of Noise EP “Into battle” (featured almost completely on “Daft”) which I bought on vinyl when it came out till the 20th anniversary CD on Repertoire that came with a DVD with some of AON’s groundbreaking videos early 2004. “Daft” is my 2nd SACD and although I thought I knew every little “boing”, “duh” and other sound effect on the album, it surprised me what a difference the additional channels make. The music is litteraly all around you, the effects come from everywhere and if you close your eyes the album is like a roller coaster ride. “Close (to the Edit)” and “Beat Box” are still the stand-out tracks, “Moments in Love” is still the only AON track in the entire AON catalogue that sounds outdated, but what a wonderful edition the SACD version is. Blessed are the noisemakers. sa-cd.net

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SACD

Arthur Grumiaux – Lalo, Saint-Saens, Chausson, Ravel (1999) [Japan 2019] [SACD / Tower Universal Vintage – PROC-2201]

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Arthur Grumiaux - Lalo, Saint-Saens, Chausson, Ravel (1999) [Japan 2019]

Title: Arthur Grumiaux – Lalo, Saint-Saens, Chausson, Ravel (1999) [Japan 2019]
Genre: Classical
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Belgian violinist Arthur Grumiaux, a master of the Franco-Belgian school, delivers a sublime performance of four nineteenth-century French compositions, including Lalo’s five-movement Symphonie espagnole and Ravel’s fiery Tzigane, in this landmark SACD, the world’s first conversion of these recordings, newly mastered from original analog tapes. Grumiaux, who recorded 78 CDs for Philips (now Decca) from 1953 until his death in 1986, embodies Belgian musical culture, earning a baronetcy from King Baudouin I in 1972, and his elegant, neoclassical style balances faithful score interpretation with traditional Franco-Belgian flair. Accompanied by the Lamoureux Orchestra, led by Manuel Rosenthal, who studied with Ravel, the vivid and raw recording captures the violin’s intensity and the orchestra’s historic French atmosphere. Featuring works premiered by figures like Pablo de Sarasate and Georges Enesco, this SACD, with high-definition DSD digitization and meticulous mastering, offers superior sound quality on both SACD and CD layers, making it an immortal showcase of Grumiaux’s artistry.

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SACD

Arthur Fielder with Boston Pops Orchestra – Pops Caviar: Russian Orchestral Fireworks (2006) [SACD / Living Stereo – 82876716182]

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Arthur Fielder with Boston Pops Orchestra - Pops Caviar: Russian Orchestral Fireworks (2006)

Title: Arthur Fielder with Boston Pops Orchestra – Pops Caviar: Russian Orchestral Fireworks (2006)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Pops Caviar — Russian Orchestral Fireworks, featuring Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops, delivers over an hour of vibrant Russian showpieces by Borodin, Rimsky-Korsakov, Khachaturian, and Tchaikovsky, with DSD remastering vividly capturing the original master tapes’ superb sound. These performances, neither strictly good nor bad, embody the Boston Pops’ middle-brow appeal, transforming the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s high-caliber playing into lush, colorful, and bold renditions tailored for excitement rather than subtlety, with sweet strings, blended winds, big brass, and gargantuan percussion. Fiedler’s capable conducting shines in the brilliant balances of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Russian Easter Overture and the driven tempos of Borodin’s Polovetsian Dances, prioritizing thrills for audiences who relish loud, sexy orchestral flair. For those seeking similar excitement with deeper interpretive nuance, Gergiev’s Kirov Orchestra recordings on Philips offer lyrical and incandescent alternatives, while RCA’s remastered stereo sound, though flashy, lacks some depth compared to the original LPs.

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SACD

Arthur Fiedler & The Boston Pops – Up, Up and Away & Fiedler’s Choice (1968 & 1970) [Reissue 2019] [SACD / Vocalion – CDLK 4623]

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Arthur Fiedler & The Boston Pops - Up, Up and Away & Fiedler's Choice (1968 & 1970) [Reissue 2019]

Title: Arthur Fiedler & The Boston Pops – Up, Up and Away & Fiedler’s Choice (1968 & 1970) [Reissue 2019]
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Arthur Fiedler, the beloved conductor of the Boston Pops for nearly 50 years, embodied orchestral music for everyday Americans with his approachable, populist programming and warm podium presence, outlasting Leonard Bernstein’s briefer New York fame but often typecast as a pops conductor. His album Up, Up and Away, featuring Richard Hayman’s lush arrangements, transforms 1960s hits like Jimmy Webb’s title track, Paul Mauriat’s “Love Is Blue,” and “Lara’s Theme” (aka Ray Conniff’s “Somewhere My Love”) into vibrant orchestral renditions without vocals, distinct from their pop origins. Producer Peter Dellheim’s liner notes reveal the influence of Diana Ross & the Supremes’ “A Lover’s Concerto” (itself a nod to the Toys’ version) on the inclusion of a Bach Minuet, alongside majestic takes on André Previn’s Valley of the Dolls theme and lively versions of “Cabaret” and Beatles’ hits “Yesterday” and “Michelle.” The album, enriched by a playful cover featuring Fiedler with eight women by an airplane, perfectly captures the easy-listening spirit of 1968 with the Boston Pops’ signature polish and charm.

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SACD

Arthur Fiedler & Boston Pops – Hi-Fi Fiedler (2005) [SACD / Living Stereo – 82876678952]

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Arthur Fiedler & Boston Pops - Hi-Fi Fiedler (2005)

Title: Arthur Fiedler & Boston Pops – Hi-Fi Fiedler (2005)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

RCA Victor’s pioneering three-channel recordings, begun in 1953 using Ampex decks, predate the 1958 stereo LP and are showcased in this SACD, which restores the original three-channel master tapes for a deeper, wider soundstage unattainable even by mint vinyl pressings. Featuring Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops, the disc includes Rimsky-Korsakov’s vibrant Le Coq d’or suite, Rossini’s William Tell Overture, Tchaikovsky’s Marche slave, Chabrier’s dazzling España, and Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 and Rakoczy March, all chosen for their colorful orchestral brilliance ideal for hi-fi demonstration. Recorded between 1956 and 1960, these selections highlight Fiedler’s knack for infusing light classical music with excitement, a talent that made him the best-selling conductor in history, notably with his million-selling Jalousie 78rpm. The SACD’s three-channel playback, offering enhanced flexibility in mixing for a balanced stereo soundstage, delivers the vivid impact RCA engineers experienced, making this budget-friendly disc a remarkable audiophile treasure.

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SACD

Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers – Moanin (1958) [Analogue Productions 2009] [SACD / Analogue Productions – CBNJ 84003 SA]

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Aros - Train Song (2004)

Title: Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers – Moanin (1958) [Analogue Productions 2009] 
Genre: Jazz
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Moanin’ includes some of the greatest music Blakey produced in the studio with arguably his very best band. There are three tracks that are immortal and will always stand the test of time. The title selection is a pure tuneful melody stewed in a bluesy shuffle penned by pianist Bobby Timmons, while tenor saxophonist Benny Golson’s classy, slowed “Along Came Betty” and the static, militaristic “Blues March” will always have a home in the repertoire of every student or professional jazz band. “Are You Real?” has the most subtle of melody lines, and “Drum Thunder Suite” has Blakey’s quick blasting tom-tom-based rudiments reigning on high as the horns sigh, leading to hard bop. “Come Rain or Come Shine” is the piece that commands the most attention, a highly modified, lilting arrangement where the accompanying staggered, staccato rhythms contrast the light-hearted refrains. Certainly a complete and wholly satisfying album, Moanin’ ranks with the very best of Blakey and what modern jazz offered in the late ’50s and beyond.

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SACD

Argent – In Deep & Nexus & Ring Of Hands [Reissue 2019] [SACD / Vocalion – 2CDSML 8568]

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Aros - Train Song (2004)

Title: Argent – In Deep & Nexus & Ring Of Hands [Reissue 2019]
Genre: Rock, Progressive Rock
Format: MCH SACD ISO + DSF DSD64 + Hi-Res FLAC

When the Zombies disbanded in 1969, their keyboardist and songwriter Rod Argent formed the band “Argent,” incorporating jazz, classical, and art rock influences. The other members included guitarist and songwriter Russ Ballard, bassist Jim Rodford, and drummer Bob Henrit. Their earliest releases received a fair amount of critical acclaim, but the real breakthrough came later on with their album “In Deep” with their minor hit “God Gave Rock ‘N’ Roll to You”. For those in the know you are well aware that Dutton Vocallion has been masterfully re-issuing classics like this over the past few years. Argent is part of a new batch of reissues that contain a double SACD set that contains three of their mid-career albums: “Ring of Hands”, “In Deep”, and “Nexus”.

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SACD

Aros – Train Song (2004) [SACD / Songlines Recordings – SGL SA 1546-2]

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Aros - Train Song (2004)

Title: Aros – Train Song (2004)
Genre: Jazz
Format: MCH SACD ISO + DSF DSD64 + Hi-Res FLAC

Aros, an Amsterdam-based sextet co-led by Canadian saxophonist Rob Armus and Austrian pianist Marion von Tilzer, blends American jazz, European classical, new music, and tango influences in their 2004 album Train Song, their first North American release, recorded in vibrant DSD sound. Featuring a lineup of trumpet, sax, violin, bass, cello, and piano, the album spans heartfelt lyrical moments to soul jazz vamps, with complex rhythms like the 12/8 melody against 11/8 accompaniment in “Song of the Heart” or interlocked 5 and 6 rhythms in “30.” Armus’ jazz roots shine in danceable tracks like “Tango” and Glass-like arpeggios, while von Tilzer’s classical background drives the standout “Ostinato,” building from a modest piano figure into a forceful, layered soundscape. Despite occasional improvisational bursts from Armus and trumpeter John Korsrud, many tracks lean cerebral, prioritizing intricate rhythms over exuberant grooves, leaving listeners wishing for moments where Aros might simply charge forward like the locomotive suggested by the album’s title.

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