The standard OJC reissues are phenomenal, so I’ve never purchased one of the small batch presses. They’re substantially better than the mono or stereo originals. The CD’s are quite strong as well.
Goid stuff. Have an idea for you in 2025 that would be fun (let us know if already presented); Compare/contrast/discuss -"Six great live jazz albums versus six great studio jazz albums". Like w/ my other passion, athletic competition, teaming up live on a stage under lights can often produce "Best Of" album results but sometimes the studio performance, even spliced-in edited sessions, can deliver same trophy level results. Just a suggestion. Lots of great live & studio music to choose from. PS Two examples immediately come to mind: A) "Kind of Blue". B) Keith Jarrett's "The Köln Concert". Both are goats yet each entirely were different recording circumstances, situations, etc..
You are providing such great context to these releases vs. the Riverside Box. I have contemplated that box so many times - I have one of the Albums from it - How my heart sings - but I have other version of the others - I just got this one step - and I was super curious about its comparison to the 45 edition - I dont think you wasted anything the Box set - its still amazing - but its good to know these are awesome too!
I have an original Riverside stereo pressing I inherited from my Dad and it’s good enough for me. I’d rather have one of those Sonny Red’s albums you got there instead…
Thanks for the time you put into making this video. I watch a lot of audiophile album reviews on UA-cam that include comparisons of multiple pressings. I’ve noticed that reviewers usually conclude that the brand new version is better than an earlier also expensive audiophile version. Maybe that’s because the newer versions are always better. Like, it doesn’t make sense that a record company would put out a new expensive audiophile version of a record unless it was better than the previous expensive audiophile versions, right? Or maybe it’s that human beings are naturally biased toward the newest thing, especially if it’s expensive. Nobody wants to feel like they just made a bad purchase decision, right? I’ll watch a review of someone raving about a new expensive audiophile pressing. Then a year later, a new audiophile pressing from a different label comes out, and now the same reviewer is saying it sounds amazing, and the one he or she previously said sounded amazing now sounds … good in most ways, but not amazing. Maybe what’s happening is that you (not you in particular, the general “you”) have to live with an album for a while before you can give it a fair review. Time for the novelty to wear off. Time to get some perspective. But the problem with that approach for reviewers is that the audience is more likely to watch the review if it comed out as soon as the record is available, instead of a month or a few months later. The shiny new audiophile version might not be available any more after a few months, especially with some of these small batch releases. Food for thought. Thanks for reading, and thanks for your videos, which I always enjoy and always find educational.
Really thoughtful insights. I never pulled the trigger on the AP box. I might play the long game and compile as each title is released via several series. I have all the small batches. The Miles is cut very hot and prefer other versions but the rest of the series is great. I think you should reconsider that Issac Hayes. I promise we won’t call you a completist! 😂
I did consider the Hayes but here’s the thing, I’m not that much a fan of the music. I could get an all analog clarity vinyl UHQR, but if the music is Nickelback, it doesn’t mean I’m going to like it. Please excuse the comparison of the legendary Black Moses with Chad Kroeger.
@ LOL I get it and respect it. I’m just trying to force my exceptional taste in music on you. It’s s character flaw. I can’t go on happy thinking CB doesn’t like Hot Buttered Soul. 😂
Thanks for covering this release. I appreciate the context. I won't be buying this version, but I'm curious about what other recent 33 RPM versions are worth considering. I don't have Explorations in my collection today.
Good question. There was an OJC release of it sometime in the 2000s however I don’t know if it leveraged the same remastering as the early 80s OJC, and what source they used, how it sounds, etc
Hi, thanks fo review and listening shootout. Among small batch editions, I only have the MIles Davis Relaxin release, and I have to say I do NOT like it very much. Compared to the AP reissue from 2020 and on old French original, the Craft sounds too audiophile, too crispy, sound totally unnatural to my ears for a 60+ years jazz record... I definitely prefer the sound presentation of original, or the AP edition if you want an ''audiophile'' presentation and listening ''experience'' (as they say). But.... B.Grundman may have changed the setup / adjustement / mastering and the tape / recording is different between Riverside and Prestige. I thus may get the Craft for the natural and warm sound presentation you noticed. Thanks for this very cool channel. J from Paris.
Thank I enjoyed the video. I like the small batch release so far as I have Working and Brilliant Corners. the Brilliant Corners release is really really good. Question if you were to generalize what would be the three most common improvements you hear in sound in these one step releases when comparing them to the original OJCs or original releases? Thanks again for all the information you provided.
Yea, so I think those things would include 1) clarity of each instrument, as in the ability to distinctly hear everyone, 2) sufficient air or space around each instrument so that they are distinct and not a sort of dense layering of noise, giving it a sort of 3 dimensional quality where you could guess where in the room the musicians are (rather than just the left vs. right channel), 3) natural sounding instruments, where when there is detail like a shimmering cymbal, clicking of saxophone keys, or fingers on strings, that it actually sounds like it might if you were there in studio, and not that the recording accentuates those details in a way that makes it sound unnatural
I feel the same way that you do about the AP 45s about Music Matters 45s, they just sound "fake" or "overdone." Glad to hear your thoughts, I've got this Evans arriving soon!
Did you listen to the original pressing on a mono setup. I do not have a mono cartridge and wonder how different my experience would be from yours? Always great content!
Interesting review! Many thanks ! The Craft release which surely is a very nice one would cost me landed cost at my doorstep nearly double the US price, and Craft would not even apply the discount code they send me which would have relieved some of my pain. There is also no other choice to buy these small batches other than directly in the US. I guess it’s the US market they are after with these special releases, and the cheaper mass produced stuff is for us Europeans. I rather wait for the respective OJC release or open my wallet to less arrogant labels. Disappointing!
You say you have a higher number but due to the OneStep Process and the fact that every 500 or 1000 pressings they use new stampers, your pressing No. 2016 is in fact one of the early pressings of that stamper and therefore should sound better? Not that I ever had the chance to compare different pressings to see if there is a difference in sound.
@@fmrhkyfan @axelfeiss1130 yea I'm actually skeptical of whether they keep track, or if they just manufacture the 2,500, and after the fact just randomly match with jackets that have already been numbered.
You can’t call Bill Evans overrated. He was brilliant. It’s just that it seems that recording companies are bent on releasing virtually every performance he ever gave. For the completist this can be problematic since there is so much overlap in terms of the song titles played.
I understand your feeling but when he is on such as the the Village Vanguard albums or You Must Believe in Spring his music is magical and really very few come close. In my opinion maybe only Monk or Jarrett I find to be as close. Just my thoughts though.
The standard OJC reissues are phenomenal, so I’ve never purchased one of the small batch presses. They’re substantially better than the mono or stereo originals. The CD’s are quite strong as well.
Seeing this a few days later. But I have yet to open and play mine. Loved your take and will definitely be doing my own comparison. Thanks!
I think I'll wait till they release the OJC version, as they did with Lateef.
it would be nice to see the 2025 OJC list, no word yet what's on it
Thanks for the review, good to know this version isn’t hot sounding. Which other small batches do you think are winners?
Most all "Small Batch Series" have been great & I recommend. The only unit I don't own is the Isaac Hayes.
Goid stuff.
Have an idea for you in 2025 that would be fun (let us know if already presented); Compare/contrast/discuss -"Six great live jazz albums versus six great studio jazz albums". Like w/ my other passion, athletic competition, teaming up live on a stage under lights can often produce "Best Of" album results but sometimes the studio performance, even spliced-in edited sessions, can deliver same trophy level results.
Just a suggestion. Lots of great live & studio music to choose from.
PS Two examples immediately come to mind:
A) "Kind of Blue".
B) Keith Jarrett's "The Köln Concert".
Both are goats yet each entirely were different recording circumstances, situations, etc..
You are providing such great context to these releases vs. the Riverside Box. I have contemplated that box so many times - I have one of the Albums from it - How my heart sings - but I have other version of the others - I just got this one step - and I was super curious about its comparison to the 45 edition - I dont think you wasted anything the Box set - its still amazing - but its good to know these are awesome too!
How timely! I just received mine.
I have an original Riverside stereo pressing I inherited from my Dad and it’s good enough for me. I’d rather have one of those Sonny Red’s albums you got there instead…
Thanks for the time you put into making this video.
I watch a lot of audiophile album reviews on UA-cam that include comparisons of multiple pressings. I’ve noticed that reviewers usually conclude that the brand new version is better than an earlier also expensive audiophile version.
Maybe that’s because the newer versions are always better. Like, it doesn’t make sense that a record company would put out a new expensive audiophile version of a record unless it was better than the previous expensive audiophile versions, right?
Or maybe it’s that human beings are naturally biased toward the newest thing, especially if it’s expensive. Nobody wants to feel like they just made a bad purchase decision, right?
I’ll watch a review of someone raving about a new expensive audiophile pressing. Then a year later, a new audiophile pressing from a different label comes out, and now the same reviewer is saying it sounds amazing, and the one he or she previously said sounded amazing now sounds … good in most ways, but not amazing.
Maybe what’s happening is that you (not you in particular, the general “you”) have to live with an album for a while before you can give it a fair review. Time for the novelty to wear off. Time to get some perspective.
But the problem with that approach for reviewers is that the audience is more likely to watch the review if it comed out as soon as the record is available, instead of a month or a few months later. The shiny new audiophile version might not be available any more after a few months, especially with some of these small batch releases.
Food for thought.
Thanks for reading, and thanks for your videos, which I always enjoy and always find educational.
fyi Ken Deardoff was the art director/graphic designer on the original riverside albums. beautiful tastefull cover design!🙏
Really want this one - hope the prediction of a future, more affordable, release is true :)
Hi
What about lafaro sound ?
I have a few versions and it all sound not very clear detail ?
Thanks
Really thoughtful insights. I never pulled the trigger on the AP box. I might play the long game and compile as each title is released via several series.
I have all the small batches. The Miles is cut very hot and prefer other versions but the rest of the series is great.
I think you should reconsider that Issac Hayes. I promise we won’t call you a completist! 😂
I did consider the Hayes but here’s the thing, I’m not that much a fan of the music. I could get an all analog clarity vinyl UHQR, but if the music is Nickelback, it doesn’t mean I’m going to like it. Please excuse the comparison of the legendary Black Moses with Chad Kroeger.
@ LOL I get it and respect it. I’m just trying to force my exceptional taste in music on you. It’s s character flaw. I can’t go on happy thinking CB doesn’t like Hot Buttered Soul. 😂
Sign me up for the Nickelback UHQR. I'd be all over that
Thanks for covering this release. I appreciate the context. I won't be buying this version, but I'm curious about what other recent 33 RPM versions are worth considering. I don't have Explorations in my collection today.
Good question. There was an OJC release of it sometime in the 2000s however I don’t know if it leveraged the same remastering as the early 80s OJC, and what source they used, how it sounds, etc
Hi, thanks fo review and listening shootout. Among small batch editions, I only have the MIles Davis Relaxin release, and I have to say I do NOT like it very much. Compared to the AP reissue from 2020 and on old French original, the Craft sounds too audiophile, too crispy, sound totally unnatural to my ears for a 60+ years jazz record... I definitely prefer the sound presentation of original, or the AP edition if you want an ''audiophile'' presentation and listening ''experience'' (as they say). But.... B.Grundman may have changed the setup / adjustement / mastering and the tape / recording is different between Riverside and Prestige. I thus may get the Craft for the natural and warm sound presentation you noticed. Thanks for this very cool channel. J from Paris.
Thank I enjoyed the video. I like the small batch release so far as I have Working and Brilliant Corners. the Brilliant Corners release is really really good. Question if you were to generalize what would be the three most common improvements you hear in sound in these one step releases when comparing them to the original OJCs or original releases? Thanks again for all the information you provided.
Yea, so I think those things would include 1) clarity of each instrument, as in the ability to distinctly hear everyone, 2) sufficient air or space around each instrument so that they are distinct and not a sort of dense layering of noise, giving it a sort of 3 dimensional quality where you could guess where in the room the musicians are (rather than just the left vs. right channel), 3) natural sounding instruments, where when there is detail like a shimmering cymbal, clicking of saxophone keys, or fingers on strings, that it actually sounds like it might if you were there in studio, and not that the recording accentuates those details in a way that makes it sound unnatural
@ I love when can hear the bass player moving his fingers along the strings of the stand up bass.
I feel the same way that you do about the AP 45s about Music Matters 45s, they just sound "fake" or "overdone." Glad to hear your thoughts, I've got this Evans arriving soon!
Did you listen to the original pressing on a mono setup. I do not have a mono cartridge and wonder how different my experience would be from yours? Always great content!
I did listen to it on my mono setup and it could be one of the reasons why I enjoyed the format so much.
Interesting review! Many thanks ! The Craft release which surely is a very nice one would cost me landed cost at my doorstep nearly double the US price, and Craft would not even apply the discount code they send me which would have relieved some of my pain. There is also no other choice to buy these small batches other than directly in the US. I guess it’s the US market they are after with these special releases, and the cheaper mass produced stuff is for us Europeans.
I rather wait for the respective OJC release or open my wallet to less arrogant labels.
Disappointing!
You say you have a higher number but due to the OneStep Process and the fact that every 500 or 1000 pressings they use new stampers, your pressing No. 2016 is in fact one of the early pressings of that stamper and therefore should sound better? Not that I ever had the chance to compare different pressings to see if there is a difference in sound.
Of course this only matters if the company keeps track of the pressing run all the way through the manufacturing process
@@fmrhkyfan @axelfeiss1130 yea I'm actually skeptical of whether they keep track, or if they just manufacture the 2,500, and after the fact just randomly match with jackets that have already been numbered.
first of all i dislike 45 rpm reissues. they are a pain in the ass. the craft reissues aound really nice.🙏😑
Yea they sure are. I prefer not having to leave my chair every 15 min
The most overrated, overhyped pianist in the history of Jazz.
Someone finally said it..... & I agree 100%
Not overrated, just very well known
You can’t call Bill Evans overrated. He was brilliant. It’s just that it seems that recording companies are bent on releasing virtually every performance he ever gave. For the completist this can be problematic since there is so much overlap in terms of the song titles played.
I understand your feeling but when he is on such as the the Village Vanguard albums or You Must Believe in Spring his music is magical and really very few come close. In my opinion maybe only Monk or Jarrett I find to be as close. Just my thoughts though.
Regardless, I enjoy Bill Evans and see no reason not to.
There is nothing exciting in collecting new releases of old jazz titles.