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Universal Japan - Bill Evans "Sunday at the Village Vanguard"

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Posted on October 24, 2014 at 19:47:10
sleeper
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For years I’ve listened to Bill Evans’ “Sunday at the Village Vanguard” on the 1987 Original Jazz Classics CD release. Analog Productions put out a SACD many years ago, but I hesitated to buy it then at the outrageous asking price of $30 and it eventually went out of print. I kicked myself after I heard the Riverside SACD version of “Waltz for Debbie” and stewed for several years about the missed opportunity to pick up “Sunday…” on SACD. I even wrote to Chad Kassem and urged him to do another production run, but he turned me down. So, after musing for a year or two, last week I ordered (with a little trepidation) the Universal Japan SACD release of “Sunday…” at the even more outrageous price of $47. It arrived today and listening to it tonight along with the OJC CD I believe it was money well spent. Scott LaFaro’s bass has greatly improved tone and presence, Paul Motian’s brush work is crisp and detailed, and Evans’ piano is rich and round. And finally, the brunch-crowd noise is much less obtrusive. While it may not be a system demo disc, it comes close, and the SACD certainly sounds way better than CD. It is all around much more musically enjoyable. Yeah……, it is a big chunk of cash, but if “Sunday…” is one of your desert island records, it might be worth the investment.

Full disclosure: I have no financial interest in Universal Japan or any other record label or any music vendor.

 

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RE: Universal Japan - Bill Evans "Sunday at the Village Vanguard", posted on October 25, 2014 at 05:56:11
fantja
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Thank You! Sleeper-

I love those late-80's OJC jazz discs. They are better than most think.
I do not own any SACD of this title- I will add this one to my list!

Finally, this is a system demo disc!

 

RE: Universal Japan - Bill Evans "Sunday at the Village Vanguard", posted on October 25, 2014 at 06:03:52
fantja
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Posts: 15486
Location: Alabama
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Is the SACD a Universal Japan 2011 disc?
or-
the newer SHM-SACD ?

 

It is the SHM release., posted on October 25, 2014 at 10:58:42
sleeper
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The site from which I purchased it identified the label as Universal Japan. The Japanese paper wrapper on the disc case is labeled SHM.

 

RE: Universal Japan - Bill Evans "Sunday at the Village Vanguard", posted on October 25, 2014 at 11:07:51
dbphd
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As I write this, I'm listening to a Riverside 20 bit K2 recording of Village on my Ayre C-5xeMP; I also have it on JVC XRCD. I think both exhibit excellent sound quality that allows me to imagine the band's in my room, but it is the music that is exquisite. Wow!

db

 

RE: Universal Japan - Bill Evans "Sunday at the Village Vanguard", posted on October 25, 2014 at 14:03:54
fantja
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Thank You! guys.

 

RE: Universal Japan - Bill Evans "Sunday at the Village Vanguard", posted on October 28, 2014 at 10:33:23
TGT
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Nobody masters like the Japanese.

 

And the packaging sets a new standard for SACD products NT, posted on October 28, 2014 at 11:31:54
sleeper
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nt

 

RE: Universal Japan - Bill Evans "Sunday at the Village Vanguard", posted on October 29, 2014 at 17:32:04
duck decoy
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I have it and it's great. Another Evans SHM SACD, "You Must Believe In Spring" with Eddie Gomez and Eliot Zigmund is also very good. There is a radio station in Japan that only plays Bill Evans music.

 

Thanks. I looked for it on the web and ......, posted on October 29, 2014 at 19:16:48
sleeper
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neither Acoustic Sounds, Music Direct, or Elusive Disc lists it. I did find a SACD version on the Wea Japan label at Amazon for $67. Not sure if this is the SHM release. So, I bought the 2013 remastered CD version on the same Wea Japan label for 12 bucks from an Amazon associate seller. If I like it, I might consider the big ticket SACD.

 

RE: Thanks. I looked for it on the web and ......, posted on October 30, 2014 at 02:07:12
dbphd
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The expensive SACD I bought through Amazon is scheduled to be delivered tomorrow. I'll compare it to the excellent 20 Kbit Riverside and JVC XRCD versions. I hope the very high price is justified.

Im playing the superb Riverside DSD Waltz for Debby on my Ayre now. I've listened to lots of live jazz at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach and at Shelly's Manne-Hole in Hollywood, and this recording comes close to capturing that experience as I remember it.

db

 

RE: Thanks. I looked for it on the web and ......, posted on October 30, 2014 at 12:30:19
dbphd
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The SHM Sunday at the Village Vanguard arrived this morning. The Ayre is playing it as DSD, and it does sound superb, perhaps right up there with the Riverside DSD Waltz for Debby. As a previous poster noted, the packaging is special. It took me a bit of digging to find the disc. My cost from Amazon, including CA tax, was $75!

db

 

RE: Thanks. I looked for it on the web and ......, posted on October 31, 2014 at 08:45:13
duck decoy
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The "You Must Believe In Spring" SHM-SACD is in regular SACD size jacket. It's $45 on eBay.

 

RE: Thanks. I looked for it on the web and ......, posted on October 31, 2014 at 08:47:39
duck decoy
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...should be regular size CD jacket................

 

Yes, the OJC discs are pretty good, but the vinyl is even better., posted on October 31, 2014 at 17:21:10
sleeper
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I have a lot of the OJC vinyl re-releases. While not SOTA audiophile products, you can't beat the prices for most of their LPs.

 

I'll look for it on Ebay. Thanks, again. NT, posted on October 31, 2014 at 17:22:40
sleeper
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NT

 

RE: Thanks. I looked for it on the web and ......, posted on November 5, 2014 at 08:33:13
fantja
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db-

if you enjoy The Lighthouse performances, check out Lee Morgan 'Live @ the Lighthouse' 1970.

I. too, look forward in reading about your comparison(s) of those discs.
That Ayre is a very fine spinner!

 

RE: Thanks. I looked for it on the web and ......, posted on November 5, 2014 at 08:34:04
fantja
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duck-

I will second, 'You must believe in Spring'.

 

RE: Thanks. I looked for it on the web and ......, posted on November 5, 2014 at 10:04:03
duck decoy
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Glad you like it. I have been using Google's shopping site (froogle.com) to find most things I'm interested in. It lists all the places that sell the item online and also includes listings of the item on eBay.

 

RE: Thanks. I looked for it on the web and ......, posted on November 5, 2014 at 13:16:53
fantja
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Many Thanks!

 

RE: Thanks. I looked for it on the web and ......, posted on November 7, 2014 at 10:30:42
dbphd
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I listened serially to the Riverside SACD Waltz for Debby, the expensive SHM SACD, the 20 bit K2 Riverside, and the JVC XRCD of Sunday at the Village Vanguard. All sound superb, but none of the Village quite equal Waltz. I don't perceive the $70 SHM to sound noticeably better than the 20 bit K2 or XRCD. All discs were played on my Ayre C-5xeMP, the SACDs as DSD.

Caveat: These are just my impressions.

db

 

RE: Thanks. I looked for it on the web and ......, posted on November 7, 2014 at 13:31:06
fantja
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Many Thanks! db-

the Ayre is a very fine player- I trust your thoughts/impressions.

 

Recieved my CD version and really like it. So......, posted on November 8, 2014 at 18:47:54
sleeper
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I found the SHM SACD at an Amazon associate and ordered it, for the most I have ever spent on any recorded music, be it CD, SACD, or LP. The $45 Ebay disc seems to have sold, but I got a ball park price from CD Imports in California. Apparently the SHM SACD is out of print, but several US vendors have remaining inventory. When it arrives I will post my comparison opinion between the SHM SACD and the 24-bit mastered CD that I have on hand (which sounds really good, BTW).

 

RE: Recieved my CD version and really like it. So......, posted on November 9, 2014 at 06:12:35
fantja
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Excellent sleeper!

 

RE: Universal Japan - Bill Evans "Sunday at the Village Vanguard", posted on November 26, 2014 at 05:27:36
fantja
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Any other BE titles?

 

RE: Universal Japan - Bill Evans "Sunday at the Village Vanguard", posted on November 26, 2014 at 18:39:41
sleeper
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I have four other Bill Evans SACDs: "Portrait in Jazz" on the Riverside label, "Waltz for Debbie" and "Moon Beams", both on Analog Productions. On SHM SACD, I have "Sunday at the Village Vanguard" and "You Must Believe in Spring". The SHM SACD "Interplay" is on its way from Japan. I suppose I could get around to doing some more comparisons between the SHM and standard SACD formats, but as already pointed out to me, I don't have all these titles in the various competing CD, SHM, and SACD fomats to allow true "apples to apples" critical comparisons.

 

RE: Universal Japan - Bill Evans "Sunday at the Village Vanguard", posted on November 30, 2014 at 11:23:36
dbphd
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I think the sound of the SHM recording of Spring is superior to that of the SHM recording of Vanguard. It really is superb.

db

 

I agree, posted on November 30, 2014 at 16:25:46
sleeper
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"Spring" does sound a bit better than "Sunday" - it's a studio recording with better overall production.

 

RE: I agree, posted on November 30, 2014 at 16:48:10
fantja
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Listening to "Sunday" now.

 

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