More about Blue Note Reissues

130.253.4.1

Posted on March 26, 1999 at 07:50:48

Mike K

I have purchased 3 more of the Blue Note RVG 24 bit remastered
discs, and here - for what it may be worth - are my opinions.

Soul Station - Hank Mobley. Best of this batch. Playing is superb
(we knew that already), and the remastering job is very well done.
There is some obnoxious reverb in the studio (Van Gelder's living
room actually, I think) that is present on every version of this
disc I have ever heard, and there appears to be no fixing that.
Way better than previous Blue Note issues, but I have not heard
any Japanese pressings.

Moanin' - Art Blakey & Jazz Messengers. Blakey and Lee Morgan are
superb on this disc, and Benny Golson aint too bad either. Way
better that previous Blue Note versions. All instruments except
bass very well recorded. Reverb doesnt seem as bad as on Soul
Station. Overall the sound seems a just a tad muddy.

Blowin' the Blues Away - Horace Silver. The poorest recording of
the 3, I feel, but this edition still way better than previous
Blue Note edition I have. Blue Mitchell's playing borders on
being manic or fast numbers - great stuff! This disc may be the
most musically satisfying of the three.

I can recommend all 3 of these discs, and my personal preferences
for them are in the order listed. These are all jazz classics,
and if you like jazz and dont have these, get them.

Next batch of RVG discs is due on April 20, I think, and I will have
something to say about those, too.