Analogue Productions - Duke Ellington's Masterpieces

J

jtinn

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I can count on one hand how many times I have been moved so much that I just had to post a suggestion / review of a recording. I generally keep them to myself and leave the reviews for others. This is one of those times, I just have to share.


I sat down to listen with friends and Analogue Productions' recent release of Duke Ellington's Masterpieces was the first thing pulled. We played it on my Wave Kinetics NVS Turntable with Durand Telos Tonearm and Ortofon Anna Cartridge. The loudspeakers were my Evolution Acoustics MMTwos.


All I can say is right from the first note of the fist song on the lp, "Moon Indigo" we were stunned and spewing expletives that would have embarrassed Richard Pryor. I do not ever remember hearing horns as alive sounding as this record produced. Every song was amazing!


My dad used to tell me that Ellington was the greatest, not just because he was an amazing musician and composer, but also because of his ability to keep the finest musicians of his day with his band. He made everyone feel special and was so generous with his compliments to the press about their abilities they just wanted to play for him. Ben Webster, Johnny Hodges, Barney Bigard, Oscar Pettiford, Billy Strayhorn and Clark Terry were just a few.


You absolutely need to go online immediately and order this record. It has moved into my top five recordings and might even be in my top two.


Enjoy!
 
jtinn said:
I can count on one hand how many times I have been moved so much that I just had to post a suggestion / review of a recording.
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I'm sorry, but you can't write something like that and keep the others to yourself. :)

With which other recordings have you had a similar experience? Give us at least one or two more.
 
Jonathan...thanks for the reco. As an aside, any news on the launch of the new Dart Integrated with the on-board DAC and any updated pricing given the dollar's appreciation against the Euro and the Swiss Franc? Thx

Cyril
 
Hi Jonathan, I bought the Lp after Mikey slobbered on himself in his review. The playing is absolutely first rate and captures Duke and his sidemen when they could really swing. I was impressed with the sonics as well, I've listened to and own many recordings from early stereo and pre-stereo era (like this one) and its tops.

One caveat, esp. to those late to the game or only listen to 'modern' recordings, DEM, In absolute terms still sounds vintage and some listeners won't 'get it.'
 
I can't wait to hear the LP of this release!

Sadly, I don't think the AP SACD sounds much better than the redbook counterpart.
 
Zero said:
I can't wait to hear the LP of this release!

Sadly, I don't think the AP SACD sounds much better than the redbook counterpart.
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I've purchased about 50 Analogue Production SACD's over the last year and I've found this to be the case with a number of them. Miles Davis - Someday My Prince Will Come; Sonny Rollins - Saxophone Colossus; and Ella Fitzgerald - Clap Hands Here Comes Charlie, to name a few. The 192/24 FLAC files for the Sonny Rollins and Ella Fitzgerald were hugely superior in sound quality.

However, Stan Getz - Jazz Samba and Getz/Gilberto; and Ben Webster - Soulville, Gentle Ben & Ben Webster Meets Oscar Peterson were incredible and even surpassed the 192/24 FLAC files with superior smoothness and musical density, albeit less nuance.

Ken
 
Alpinist,

Thanks for offering up your feedback. Wow, so you have 50 AP SACD's? And here I am, b***ing about the money that I spent on just a handful. haha So you think their Getz/Gilberto disc is incredible? Dang it man. Now I'm gunna have to order it sometime in the near future. I absolutely LOVE that album.
 
Hi Zero,

Yes, both Jazz Samba and Getz/Gilberto are terrific recordings done on the Verve label. They sound fantastic in any format. I've had Jazz Samba for years in a DCC Gold CD and it is one of my all-time best sounding redbook CDs. If you are into high res. downloads, I would also encourage you to check out the 192/24 expanded version of Getz/Gilberto on HDTracks.com. It contains both the stereo and mono versions as well U.S singles bonus tracks. I loved the bonus tracks. You can't go wrong no matter which direction you go with these recordings.

Best,
Ken
 
cmalak said:
Jonathan...thanks for the reco. As an aside, any news on the launch of the new Dart Integrated with the on-board DAC and any updated pricing given the dollar's appreciation against the Euro and the Swiss Franc? Thx

Cyril
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Hi Cyril,

Sorry, I have not been on the board and missed these posts.

The darTZeel LHC-208 should start shipping very soon. I had three of them playing at THE Show Newport Beach and thoroughly enjoyed them.

At this point we are probably looking at a US price of 15k or less.
 
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