The Best of the Best!

[MylesBAstor]

Baker's Dozen Favorite 15 ips Tapes

Bill Evans: Waltz for Debby, The Tape Project
Lee Morgan: Sidewinder, The Tape Project
Arnold Overtures, The Tape Project
Bruch: Scottish Fantasy, The Tape Project
Suryodaya, Yarlung Records
Smoke and Mirrors Percussion Ensemble Debut, Yarlung Records
Smoke and Mirrors Percussion Ensemble Vanish, Yarlung Records
Janaki String Trio, Yarlung Records
Dialoghi, Yarlung Records
Jason Roebke: Shimmering, International Phonograph
Lee Konitz/Martial Solal: The Portland Sessions, International Phonograph
Oscar Peterson: My Favorite Instrument, Vol 4, Horch House
Opus 3: Sampler tapes 1-4

[MylesBAstor]

Some other highly recommended tapes:

Danielle Mencarelli Meets Hemiolia Records, Hemiolia Recordings







Suroyada, Yarlung Records









Smoke and Mirrors: Vanish










Anne Bisson: Blue Mind, contact Gary Koh, Genesis Advanced Technologies












Patricia Barber: Cafe Blue, Premonition Records

[Rob]

I wish the Bruch Scottish Fantasy were still in print, I don't have it and me thinks they won't offer it again

[MylesBAstor]

I wish the Bruch Scottish Fantasy were still in print, I don't have it and me thinks they won't offer it again

As I understand it, it was all the planets and stars being in alignment that allowed them to get the two Decca tapes (actually Winston Ma had the masters for his FIM djgjtal reissues and TTP was able to piggy back onto his project). It is truly revelatory and in this case, the $400 or so dollars for the tape is a lot less than they ask for an early Decca pressing.

[Yarlung Records]

Myles, thank you for the hard work and development you and your valiant Audio Nirvana team have put into this vibrant forum. It is terrific to see the energy people have put into these pages in support of your new venture. I predict tremendous success! Thank you for the hard work you do and for the many insightful reviews.

Best wishes and many thanks,

Bob Attiyeh
Yarlung Records

https://www.yarlungrecords.com

[MylesBAstor]

Myles, thank you for the hard work and development you and your valiant Audio Nirvana team have put into this vibrant forum. It is terrific to see the energy people have put into these pages in support of your new venture. I predict tremendous success! Thank you for the hard work you do and for the many insightful reviews.

Best wishes and many thanks,

Bob Attiyeh
Yarlung Records
www.yarlungrecords.com

Thank you so much for your kind comments Bob! Actually we owe it all to the effort of people like you.

I hope eventually to have all the tape manufacturers on audionirvana to discuss their recordings and wares. Oh and Bob's work is also available in DSD, Quad DSD, vinyl and tape. How many companies can stake claim to that!?!? Do check Bob's work out. His recordings are truly special and some of the best being done today!!!

[Albert Porter]

Baker's Dozen Favorite 15 ips Tapes

Bill Evans: Waltz for Debby, The Tape Project
Lee Morgan: Sidewinder, The Tape Project
Arnold Overtures, The Tape Project
Bruch: Scottish Fantasy, The Tape Project
Suryodaya, Yarlung Records
Smoke and Mirrors Percussion Ensemble Debut, Yarlung Records
Smoke and Mirrors Percussion Ensemble Vanish, Yarlung Records
Janaki String Trio, Yarlung Records
Dialoghi, Yarlung Records
Jason Roebke: Shimmering, International Phonograph
Lee Konitz/Martial Solal: The Portland Sessions, International Phonograph
Oscar Peterson: My Favorite Instrument, Vol 4, Horch House
Opus 3: Sampler tapes 1-4

Myles,

Agree with this list and I might add this Jazz title, a tape I love for both music and sound quality. I’m a huge Brian Blade fan.

[MylesBAstor]

Myles,

Agree with this list and I might add this Jazz title, a tape I love for both music and sound quality. I’m a huge Brian Blade fan.

Thanks Albert! I haven't heard any of the Quinton tapes.

[MylesBAstor]

Add Jonathan Horwich's redo of Jason Roebke's Quartet Shimmering recording to the must-have tape list!

Now a short explanation. A month or so ago, Jonathan sent an email to all of his customers with a list of tapes for sale. I, unfortunately, responded too late to the email (well actually I responded right away but obviously so did someone else and bought all the tapes for sale). Jonathan was sincerely apologetic and in lieu of the for sale tapes, offered to exchange my copy of the Jason Roebke tape for his latest version. But no explanation of what he had done with the latest version.

So I exchanged copies with Jonathan at Axpona and brought the new version of Shimmering over the NOLA speakers room for a quick listen.

Color me flabbergasted!

The new Shimmering tape sounds nothing like the original release. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Everyone in the NOLA room was floored too! Returned home with the newest version of the tape and spooled it up listened to the Roebke recording again today with the same result. This 2012 mellow, avant garde, jazz recording is absolutely Jonathan's best work yet and obviously truer to the original master. The difference between the two tapes basically boil down to one thing. Jonathan broke the piggy bank and went out and bought a Manley tube mixer. Since the original Shimmering master tapeswere originally 8-track recordings, Jonathan must mix them down to two track for stereo release. And the Manley mixer made all the difference in the world. The latest version is far richer, tonally fuller and absolutely holographic sounding. Shimmering just lacks any sense of artificiality (at least with the Kondo gear). Adasiewicz's (one of the most sought out vibe players in Chicago) vibes are no longer cold and thin sounding. Roebke's bass and Jackson's sax sound like they are in the room with you. The tone of the each instrument is simply stunning. Simply an amazing sense of instrumental body that is so rarely heard on even tape.

So make sure to put this one on your must-have list. Jonathan has also made a special offer to anyone who owns the original version of Shimmering. Just pay for the shipping back and Jonathan will send in return the newest version that I have in my hands. Just contact Jonathan first before shipping at [email protected].

I really look forward to all of Jonathan's new efforts that will also be mixed down using the Manley mixer!!!

From Jonathan's site:

Performed on December 18th of 2012 in Chicago, this performance was recorded directly to an 8 track Studer recorder. This great ensemble of world class players features Chicago-style modern jazz at its best (Jason Roebke, bass; Mike Reed, drums; Jason Adasiewicz, vibes; and Keefe Jackson, tenor sax.) Although the jazz is avant, it is also quite lyrical and captivating to listen to on tape. One customer said he had never heard better sounding vibes than on this tape. A handmade stereo mic was used on the vibes; and a hand assembled Telefunken 251e was used on the tenor sax. I personally love this music and the musicians who created it; I hope you will support them. As usual, copies of the production master are sold for only $150.

[jonathanhorwich]

This Roebke tape is now a rarity in that the vibes player (Jason Adasiewicz) no longer plays at all. He was my favorite modern vibes player, period. Completely original. But at least he's captured on the Roebke tape. The tape to me represents the best of the Chicago scene.

[MylesBAstor]

Decided with the onslaught of tapes to slightly revise and expand the list. List may also be revised when get new Transparent Audio Gen. 5 IC to run between King-Cello and GAT (hopefully next week!)

The Ten Best of the Best

Arnold Overtures, The Tape Project
Bill Evans: Waltz for Debby, The Tape Project
Bruch: Scottish Fantasy, The Tape Project
Dialoghi, Yarlung Records
Janaki String Trio, Yarlung Records
Live at Vattnajokull, Opus 3
The Mark Colby Quartet: Int. Phonograph Inc.
Opus 3: Sampler Tape 3
Smoke and Mirrors Percussion Ensemble Debut, Yarlung Records
Suryodaya, Yarlung Records

Highly Recommended Recordings

Albeniz: Suite Espanola, The Tape Project
Antonio Lysy at the Broad, Yarlung Records
Danielle Mencarelli Meets Hemiolia: Originals, Hemiolia Records
Danielle Mencarelli Meets Hemiolia: Standards, Hemiolia Records
Jacintha: Here's to Ben Webster, Groove Note
Garcia-Grisman, The Tape Project
Ito Ema: Goldberg Variations, MA Recordings
Jacqui Naylor: The Number White, The Tape Project
Jason Roebke: Shimmering, International Phonograph
John Lee Hooker and Canned Heat, The Tape Project
Josh Berman Trio, International Phonograph
Lee Morgan: Sidewinder, The Tape Project
Nojima Plays Liszt, The Tape Project
Opus 3: Sampler Tape 1,2, 4 and 5
Oscar Peterson: My Favorite Instrument, Vol 4, Horch House
Smoke and Mirrors Percussion Ensemble Vanish, Yarlung Records
Yello: One Second, Horch House

[Johnny Vinyl]

I'd love to hear that JLH & Canned Heat, plus the Oscar Peterson one.

[audioblazer]

I have all the Quinton tapes by AAA. Selling much cheaper than most R2R . I love Nouvelle Cuisine , Mozart revisited

[MylesBAstor]

A couple of changes and additions to the list. Still a work in progress.

Revised Reference Tape List, V3.0

The Ten Best of the Best

^@*#Arnold Overtures, The Tape Project
⁺Bill Evans: Waltz for Debby, The Tape Project
⁺Bruch: Scottish Fantasy, The Tape Project
^+*@Dialoghi, Yarlung Records
^*#@Oue: Exotic Dances from the Opera, The Tape Project
^@+Janaki String Trio, Yarlung Records
⁺The Mark Colby Quartet: Int. Phonograph Inc. Direct Copy
^*Opus 3: Sampler Tape 3
^#@Smoke and Mirrors Percussion Ensemble Debut, Yarlung Records
^@*Suryodaya, Yarlung Records

^*Exceptionally transparent
⁺Exceptionally natural
^#Exceptionally dynamic
^@Low end test

Highly Recommended Recordings

A Portrait of Jimi Hendrix, Davide Pannozzo Trio, Hemiolia Records
Albeniz: Suite Espanola, The Tape Project
Antonio Lysy at the Broad, Yarlung Records
Danielle Mencarelli Meets Hemiolia: Originals, Hemiolia Records
Danielle Mencarelli Meets Hemiolia: Standards, Hemiolia Records
Jacintha: Here's to Ben Webster, Groove Note
Garcia-Grisman, The Tape Project
Ito Ema: Goldberg Variations, MA Recordings
Jacqui Naylor: The Number White, The Tape Project
Jason Roebke: Shimmering, International Phonograph
John Lee Hooker and Canned Heat, The Tape Project
Josh Berman Trio, International Phonograph
Lee Morgan: Sidewinder, The Tape Project
Nojima Plays Liszt, The Tape Project
Opus 3: Sampler Tape 1,2, 4 and 5
Oscar Peterson: My Favorite Instrument, Vol 4, Horch House
Smoke and Mirrors Percussion Ensemble Vanish, Yarlung Records
The Mark Colby Quartet: Int. Phonograph Inc., normal transfer
Yello: One Second, Horch House

[audioblazer]

Myles, have u listen to any openreel tapes ? Give it a listen esp Enrico Dindo tapes

[MylesBAstor]

Myles, have u listen to any openreel tapes ? Give it a listen esp Enrico Dindo tapes

Yes I have the Astor-Piazzolla as well as the Al Jarreau and Thelonious Monk tapes in for review. The Vivaldi release was reviewed here http://positive-feedback.com/tag/open-reel-records.

[MylesBAstor]

New addition to list:

Live at Vattnajokull from Opus 3. (Sampler tape 2, track 6 for snippet.) I don't think this was ever released on vinyl but is currenty also available from the Opus 3 website as a 2X DSD download (Al this has your name written all over it with your IRS Vs!) or MC. What makes this recording oh-so-special is that it is a copy taken directly from the master tape. And you can hear the difference in generation just as I recently discovered. Exceedingly transparent and with the recent changes in the system, there's a sense of the hall, the percussion instruments that just eludes so many other recordings. A hallmark of Jan-Eric's recordings. Plus the organ will certainly test the capabilities of your system. This is the first tape that earns marks for marrying naturalness, dynamics, transparency and low end all in one recording!

Musically, the work is sensational bringing one on a wild, roller coaster ride through the geological formations of Iceland! While you might file this under classical, there's no question that the music's melodic nature, the sound of the marimba and vibraphone and improv give it also a very jazz-like flavor.






Taken from Opus 3 website since couldn't describe it better.

"If you are wondering what prompted an organist and a percusion/marimba/vibraphone player to journey to Iceland to make a recording with improvised music and a special arrangement of Maurice Ravel´s Bolero, then perhaps the word inspiration could be the most succinct answer. It is this which gives rise to the expression “inspired performance” which can certainly be applied to this recording.

A number of contributing factors have combined to create the ambience in this recording of what is in effect a musical journey through or over the magnificent Icelandic nature, particularly the gigantic Vatnajökull glacier which covers a number of volcanoes, and from which this CD derives its title, the cover picture was taken during a volcanic eruption in 1996.

Further sources of inspiration were derived not only from the outstanding beauty of the Hallgrims Church with its wonderful acoustics, but also the superb Klaus Flugel organ which was completed in 1992. Small wonder that Mattias and Anders were able to give the “inspired performances” heard in this recording where their outstanding musicianship has been set free to explore the myriad possibilities which are an intrinsic part of performing improvised music."