Album of the Evening

[Musicophile]

My first post on this thread, which I really appreciate because it gets me back from the tempting iTunes Remote skipping around and/or shuffled playlists to actually listening to a full album again.

 

So here we go: Keith Jarrett: Rio.

[Musicophile]

Jean-Michel Jarre: Oxygene. Hadn't heard this for ages.

[Musicophile]

Peter Bernstein Quartet Live at Smalls

 

Have discovered this great musician at the Village Vanguard when in was in NYC some weeks ago. This CD, while rather "poor" sound quality by audiophile standards, really captures the essence of a great evening I had there.

[Musicophile]

Another great live album, however, excellent sound quality this time:

 

Enrico Pieranunzi: Live in Japan

 

Mio Caro Dottor Grasler is amazing, same for Ninfa Plebea.

[Musicophile]

Keith Jarrett Jan Garbarek Palle Danielsson Jon Christenssen: Sleeper: Tokyo, April 16, 1979 Disc 2. XLD conversion redbook CD to AIFF. More involving.

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Great evening of music to relax by,

Richard

 

This one is now available in 24/96 on Highresaudio. Would the sound quality be worth it?

 

HIGHRESAUDIO | Home of audiophile music - Keith Jarrett - Sleeper

[Musicophile]

If you are asking me personally, have not heard the DL. The redbook 2 disc edition is very good re SQ. I also believe HDtracks has added sleeper to their catalogue.

Best,

Richard

 

Thanks. Just for clarification, I was referring to the sound quality of the recording you already have. Anyhow, ECM stuff is usually well recorded.

[Musicophile]

Ah, that is what I thought was the meaning of your communication. My experience is that ECM is usually well recorded as you state. Sometimes on my system, slightly over bright.

Sleeper 2 Disc edition, I hear as very good in SQ. I have a fairly comprehensive Keith Jarrett collection and wanted the "hard copy" to add to. As your query to me concerns specifically the redbook 2Disc CD, I would not hesitate to purchase that edition. I was tempted to purchase the HDtracks DL at 96/24, but, honestly, the Sleeper edition I have converted by XLD to AIFF is very satisfactory. If you decide to add the redbook edition, I'll be happy to hear about your assessment.

Enjoy the music,

Richard

 

 

Thanks. I'm with you, if I have something in redbook, I usually don't buy it again in 24/96 unless it is one of my absolute favorite albums. However, I don't have it yet, so I was wondering whether the sound quality of the recording is good enough so that hires can actually make a difference.

 

I'll probably give it a try.

[Musicophile]

Schubert: String Quartet D810, Death and the Maiden, Leipziger String Quartet. Not technically a full album (coming from their great Complete String Quartets box, and skipping the Menuets).

 

[Musicophile]

Murray Perahia: Brahms.

 

 

Qobuz download 24/96. Beautiful music, great sound, extremely well played. What else do you want?

[Musicophile]

Neeme Järvi: 1812 et al.

 

 

Quite impressive sounds by DG standards, lot's of dynamics, nice space, and obviously: the cannons.

 

Can't do this kind of stuff every day, but fun once in a while

[Musicophile]

Mahler 5, MTT, San Francisco.

 

 

Qobuz 24/96. Can fully confirm my enthusiasm from here:

 

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f13-audiophile-downloads/mahler-5-tilson-thomas-qobuz-24-96-a-12237/

 

One of my best symphonic recordings sound wise.

[Musicophile]

Katia Buniatishvilli: Liszt (redbook rip)

 

 

Her debut album. The interpretation of the great b-minor sonata has been rather controversially reviewed, either you love it or you hate it. On my side, it is one of my preferred versions of this great piece of art. There's just so much energy. Feels very much like Martha Argerich.

 

Tord Gustavsen: The Well (24/96 Qobuz):

 

Beautifully played, beautifully recorded. This album really breathes.

 

[Musicophile]

Nathalie Dessay: Cleopatra - with Emmanuelle Haïm's Concert d'Astrée.

 

 

Baroque opera doesn't get more beautiful than this.

[Musicophile]

I picked up four CDs today really cheap ($10.00) and I am enjoying those this evening.

 

• The Notting Hillbillies - Missing...Presumed Having Fun
  

A nice countryish evening

 

The Notting Hillbillies I go back to once a year (however, also not more often) since nearly 20 years when that album came out. I used to use that album (Vinyl) quite regularly for hifi testing purposed (especially Your Own Sweet Way). And Feel Like Going Home makes me sentimental every time I hear it, not matter how cheesy it is.

[Musicophile]

Marcin Wasilewksi Trio - Faithful (redbook)

 

 

The latest and by far best of the Polish trio's albums. Also amazing sound quality, even by the high ECM standards.

[Musicophile]

Janos Starker, Antal Dorati: Dvorak: Cello Concerto.

 

Great performance, great sound.

 

[Musicophile]

Tord Gustavsen: The Ground. For me the best album from Tord. Amazing sound quality (redbook).

 

[Musicophile]

Charlie Haden & Pat Metheny: Beyond The Missouri Sky

 

 

Never understood what all the fuzz regarding Metheny was about, most of his albums I sampled/own are rather boring. This one is amazing though.

[Musicophile]

Brandford Marsalis: Eternal (redbook)

 

[Musicophile]

Another title in common. Some of the best phrasing on tenor and soprano I have heard (I know how good the others are, but...)

and along with his father Ellis, masterfully on piano, Loved Ones XLD conversion redbook CD to AIFF. Another beautiful duet and as father and son.

Enjoying the music,

Richard

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Thanks for flagging this one, don't have it yet. Looks very tempting, will check it out.

 

And just noticed I misspelled poor Branford.

[Musicophile]

Bach: Cantatas pour Alto - Scholl / Herreweghe

 

 

My usual favorites for the Bach cantatas are Koopman and Gardiner, but this recording is special because of Andreas Scholl. Absolutely beautiful music.

[Musicophile]

Christophe Coin / Patrick Cohen: Mendelssohn (redbook). Started in the car, finished at home.

 

 

Cassandra Wilson: Another Country (24/96)

 

[Musicophile]

Beethoven: Piano Trios - Trio Wanderer (24/96). The best hi res chamber music album I know.

 

 

 

And, heard a gazillion times, but still 6 stars:

 

[Musicophile]

If Anton Bruckner had written a Piano Concerto, here's what it would sound like:

 

 

As much as I love Zimerman, this is not his greatest performance ever (granted, the 80's Karajan style didn't help, it get's close to his notorious Tchaikovsky 1 with Kissin), but I still listen to it every once in a while as it is really so different.

[Musicophile]

I am intrigued: are you referring to Schumann's or Grieg's piano concerto on this disc?

 

Mainly referring to the Schumann: Karajan conducts this in a way and with a tone that reminds me strongly of his great Brucker recordings, especially in the 2nd and 3rd movement.