Tommy Flanagan's The Cats: a review of the OJC / Craft Recordings jazz vinyl reissue
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ม.ค. 2024
- Discussing my thoughts on this latest releast of Tommy Flanagan's The Cats originally put out by Prestige/New Jazz but reissued here by Craft Recordings in their Original Jazz Classics (OJC) series. Also, I mean you've got John Coltrane and Kenny Burrell here... so kind of worth your attention.
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If you're new to my channel, what you can expect from me is a vinyl collector's approach to the jazz genre. For years, I've only collected vintage pressings and prioritized originals of Blue Note, Prestige, Savoy, Bethlehem, Riverside, New Jazz, and more classic labels. Lately, with the resurgence of the medium and more collectors coming to the space, the music industry has taken notice and prioritized putting out high quality reissues of some of the best albums ever recorded. Subscribe to my channel to watch me navigate how to rationalize how I used to buy vs. how I buy vinyl records today.
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Thank you! Appreciate the informative video.
Serendipity! I stopped by my local shop today and found a clean copy of "Moodsville 9" (OJC, 1985) for a fair price, which I then bought on your recommendation. Much appreciated!
Thanks for a great review of this record. I'm glad you mentioned the volume issue on side two of The Cats. I have a 1976 Prestige "specially priced two record set" (remember those)? release of Kenny Burrell with John Coltrane (record 1) & The Cats, (record 2). I just assumed the volume issue on side two of The Cats was specific to this particular pressing. In addition to The Cats, Kenny Burrell with John Coltrane (record 1/side 2 , track 1 "Freight Trane" has a couple of spots w/total sound drop out. I picked up OJC's pressing of Kenny Burrell with John Coltrane a couple of weeks ago, I waited for it, and it's gone. Makes me wonder if it's just on my '76 pressing, or if OJC added a little something extra to fill in the holes. In any case the OJC release of Kenny Burrell with John Coltrane is far better than my version, and I'm very happy with it. I'll be getting The Cats from OJC next.
Streaming from Amazon Music Unlimited the new remaster from Kirk Felton (2023 Craft Recordings) sounds very good. My John Coltrane Interplay CD boxset mastered by Joe Tarantino sounds brittle but so do other albums in this set. The new remaster is an excellent find, so thanks!
I got my copy few weeks ago and must say my experience is a little different from yours. My setup is very different though, so that could be part of the reason. I agree Tommy's piano sounds a little muted on some tracks but not by a great margin, if you didn't mention it I wouldn't have noticed it. This is IMO one of those must-have jazz records in anyone collection, a true historical classic and what an outstanding ensemble and music it delivers.
Anyway, stay well and keep producing these fantastic videos. Thanks!
Thank you, enjoyed, have bought this release, agree with you but still very enjoyable
Insightful video. I pulled out my 1977 Victor SMJ pressing and listened to it with your comments in mind. I know these are usually made from copy tapes, but the vinyl used and the care from the engineers often overcomes that. In this case some of the issues with volume between tracks and instruments have been corrected. Also, I think the Isrees Suliman Trumpet sounded very good and not thin. Watkins on bass was prominent enough as well. Burrell was brilliant. Yes Rudy's recording of the piano was as is typical a bit underwhelming on the tracks with horns but quite bright on the trio tracks. And quiet as hell. So you might give this one a try ...as it is really a superb session. Also I am now listening to Moodsville 8/Frank Wess. Yes also a blue Trident version. It's very glossy compared to some other I've seen but yes a faint crackle in the run in and quite part.. ....But You might enjoy this as Flanagan is prominently featured. Cheers, R
Thanks for the feedback on this one. I felt the recording sounded very... what we think 1957 sounds like. However, after picking up the recent AS Coleman Hawkins Encounters Ben Webster release also recorded in '57, I have to say... this must just not be a good recording. I do have it on order though because for whatever reason I have decided that this new OJC series is the hill to die on so to speak lol, in other words I plan to be a completist.
I agree with you about how good the coleman webster release was. I was amazed.
This record is going to sound different on your set up in your room. I played it the other day and it sounded fantastic. if you know the KEF and MAC sound together you’ll realize why he heard what he did.
Man this is on my wantlist.
1-Thanks for the recommendation of Moodsville 9, I streamed it after hearing your recommendation and look forward to finding a copy
2-i appreciate the feedback on the quality of the recordings as I always wrestle with if it’s the quality of the original recording or my pressing, when I have a bad sounding album.
3-do have any favorite albums of Tommy Fannigan as a side man?
Thanks again for the information and have a good weekend
Great Video! I appreciate your honesty. I bought a new OJC copy and was not super impressed with the sound quality. My copy was defective and had a lot of ticks and surface noise on track 2- even after an ultrasonic cleaning. I returned it and picked up a tone poet instead and never looked back. That is my honesty in return.
Thanks for your insights which are always appreciated. I was thinking of buying it but now I am not
Look for other opinions before making a final decision. This review is askew.
Sounds like a 1957 recording? Like Blue Trane you mean? Thin? I disagree with your assessment there. Yes, RVG tended to shove the piano to the corner (literally and sonically), as he did here. I agree that it would be nice to give the piano equal footing, as I would have liked on many RVG Hackensack recordings, but this does not stand out to be any different in that respect. It sounds very good with a mono cartridge BTW.
I disagree as well. This albums sounds exactly as it should and I don’t think it’s “thin” anywhere.
There are a ton of people that have reviewed this album with quite the opposite opinion expressed in this video.
WCB lost some credibility with me on this one.
BTW what mono cartridges to you use or recomend? I have the Dennon 102 am not fully satisfied..
@@rsyalom I have a Miyajima Zero that I like quite a bit. It can have a ground loop hum issue with certain phono stages. I had the problem and finally solved it with a dedicated Miyajima step up transformer and a dedicated mono phono stage. Look up Robin Wyatt, the gentleman who co-produced the Caelan Cardello record with Michael Fremer, if you are interested. I also demoed and burned in a My Sonic Labs Eminent Solo. It is fantastic too, and not as fussy as the Miyajima. All in though, the cost of the MSL alone is about the same as the Miyajima, the step up, and the mono phono stage. Keep in mind they are both low output MC’s with low compliance, so they need an arm on the heavy side.
I have an old New Jazz copy and I don't hear any of the problems you mention. I think it's a fine session and a fine recording. I wouldn't expect a modern reissue to sound any better. In my experience, they very rarely do - if ever.
Thanks! Was on the fence. I think I’ll pass based on your review and spend my money elsewhere
Read other reviews online and on Discogs. He’s way off on this one.
It’s sounds great on my set up, let your own ears be the judge
I have to make a second comment here, I just found the blue trident label version today and compared it to the OJC. The OJC has NO CHANCE, how do you come up with such a positive review, very irritating, maybe you did not listen with a mono cartridge? That would explain it I guess. I played both records with my Ortofon Cadenza white and the difference is amazing. The old version has more power in the bass, the quarter notes from the bass have way more punch, it is much more open at the top, trumpet has more bit, as sax, guitar more sparkle. The ring of the cymbals is more present, a totally different experience over all, way, way better than the OJC. Sorry, just my 2 cents, think about a mono system....
Curious if the blue trident copy you have is pressed on recycled vinyl like mine. This hiss would be present regardless of a mono setup or not. I use a mono switch in lieu of a dedicated cart at the moment but that may change when I upgrade my turntable later this year. Also my review of the OJC is definitely not that positive lol
@@jazzvinylcollector I have some noise but only when I use the stereo system, not dramatic, what you expect from a blue label Prestige. With the mono cartridge, the noise is mostly gone, as usual with a mono system. The mono switch will not help you a lot with the noise, get a mono cartridge, this is way better, better sound and much lower noise.
@@jazzvinylcollector one more...the OJC has the typical lifeless so called "audiophile" sound, no power, no dynamics. I remembered your review positive, I saw the video as it came out, maybe I remember something wrong, I thought you where all positive on the OJC, sorry then.
@@mymixture965 my comments were in part about the thinness of Sulieman’s trumpet, and that I just wasn’t very impressed overall with the recording. I think something along the lines of it sounding like it was an older recording rather than it being a great example of Van Gelder’s work. Now I wasn’t very impressed with the Blue trident either, in large part to the noise which was less pronounced with the OJC. I’d have to hear either an original or a cart that can cancel the recycled hiss in order to enjoy it properly
@@jazzvinylcollector We are pretty similar in our collecting interest, I am from Austria, for me it is just harder to get these US originals, so I am happy that I have at least a blue label version. The biggest improvement in my system was the mono cartridge, I have a second tone arm for that but there are many solutions. I highly recommend it when you like these old Jazz records, TRY THAT, it will nock you out, more music, less noise, more tolerance with worn records. On stereo I never go below VG+, on mono even VG is no problem.
I thought this OJC was fantastic. I’ve heard way worse records from this vintage than this. Settle down people.