Open Sesame

This review is for the Blue Note 80th Anniversary release of this title, mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearant Audio. I do not have the Music Matters Jazz release (which sells for $49.95) to compare sound quality, but I'd be shocked if the MMJ release is worth over double the price tag. Both were mastered by Gray, but not sure if this was pulled from a different mastering. The MMJ release was pressed at RTI (USA) while this 80th was pressed at Optimal in Germany. YMMV, but my copy of this 80th release is pristine with little surface noise. At any rate, I usually buy and ask questions later when I see Kevin Gray, and this 80th release does not disappoint. Full range, dynamic high end extension, dimensionality, tight and pronounced bass... a five star release from a sound quality standpoint!Obviously the packaging is an area where costs were cut on these 80th releases. But Blue Note has been very up front about that and has not over-promised on that point. You get a basic cover (no gatefold) and a simple inner that I replaced immediately with a master sleeve. BN's Tone Poet series is a bit more expensive and provides nicer packaging (and RTI pressing), but for my money I'd take strong SQ over packaging any day and save some dough. Fantastic direction and options from Blue Note of late. I just hope they continue using Gray and releasing more of these gems. Because I'll keep buying them!

I'm not sure what the source was for this DOL vinyl reissue of this blue note classic but, frankly I think some people worry entirely too much about what the source was; was it digital or analog, etc...imo, that stuff is nice to know but all that should really matter in the end is does the product sound good and play well? And the answer in this case is yes. I'm sure it doesn't compare to an original vintage Blue Note pressing, but those go for big bucks and lets face it some of us just simply want to listen to some good records and enjoy them and for that person (like me), it is just fine. WAY better sound quality than you will ever get on streaming music services for sure(I did a side by side comparison), and for the price this is a VERY nice sounding, quiet pressing. So don't fret about if the source was digital or analog, and don't stress too much if you can't afford an $80 original Blue Note copy from 1960...its less than $20 and it sounds just fine, very full and rich tones. Buy it, play it, and enjoy a great Blue Note Jazz album that should get more recognition than it does! If you haven't HEARD this album yet, Freddie Hubbard was GREAT. His trumpet playing was wonderful and this was (if I'm not mistaken) his first outing as a band leader on a record. It has quickly become a favorite of mine and this lp will be getting many spins!

This review is for the XRCD24 Master CD edition. I took this disc and the RVG remaster of it and played them in my car which has a decent sound system and there were stark differences. I am not sure what accounts for the difference but the XRCD24 edition is much better. For one, you can hear more separation on the instruments. Two, the RVG edition, while not terrible sounds more shrill, or as if there is too much treble. The bass sounds more full on the XRCD24 edition as well. The best description I can give is that this disc breathes more and sounds more like analog. Perhaps the RVG edition was not taken from the analog master and this one was? Whatever the explanation may be, there is no question in my mind that this disc sounds better than the RVG edition. I have seen people on the blogs telling people that there is no difference in sound between the XRCD24 discs and normal discs. In this case I can tell you there is a difference between these two editions. As far as the music goes, its an awesome session that you will enjoy for years to come. This disc is well worth adding to your collection.

Love the music but also love the Blue Note 80 and Blue Note Tone Poet series. Not perfect, but closer to the lively, in-your-room feel of original Blue Notes mastered by Rudy Van Gelder than any previous reissue I've heard (including the expensive 45 RPM sets).

This is a great pressing of a very good album,very nice to hear this done so well and a very enjoyable selection of tunes.

Great album as all these releases have been. Great pressing, great music, great value.

Stellar-sounding album (XRCD24)! Lots of air and very nice soundstage. Simply immersed in the music and lost just about everything else - a hallmark of a vibrant mastering.

excellent

I think this is the ‘80s’ anniversary Re release. Sounds good to me. Would help if vendors could describe the release better eg a 75 an 80 a tone poet etc. The 80 doesn’t feature a down load.I also note that next day prime ended up being a few days

Primo disco del trombettista Freddie Hubbard per la Blue Note, datato 1960.Sottotraccia già si percepiscono (alla lontana), in questa opera d'esordio, le tendenze post-bop del musicista, tuttavia il disco offre un hard-bop abbastanza classico, anche se forse leggermente freddo ed ingessato, perlomeno in alcuni brani.Ottima la performance del sassofonista Tina Brooks, che col timbro ambrato del suo sax tenore scalda notevolmente le atmosfere.Gli altri musicisti sono McCoy Tyner al pianoforte, Sam Jones al basso e Clifford Jarvis alla batteria.Riversamento da master tape curato da Kevin Gray, stampa Optimal (Germania) su vinile 180 grammi non silenziosissimo; tendeva a crepitare sui picchi dinamici della tromba, ma una lavata con macchina lavadischi automatica ha messo a posto le cose. Strano comunque perché i dischi Optimal di solito sono molto silenziosi.La registrazione di Rudy Van Gelder è comunque eccellente, con gli strumenti ben delineati sul palcoscenico sonoro, dinamica, realismo, e insomma il solito menu acustico di Van Gelder, di straordinaria qualità.Pubblicato da Blue Note nella serie 80th.Copertina esterna in cartoncino satinato, piuttosto basico, niente inserti e busta interna in carta non foderata, da buttare nel cestino e sostituire con qualcosa di più valido.Pagato 20 Euro in offerta.Voto artistico: 7 1/2Voto tecnico: 8 !/2

Mi sembra la prima incisione a proprio nome del grande trombettista. Vinile di grande impatto e con forte presenza della parte medio alta. Anche questa ristampa è stata curata con precisione e cura. Della serie 80°th Blue Note.

Tralasciando l'eccellente contenuto musicale per avere un vinile decente ne ho dovuti sostituire ben 3, erano tutti ondulati. L'ultimo che ho ricevuto cmq non è dritto ma accettabile, la qualità di ascolto è ottima.

Disco della serie Blue Note 80thVinile silenzioso e piatto, stampa interamente analogica.Busta interna in carta non foderata.Disco piacevolissimo.