2. analog
  3. 1196616281

"Original Jazz Classics"

I picked up a handful of "OJC" 33 RPM pressings from a major online retailer last week. The short version is three are very good recordings and the other two just stink - tinny and compressed. I'm sure it's the recording/mastering and not the particular pressing. The two I'm not happy with are Getz's "The Brothers" and "In the Bag" by Adderly. Labels are Prestige and Jazzland, respectively.

What is the best way to learn to avoid "bad" recordings? I don't think either of these cases are exactly indicative of the labels themselves - I don't think avoiding the labels is the answer.

I suppose I just really need to research the specific recording I'm interested in before buying if I want to avoid this in the future? Or are there some guidelines I might be aware of?
paulfolbrecht
rccc
216 posts
 
The OJC's are kid of a crap shoot but they are generally about $10.00 so even if you have a dud its not a huge loss. I have quite a few of them and most are very listenable. If its something I really love (waltz for debbie) Then Im also on the lookout for a better copy (ap fantasy 45 ) but the OJC serves me fine in the meantime and gives me a copy I can play on my "B" system when Im not listening critically. Ive never heard of the scorpio bootlegs, how do you identify them? I buy many "audiophile" pressings and find the reject ratio about the same with the difference being that at $30 to $50 bucks I return those.
stew3859's avatar
stew3859
119 posts
 
I am quite sure if these are in fact licensed (and that's a big if), Scorpio is sourcing the material from digital DATs or cds. Clearly, these are not from the master tapes. Seems to undermine the entire purpose of buying LPs in the first place.
paulfolbrecht OP
586 posts
 
I sure agree about cutting from digital - ugh!

Yes, it's true, at $10/each you can afford to risk and 3 out of 5 good recordings is not bad at all. I don't know if I should send back the other two or not. Hardly worth the shipping.

My copy of Waltz for Deb is Riverside and boy is it just a great recording, just like Village Vanguard. Quiet, dynamic, extended, lovely. Also a $10 record. When I listen to something like that, I always ask myself why the hell we need $50 heavy vinyl/45s.
viridian's avatar
viridian
4,184 posts
 
Milestone re-released Waltz For Debby and Sunday At The Village Vangard, which is from the same sessions, as a two LP set, with a couple of added tracks in the twofer series called The Village Vangard Sessions, and the sonics are quite good, as well. I think that a lot of bird gets whipped abour Scott LaFaro as the bassist that had the psychic connection with Evans. All this heightened by his untimely death, in a car accident, right after the two records were recorded. But, for my money, Eddie Gomez blows my mind. Try Bill Evans At The Montreux Jazz Festival, on Verve!
paulfolbrecht OP
586 posts
 
To witness Evans & LaFaro 'dancing', as they did, seemingly reading each others' minds, mesmerizes me every time.

But I have not heard the latter recording you mention and will make it a note to check that out - thanks for the tip!
More to discover