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SACD

Evgeny Zarafiants – Beethoven & Chopin (2017) [SACD / Esoteric Company – ESSO-10002]

adminDecember 9, 2025 32 Views

Title: Evgeny Zarafiants – Beethoven & Chopin (2017)
Genre: Classical
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

This recording of piano works is the third title from ESOTERIC label, produced by bringing together the knowhow of ESOTERIC and Octavia Records, with the goal being a high-quality DSD recording primarily targeting audiophiles. The resulting recording promises a new level of excitement by bringing to the listener not only high sound quality, but also the captivating musical power embodied in the original works themselves.

Evgeny Zarafiants was born in Novosibirsk in 1959, to a musical family. His father, an oboist and pianist, was a member of the military band in the Kremlin and his mother is a singer and pianist. Zarafiants began learning the piano with his father when he was six years old and at the age of eight entered the Central Music School in Moscow, although before finishing his studies there he moved to Orsk, eventually completing his studies at the Glinka Conservatory in Gorky. Competition successes include prizes in the 1985 All-Russian Competition and in the Pogorelich Competition in Pasadena, soon after which he was invited to Croatia to teach at a private music school in Mirkovich. Evgeny Zarafiants has taught at the Conservatory in Nizhny Novgorod. His developing international career has brought recitals and broadcasts in various countries of Western Europe.

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2 min read

SACD

Everlast – White Trash Beautiful (2004) [SACD / Island Def Jam Music Group – B0002542-36]

adminDecember 9, 2025 16 Views

Title: Everlast – White Trash Beautiful (2004)
Genre: Folk
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

White Trash Beautiful is Everlast’s third LP since he exited the House of Pain and took up the reigns of conscience-driven, streetwise roots rap. It’s been a long time coming. In music biz terms, 2000’s critically acclaimed Eat at Whitey’s was a dud next to Whitey Ford Sings the Blues’ multi-platinum success. That and the wacko record label commingling of the early 2000s found Everlast label-less and lonely. A survivor, he started recording in his home studio and gravitated to the dusky country of outlaws like Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. Those sounds inform White Trash in spirit, if not necessarily in direct practice. For from the opening strains of the hard-luck story “Blinded by the Sun,” it’s clear that the former Erik Schrody’s been hearing not only country records but country grammar, too, as well as the organic rappalachia of Bubba Sparxxx. White Trash is a more effective mix of hip-hop trope and bluesy strum because, in the years since Whitey’s, what Everlast helped start has been finished by types like the above artists, Kid Rock, even OutKast. The relative novelty of hip-hop hitting up country and rock has worn away; Everlast can go ahead and kick that chip off his shoulder. Musically, Everlast and longtime producer Dante Ross still get a lot of mileage out of pairing his gruff delivery with spare acoustic guitar, and layering the whole thing over a subdued hip-hop bump (think “What’s It’s Like”). Everlast too still stumbles over the occasional rap cliché, like the street bravado/cynicism verses of “God Wanna” (“I’ll act like Ike Turner/Then treat you like Tina”), or “Sleepin’ Alone”‘s clunky relationship woe. The gritty “2 Pieces of Drama” is better, with its B Real guest shot and referencing of Cypress Hill’s “Hand on the Pump,” but White Trash is best when it’s blending country and blues into Everlast’s finely rendered tales of street-level loneliness. With its rain effects, slide guitar, and Hank Williams interpolation, “This Kind of Lonely” could be Nashville product with just a bit of tweaking, while the gentle pain of first single “Broken” is tinged with cello and theremin. “Lonely Road” opens up into the album’s most hopeful melody, led forth by surging fiddle and a quiet acoustic lead. “My back is strong,” he sings. “I’ll carry the load.” Even if he’s sad for a lot of it, Everlast also has some fun on White Trash Beautiful. “Sad Girl” sports a slight Latin flair in its chords as Everlast describes his latest infatuation. “Sittin’ in a pearl white Eldorado/In a gangsta lean she was revvin’ the throttle,” he relates. “She looked like Selena/The truth couldn’t be plaina.” Overall it’s a welcome return for Everlast – he sounds comfortable and confident, even in his heartbreak.

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3 min read

SACD

Eva Taylor – Live At The Pawnshop (2007) [SACD / Opus 3 – CD 22071]

adminDecember 9, 2025 12 Views

Title: Eva Taylor – Live At The Pawnshop (2007)
Genre: Jazz
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Singer Eva Taylor (1985-1977) was a blues-jazz vocal star in the first half of the twentieth century, and one of the very first African-American voices to be heard on the radio. Taylor sang in bands led or directed by the protean Clarence Williams, songwriter, pianist, and producer (also her husband). Before they became stars, jazz icons Louis Armstrong and Sidney Bechet also performed on some of her recordings. While she officially retired in the 1940’s, Taylor would perform sporadically. LEGENDARY is a live set recorded in Sweden in 1976 with a group of traditionally oriented (i.e., New Orleans, hot jazz, and ‘20s pop styles) locals. Backed by a band immersed in the era from which she sprang, Taylor’s rough yet resolute performances are a joy-filled link to pre-WWII classic jazz history.

It was certainly a magical night at the Pawnshop in March, 1976 when a young lady of 81 completely captured and entranced the audience with her stage presence and vibrant personality. Her communication with the musicians and audience combined to elevate her artistry beyond the aural level to include that indefinable ingredient…atmosphere. This atmosphere was retrieved from the Opus 3 vaults from 31 years ago and like a good wine has aged well as lovers of jazz from the twenties will appreciate. Eva Taylor is a direct link with the great era of jazz when she was singing with the Clarence Williams Blue Five and also with Louis Armstrong and Sidney Bechet who were coming to their peak as influential jazz geniuses in the mid twenties. The band which perfectly complements her artistry is Maggie’s Blue Five and includes Tomas Örnberg on clarinet & soprano saxophone and Bent Persson, trumpet from Tomas Örnberg’s Blue Five and later on, The Swedish Jazz Kings.

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2 min read

SACD

European Chamber Soloists, Nicol Matt – Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde (2006) [SACD / Brilliant Classics – 8219]

adminDecember 9, 2025 14 Views

Title: European Chamber Soloists, Nicol Matt – Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde (2006)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO + DSF DSD64 + Hi-Res FLAC

Gustav Mahler never heard Das Lied von der Erde, his penultimate completed work, nor the Ninth Symphony, which followed it closely. He was probably working on them more or less simultaneously. Despite his state of health, he managed not only to complete the full score of Das Lied, but also to prepare a version with piano accompaniment in place of the orchestra. There is however a third version, started by Arnold Schönberg – who saw Mahler as his mentor – in 1920, and scored for a chamber orchestra. This release features the European Chamber Soloists under Nicol Matt, with soloists Anna Haase (mezzo-soprano) and Daniel Sans (tenor).

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1 min read

SACD

Eugen Jochum, London Symphony Orchestra – Beethoven: The Nine Symphonies (1979) [Japan 2017] [SACD / Tower Records – TDSA-43/48]

adminDecember 9, 2025 14 Views

Title: Eugen Jochum, London Symphony Orchestra – Beethoven: The Nine Symphonies (1979) [Japan 2017]
Genre: Classical
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

The German conductor Eugen Jochum recorded the complete Beethoven symphonies in stereo three times: First on DG in the Fifties with the Berlin Philharmonic and the Bavarian RSO; then in the Sixties on Philips in the set we have here with the Concertgebouw of Amsterdam; and finally in the Seventies on EMI with the London Symphony Orchestra. This LSO cycle may not have as much fire as Jochum’s earlier Beethoven, but it has a fullness and richness of spirit unmatched in his younger efforts, better played and recorded than the previous ones.

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1 min read

SACD

Eugene Ruffolo – In A Different Light (2007) [SACD / Stockfisch Records – SFR 357.4044.2]

adminDecember 9, 2025 16 Views

Title: Eugene Ruffolo – In A Different Light (2007)
Genre: Folk
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

This is the album that many Ruffolo fans have been waiting for. If you like the more acoustic side of things, or are partial to Eugene’s live performances, you’ll want to check out this new CD. It features a selection of songs from Eugene’s prior three Cds, with new arrangments , presented in a more organic and acoustic setting. Produced,recorded and engineered in Germany by Gunter Pauler, owner of the prestigious audiophile label Stockfisch Records, this disc is impeccably recorded and mixed in full 5.1 Surround Sound. It’s encoded on a threelayer “hybrid CD”, which means that one of three different mixes will play, depending upon the listener’s stereo system. The music was recorded during a week-long series of sessions with Eugene and guitarist John Jennings. Gunter later added the finishing touches, utililizing the talents of some of Europe’s finest players. if you’re a fan of high audio quality, you must check out this disc.

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1 min read

SACD

Eugene Ruffolo – Even Santa Gets The Blues (2009) [SACD / Stockfisch Records – SFR 357.4066.2]

adminDecember 9, 2025 17 Views

Title: Eugene Ruffolo – Even Santa Gets The Blues (2009)
Genre: Christmas, Folk, Pop
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

One thing is for sure – Christmas is not just one celebration among others, Christmas is THE ONE celebration of the year. There is no chance to escape … a fact known to many a good musician. Christmas albums – they’ve all done it. Facing this situation, you better bring a lot of sweet ingredients in order to create a completely new and completely different Christmas cake – especially one from Stockfisch. Some stalwarts of Stockfisch records to this noble end have gathered around Eugene Ruffolo; white beards and scarlet coats they wear – but watch out for their guitars! And finally they achieved the impossible task of creating a Christmas recording sounding like no other.

Swingle Bells – there ain’t no bells sounding sweeter. If you are a nonbeliever, then go and listen to Stille Nacht as guitar instrumental or a Christmas blues. And very well that Chris Jones is not forgotten, still playing on on these recordings, a plan which goes back for years in Stockfisch history. Tradition and the courage of creative innovators – that’s Stockfisch’s gift to music lovers – given as a trademark professionally and at this Christmas time given from the heart. Christmas may be Christmas every year, it comes alive forever new and warms the heart – this is what music does, and certainly music like this.

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2 min read

SACD

Eugene Pao – This Window (1999) [SACD / SME Records – SRGS4508]

adminDecember 9, 2025 12 Views

Title: Eugene Pao – This Window (1999)
Genre: Blues, Jazz
Format: SACD ISO + DSF DSD64 + Hi-Res FLAC

Eugene Pao is Hong Kong’s most publicly recognized jazz musician and his name is synonymous with jazz in the city. Such reputation cannot be more deserving as Eugene has been at the vanguard of promoting jazz in the territory through his performances and recordings over the last twenty plus years. In 1999, Eugene released This Window another outstanding album, record on which he penned half of the tunes, with the support of Jack DeJohnette, bassist Marc Johnson and pianist Joey Calderazzo.

Hong Kong first discovered its own guitar hero in the mid 1980’s when Eugene returned from studies in the U.S. and began playing around town. Recognition came early from leading international jazz musicians. Some of his early recordings featured such legends as bassist Eddie Gomez, blues great Jimmy Witherspoon and saxophonist Michael Brecker. He went to the U.S. to make his first solo album in 1996 called By The Company You Keep with a stellar cast of Jazz greats, drummer Jack DeJonette bassist John Patitucci and Michael Brecker again on saxophone. In 1999, Eugene released This Window another outstanding album record in the U.S., on which he penned half of the tunes, with the support of Jack DeJohnette, bassist Marc Johnson and pianist Joey Calderazzo. In 2001, Eugene traveled to Europe and recorded a set of beautiful, lyrical standards with the Mads Vinding Trio from Denmark called Pao. In 2004 he released Naked Time, a fiery 1994 recording with Brecker, James Genus, Dan Gottlieb, Jeff Andrews, Manolo Badrena and compatriot Ted Lo. Getting the old music out to his appreciative following left him free to focus on the future. In 2005, Eugene Pao Project was released, a multi-media DVD concept filmed without an audience at Hong Kong’s Academy For The Performing Arts, featuring top Asian musicians and mixed in 5.1 surround sound. In 2006, Eugene was invited to form the Asian Super Guitar Project with two other guitarists, Kazumi Watanabe from Japan and Jack Lee from Korea, a guitar trio unique in its genre gathering and mixing differences of cultures, influences, politics and religion from three Asian countries, Japan, China and Korea. They got together in the summer of 2006 and made a record entitled Guitar Sam Guk Ji and toured around Asia throughout 2007. Early 2008 Eugene was invited by The Hong Kong Trade & Economic Office to perform on a 9 city European tour to promote Hong Kong as their jazz ambassador. In 2009 They invite him back again to perform in London. In 2010 He joined the Asian All Stars Power Jazz Quartet with 3 other top jazz musicians from Asia. They released a live CD in 2011 and have toured all over Asia. In 2012 the Asian all Stars Power Quartet was invited to perform at the prestigious London Jazz Festival and received a great review from allaboutjazz.com. Jazz greats with whom he has performed on stage over the years include Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, Terumasa Hino, Freddie Hubbard, Bob Berg , Jackie McClean, Joe Pass, Ulf Wakenius, Ernie Watts, Martin Taylor, James Moody, Bill Bruford, Jeff Berlin, Stu Hamm, Bobby McFerrin, Russell Ferrante, Eric Marienthal, Richard Galiano and many more. Over the last two decades, Eugene Pao has truly established himself as Hong Kong’s premier jazz guitarist. He continues to travel the world for performances at international jazz festivals, concert halls and jazz clubs, and to take part in select recording projects. As a composer, He had contributed to countless TV commercials, and his film soundtracks have been nominated for best original score at the HK Film Awards. Recently Esquire Magazine featured him on the cover as one of the 20 most influential men on their 20th Anniversary Issue.

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4 min read

SACD

Eugen Jochum, London Philharmonic Orchestra – Brahms: The Four Symphonies & 2 Overtures (1977/2017) [SACD / Tower Records – TDSA-49/51]

adminDecember 9, 2025 14 Views

Title: Eugen Jochum, London Philharmonic Orchestra – Brahms: The Four Symphonies & 2 Overtures (1977/2017)
Genre: Classical
Format: DSF DSD64 + Hi-Res FLAC

Eugen Jochum made two complete recordings of the symphonies of Johannes Brahms, one with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in the mid-1950s, the other with the London Philharmonic in 1976. On the strengths of these sets, the conductor Kenneth Woods called him “the greatest Brahms conductor who ever lived”. These Jochum performances of Brahms’ 4 symphonies, together with the Academic Festival & Tragic overtures, are vintage 1970s Kingsway Hall recordings. Eugen Jochum, steeped in the Germanic tradition, knows exactly how he wants these symphonies to sound & the London Philharmonic Orchestra rise to the occasion with playing they have probably never bettered, with producer Christopher Bishop giving them a sound to match.

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1 min read

SACD

Eugen Jochum, German Opera Orchestra & Chorus – Carl Orff: Carmina Burana (1968) [Japan 2019] [SACD / Esoteric Company – ESSG-90206]

adminDecember 9, 2025 28 Views

Title: Eugen Jochum, German Opera Orchestra & Chorus – Carl Orff: Carmina Burana (1968) [Japan 2019]
Genre: Classical
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Jochum’s version of Carmina Burata leaves the rest behind. Jochum’s baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau in particular is the best baritone soloist for this work. The soprano, Gundula Janowitz, finds a quiet dignity for her contribution and this is finely done. The chorus are best when the music blazes, and the closing scene is moulded by Jochum with a wonderful control, almost Klemperian in its restrained power. The sound might be mid 1960’s DG analogue but the performance leaves the rest way behind. Jochum’s version was recorded in the presence of Carl Orff and is authorised by Carl Orff.
Since its original release, Jochum’s performance has consistently been a prime recommendation for this much-recorded piece. Listening to it again in the superbly remastered sound, one can easily hear why. He pays great attention to detail – particularly with regard to tempo and articulation – yet the performance as a whole has a tremendous cogent sweep and the choruses have terrific power. The more reflective sections are not neglected, however, and movements such as ”Stetit Puella”, with Janowitz sounding alluring and fey, have surely never been more sensitively handled. Stolze is ideal as the roasted swan and Fischer-Dieskau encompasses the very varied requirements of the baritone’s music with ease. In spite of the presence of more than 30 rivals in the catalogue, this distinguished performance, authorized by the composer and now sounding better than ever, easily retains its place at the head of the queue.

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2 min read