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SACD

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

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Eugen Jochum, German Opera Orchestra & Chorus - Carl Orff: Carmina Burana (1968) [Japan 2019]

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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SACD

Etta Cameron and Nikolaj Hess with Friends – Etta (2009) [SACD / Master Music – MKSA 609172]

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Etta Cameron and Nikolaj Hess with Friends - Etta (2009)

Title: Etta Cameron and Nikolaj Hess with Friends – Etta (2009)
Genre: Jazz
Format: DSF DSD64

Etta Cameron is best known as a gospel vocalist with a conta- gious enthusiasm, which can distill the ardor in any choir and lead them to rock even the smallest country church. When on the panel of one of TV’s many talent contests, lovable Etta always gives top score to anybody exhibiting the smallest ink- ling of talent. But more than anything else, Etta represents Black music. Through a long career she has infused soul, gospel, blues and jazz tunes with her personal touch and richly dark, beautiful voice. All this experience helps shape her interpretation of this impressive string of jazz pearls.
Etta Cameron and Nikolaj Hess have worked closely together for 20 years. Nikolaj has accompanied Etta at countless venues – small and large – with large orchestras, trios and quartets, or alone behind the piano. Their mainstay is gospel, but when the chance arises, they love playing a few jazz ballads. Often, they have rehearsed on the backseat of the car en route from one gig to the next, and that is also exactly how this album was born. Nikolaj and Etta have often discussed recording a selection of especially beautiful tunes with the best possible line‐up. And so it came to be: Bassist Klavs Hovman and saxophonist Jens Søndergaard ‐ both regulars in Etta’s bands for years – were ready. Marilyn Mazur and Palle Mikkelborg were equally ent- husiastic. And so Nikolaj started arranging for this particu- lar line‐up. In May 2009, Etta and the musicians were ready to visit Copenhagen’s Sun Studios and bring out the magic in tunes like “What a Wonderful World”, “Smile”, “Careless Love” and many others. The legendary sound wizard Bjarne Hansen engineered the session. And the magic is unquestionable on this new CD, when the youthful vocalist with many years of experience behind her puts all her interpretive powers on the line. The production gives us a close‐up on Etta and her wonderful voice, as she invites us under the skin of the tunes and breathes a vibrant proximity into the lyrics. You will be astounded at the almost minimalistic framework, which enables Etta and a handful of Denmark’s leading musicians to strip each song to the bone. Vocalists may compete for attention, but nothing beats experi- ence, and when combined with breathtaking honesty, a subli- me listening experience is right around the corner ‐ as on this CD featuring a genuine diva.

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SACD

Esbjorn Svensson Trio – Tuesday Wonderland (2006) [SACD / ACT – ACT SACD 9806-2 Format:]

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Esbjorn Svensson Trio - Tuesday Wonderland (2006)

Title: Esbjorn Svensson Trio – Tuesday Wonderland (2006)
Genre: Jazz
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Currently one of Europe’s leading forces in the jazz world, e.s.t. (Esbj”rn Svensson Trio) brings their unique and unmistakable sound stateside with the release of their new album, Tuesday Wonderland. This album is an eclectic mix of classical, melodic jazz and electronics with the feel of an energetic pop/rock show, making it a must-have for all music lovers. The album been released in Europe on September 2006, and was nominated in in the Best Jazz Album category.
E.S.T. like to play with expectations, and they begin Tuesday Wonderland as you might assume, with a spare solo piano line hinting at a delicate baroque counterpoint. It’s the kind of feather-stroked chamber jazz they’ve been working for a few years now. But just as you settle in, crushing drums and fuzzed arco bass drop in a groove from the apocalypse. This ominous track, “Fading Maid Preludium,” and its second half, “Fading Maid Postludium,” frame Tuesday Wonderland, setting in bas-relief an album of careening, intuitive improvisation. E.S.T. are frighteningly varied in their technique and deep in their understanding of jazz lore. You can hear echoes of Keith Jarrett and Ahmad Jamal in pianist Esbjörn Svensson, from whom the trio take their name, but he also embraces a more modern vocabulary, hinting at Cecil Taylor while dancing gospel vamps and dropping rock power-chords. Drummer Magnus Öström can lay down the shuffling brush strokes of “The Goldhearted Miner,” pour out a progressive rock fusillade, or do a ballet of polyrhythmic shadings and colors that recall the late Steve McCall. The real chameleon of the group is bassist Dan Berglund. He plays soulful, muscular double bass lines, but he also triggers a synthesizer for both subtle shading and the hellion roar heard on that opening track. E.S.T. remain a group exploring the edges of jazz improvisation, managing to be free and intuitive while also maintaining melodic and rhythmic touchstones. Tracks like “Brewery of Beggars” are multipart journeys shifting from gentle lyricism to electric storms. E.S.T. have evolved from being the most ECM-like band that wasn’t on ECM into their own natural and thoroughly modern hybrid.

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SACD

Various Artists – Impulse! 6 Great Jazz – Super Audio CD Jazz Collection (2015) [SACD / Esoteric Company – ESSI-90133/8]

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Various Artists - Impulse! 6 Great Jazz - Super Audio CD Jazz Collection (2015)

Title: Various Artists – Impulse! 6 Great Jazz – Super Audio CD Jazz Collection (2015)
Genre: Jazz
Format: DSF DSD64

Jazz Masterpiece Collection :: ESOTERIC proudly introduces a new series of re-master collcection – A great Jazz collection from impulse! label. The reissue of historical music masterpieces by ESOTERIC has attracted a lot of attention, both for its uncompromising commitment to recreating the original master sound, and for using hybrid Super Audio CD (SACD) technology to improve sound quality. These new audio versions feature ESOTERIC’s proprietary re-mastering process to achieve the highest level of sound quality. ESOTERIC equipment used for re-mastering :: The criterion of re-mastering is to faithfully capture the quality of the original master. ESOTERIC′s flag ship D/A converters, model D-01VU, Rubidium master clock generator model G-0Rb and ESOTERIC MEXCEL interconnect cables and power cords, were all used for this re-mastering session. This combination of highly advanced technology greatly contributed to capturing the high quality sound of the original master. Experience by yourself… :: Experience the legendary performance in this new Super Audio CD/CD format. Not only for new followers, but also for well experienced followers of these recorded materials. All will be equally impressed by the “soul” hidden within the notes, but never before found in previously released recordings in any format.

 

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SACD

Erroll Garner – Supreme Jazz (2006) [SACD / Supreme Jazz – 223545-207]

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Erroll Garner - Supreme Jazz (2006)

Title: Erroll Garner – Supreme Jazz (2006)
Genre: Jazz
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Erroll Louis Garner was an American jazz pianist and composer known for his swing playing and ballads. His best-known composition, the ballad “Misty”, has become a jazz standard. Scott Yanow of Allmusic calls him “one of the most distinctive of all pianists” and a “brilliant virtuoso”. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6363 Hollywood Blvd.

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SACD

Ernest Ansermet, L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande – Mussorgsky: Pictures At An Exhibition [Japan] (2013) [SACD / Esoteric Company – ESSD-90086]

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Ernest Ansermet, L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande - Mussorgsky: Pictures At An Exhibition [Japan] (2013)

Title: Ernest Ansermet, L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande – Mussorgsky: Pictures At An Exhibition [Japan] (2013)
Genre: Classical
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Experience the legendary performance in Japanese remastered SACD release. The reissue of classical music masterpieces by ESOTERIC has attracted a lot of attention, both for its uncompromising commitment to recreating the original master sound. This series marks the historical recording selections that have been mainstays of the catalog since their initial release. At the time of its release – 1960 – Ansermet’s stereo recording of the Mussorgsky-Ravel Pictures at an Exhibition was demonstration worthy, and it still, today, retains its sense of space and impact. Much of the remainder of the program makes its first international appearance on SACD and will be especially sought after by collectors.

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