One of the most enjoyable aspects of audio is listening to newly mastered, up-to-date LP versions of what are considered the masterpieces of yesteryear. This month, in addition to Satomi Kawakami’s superb new album, I introduce two LPs that have been remastered and re-released in recent years. All of these albums are guaranteed for their excellent sound quality.
#241 Satomi Kawakami’s Direct Cutting Disc, Mesmerizing with Serene Sound of the Piano
Sensibilities / Satomi Kawakami
(Pony Canyon PCJA-00130)LP
From the opening track, ＜Beautiful Solitude＞, you are immediately drawn to the beautiful and tranquil piano sound. Satomi Kawakami made her debut in 2006 with “Tiara.” She has released six albums, and “Sensibilities” is her first since “Ballerina” in 2015.
Satomi Kawakami has always written beautiful and melancholy melodies; even for her, this album is special. This is because this album was released only as an LP, and the two pieces on the A-side were produced using the direct cutting method, in which the performance was engraved directly onto the lacquer disc. The performance was recorded in stereo on two channels and cut for the record simultaneously, making it impossible to redo or edit anything. Under such circumstances, her performances are superb, and the recording is excellent, capturing the beauty of her expression at its finest. It is wonderful that from this recording, not only Kawakami’s yearning for the melodies but also the realistic feeling of being in the studio where the music is created can be felt.
The two tracks on the B-side were also pressed directly to the stamper from masters recorded in DSD 11.2MHz 1bit. ＜Everlasting＞ on the B side shows us a masterful performance filled with a hint of lyricism. Including the jazzy ＜All Senses＞ and ＜Perspective＞, we might say it is truly an audiophile’s joy to enjoy the subtle differences in sound quality resulting from the different production processes of the A and B sides.
#242 Re-release of Ann Burton’s Masterpiece, As Close to Original As Possible
Blue Burton / Ann Burton
(Sony Music SIJP-1025)LP
Ann Burton was one of the divas in the Netherlands. “Blue Burton,” her substantive debut album and best work, has been re-released on LP in a form close to its original European version. The LP was mastered using analog tapes that had been stocked in Japan since that time. The tapes are in excellent condition, and one can clearly listen to her deep and mellow vocals.
The recordings were made in 1967, when Ann Burton was 34 years old. “I always prioritize lyrics, and when I like the lyrics more than the melody, I feel like singing the song,” she said. Her singing style, as if she were telling a story, had already been more than perfected then. Ann Burton’s voice, which she said was greatly inspired by Billie Holiday, has the sleek, elegant sophistication unique to European singers and a slightly languid atmosphere that strongly appeals to the listener’s heart. In ＜I Can’t Give You Anything But Love＞, she sings as if savoring each phrase. It is beautiful that she sings pop songs such as Carole King’s ＜Go Away Little Boy＞ and soul singer Bobby Hebb’s hit song ＜Sunny＞ uniquely as if she talked to us. The original disc was released by Artone in the Netherlands, and the same label is used for the LP edition. This LP also has a flip-back, coated jacket known as a European style, which makes it as close to the original as possible.
#243 Pharoah Sanders’ Album Dedicated to Coltrane Re-released on 2-LP set
Crescent With Love / Pharoah Sanders Quartet
(Venus Records VHJD-270)LP
Venus Records has been actively promoting the release of analog LPs from its catalog and has launched a 2-LP set series. This set is a recording from 1992 by the quartet of tenor saxophonist Pharoah Sanders, who passed away in the fall before last. It was dedicated to John Coltrane, the band leader Pharoah belonged to when he was younger. From Coltrane’s classic album “Crescent” in 1964, three pieces, including the title track, ＜Wise One＞ and ＜Lonnie’s Lament＞, are featured. Other pieces include numbers associated with Coltrane and familiar standard numbers. Pharoah performed even famous numbers such as ＜Misty＞ in his own emotional interpretations. Their performance has changed from the freestyle of the past, becoming melodic performances with a deep resonance, filled with rich poetry and spiritual atmospheres.
This album was initially released as a CD and had a running time of 89 minutes, making it impossible to fit on a single LP. Therefore, some pieces had to be omitted when making an LP version. In fact, many of Venus’ LPs were produced with fewer tracks than the corresponding CDs, but the 2-LP set made it possible to include the entire CD. Another advantage of the 2-LP set is that the longer overall recording time allows the grooves on the record to be carved deeper. This allows you to enjoy the appeal of the “Venus Sound,” known for its daring volume, with even more robust sound quality.
About the Author
Masamichi Okazaki
Surrounded by various kinds of music from his childhood, Masamichi Okazaki joined Waseda University Modern Jazz Club. He started contributing articles to music magazines when he was a student. He covers wide range of music not only trad, modern and contemporary jazz, but also from pops to classics. He writes liner notes for CDs and LPs, and is a regular contributor to “JAZZ JAPAN,” “STEREO,” and others. He joined a big band, “Shiny Stockings,” as a saxophone player. He is a director of The Music Pen Club Japan (MPCJ).
