Look What I Found - Something Steve Mastered, The Red Garland Trio "Groovy."*

I was noodling through one of my favourite record stores yesterday and trying not to spend too much (Ha!) While flipping through the new section, there was an album that had an sticker near the bottom stating that it had been mastered by Steve Hoffman and Kevin Gray. I quickly yanked it out of the pile and thought that I would buy it just for the fact that those two gentlemen were involved : )

It was a 'used' copy of The Red Garland Trio - Groovy. And the best part was that it had never been opened! 2X45 RPM. It was a little more than most at $39.95, but well worth it. I took it home and ran it through the Loricraft and sat down to have a listen last night. What a find! Dead quiet. In fact it almost fooled me. I started turning up the volume as I had thought that I had the wrong input selected. Beautiful analog sound.

Some of you may have this album already and be thinking...'yeah of course!' But, despite my reasonably large jazz collection, I don't think that I have ever bought a Red Garland album before.

Anyone else enjoy this album?

 

Yes, I'm a fan of Red's playing and have enjoyed this one and others by Red for years.

 

Wonderful album I have had for many many years, you are tempting me to search out this 2x45 RPM!!

 

Sorry about that. Thats the problem with hanging out with this crowd!

 

Sorry for the 1+ year bump. I just picked up a sealed, numbered copy (#0205) of this title that came into End Of An Ear here in Austin this week. So the story goes... Apparently the seller worked at University of Texas (UT) and was given the entire Fantasy 45 series after a university archival project ended (i.e. - digitization of the collection at the library). It looks like not all of the series made it to the record store, perhaps only 65-70 titles, according to the owner. Perhaps the seller kept some of them or maybe did not get the entire 100 records. I bought 4 titles from the collection altogether, including Groovy. All 4 were sealed so clearly not the entire series was digitized. I wasn't able to go to the store until the third day after the collection arrived. Nearly half of it had sold by then.

Groovy came with a replacement disc 2 (C/D), due to supposed pressing defects, according to the local record store. However, the beginning of side B has several tics and noise and the stylus is digging gunk out of the groove, which clearly means non-fill pressing issues. So the wrong replacement disc 2 (C/D) was included when it should have been disc 1 (A/B). The original disc 2 (C/D) sounds fine, no issues. I wonder if I could get AcousticSounds (i.e. Analogue Productions) to send the correct disc 1 (A/B) replacement? Even after all this time, the title is still in print. Otherwise, this is really a fantastic sounding release. Anyone else have these issues with non-fill?

On a positive note, I do love titles like this where the featured artist is given minimal accompaniment and, as a result, really shines and showcases his raw talent. Case in point - side C, track 1, "Willow Weep For Me." In a way this brings to mind Adam's Apple by Wayne Shorter. It's an intimate view into the artist as a 'solo' musician, despite the piano a la Van Gelder. Of course, Paul Chambers and Art Taylor are solid and creatively complimentary, as always.

 

A great one, definitely one of my favorite Red Garland albums...

 

Sweet scores on a great LP set.

 

Groovy baby! I want that on vinyl!

Funny that Red Garland came up as I was at my son's place this weekend and of course I had to look thru his records and he has Red Garland: All Kinds Of Weather,Prestige 7148. He kindly let me borrow it for this week. Just got home so won't get to it til tomorrow.

 

I've had that LP for some 25 years, so unfortunately, it's one of the last of the OJC pressings (which aren't too bad, IMO) and not one of our host's masterings. Red Garland was once a prizefighter but you'd never know it by listening to his block chording and swinging solo style. He's one of those cats that if his name is on a record and I don't have it, I'll buy it without further consideration because he's that good and he played with the best.

 

I'm curious if you mean Rudy Van Gelder or someone who worked with him (or someone else?). He seems to be revered by so many. I suppose you don't have to name names if you don't care to, but clearly you have an informed opinion on this.

 

I'm sure he means RVG. :>0 Rudy is known for many great things, but good piano tone/recording is not among those, with very few exceptions; and those exceptions are due to the artists' inspired and fiery performances, leaping out of the speakers, despite RVG's shortcomings.

 

Well, I'm a bass player, including several years as a jazz player on double bass, so maybe I just fixate on that. Thanks.

 

Japanese SACD for me.

 

As an update to my post above... I was able to resolve the issue with Disc 1, side B. Upon closer inspection, it turns out that there was some vinyl debris attached to the outer edge of the disc and folded over onto the beginning of side B.

I was able to remove the offending debris along with a couple other strands that were attached all along the outer edge. Gave the disc a good cleaning and it plays flawlessly. Also, both of the Disc 2 (C/D) were flawless, so for some reason an extra was included and not needed.

Here is a photo of the offending vinyl debris I removed from the edge:

 

Cool story.

 

I'm really glad that you got that taken care of. I really enjoy this album. I picked it up at a great local record shop with an owner that is a pleasure to chat with every time you pop in.....

I suspect that he is happy to see me, cuz every time I leave his shop I am considerably poorer! He brought in The Beatles Mono Set for me and matched the big stores' price, brought in a bunch of MOFI and Analog Production albums, saves any really cool used records for me that he thinks that I will like. That is exactly why the big box stores will never be nearly as good as the small specialist stores. That personal touch of the owner, remembering what his/her customers like is what makes the visits there special. I like the fact that he took my word for how good the latest MOFI LPs have been like the special Kind Of Blue box set and has now sold a handful of those. He told me that he took one home to listen to it and now he has to order extra copies of other great remasterings for his own collection at home!

Right now the hard part is that I can't play any of these records as I have ordered a new preamp with a built in phono stage and I have to wait a couple more weeks for it to show up : ( I am definitely going to play this the day that I bring the new preamp home!

 

I have the 45RPM pressing and really enjoy it. I had an early Prestige pressing that I flipped when I bought the SH/KG version. I didn't see the need to hold onto it.