Has anybody here heard the new album "KingMaker" by young vibraphonist Joel Ross? Blue Note released it last week and it's absolutely fantastic... this album needs more of a following!
I've been streaming it. His Joel's playing is great, the alto saxophone is a bit too adventurous at times. So far no vinyl, so nothing for me to buy, hopefully they'll do more of the new artists on vinyl, lately those titles have been quite limited.
I find the whole thing to be amazing. I've been streaming it in MQA on Tidal. MQA streaming has basically defeated the point of me buying the hi-res download of most albums, as why buy it when I can stream it in equally high quality? I really want to buy this on vinyl if it ever comes out. I tweeted at Joel Ross and Blue Note that it needs to be put on vinyl and Joel himself retweeted it (BTW: My twitter is @MalachiLui if you're wondering). So maybe it'll happen... but I think he may have simply been appreciative that I mentioned him and how great his album is (he doesn't even have 300 twitter followers, which is a crime IMO because his music is so amazing).
Andrew Winistorfer from VMP mentioned in a video for the BN Anthology box that he was a big fan of Joel and to keep an eye on VMP’s website re: KingMaker... maybe an exclusive pressing in the near future? Glad you started this thread. I’ve been streaming this album and I’m an instant fan. Streaming for me tends to be a computer distraction while I’m doing other things, though- so I would like to have the record to spin and actually sit back to.
If KingMaker is a VMP album of the month I'll join but I really hope this gets a standard wide release.
Me too. It’s possible it could be a “VMP exclusive pressing,” which you can buy without joining. Maybe they’ll press a color variant of a regular black vinyl wide release BN puts out. Will wait and see, but any vinyl version would be cool. Hopefully BN has enough confidence in the market for it to put it out wide.
Thanks for doing that! It's crazy the old guys who are Blue Note fans don't seem to be making any effort to listen to the contemporary artists. There are lots of great newer BN albums, Robert Glasper's debut "Canvas" is coming out in the first batch of 80th anniversary tiles on vinyl very soon. I also just ordered Ambrose Akinmusire - The Imagined Savior is Far Easier To Paint, was available on vinyl, i think only at the Blue Note website, and now i see it's sold out. Blue Note needs to step up a little more with the vinyl. I also tried to find the trumpet player Takuya Kuroda's record, and it's crazy money on discogs: Takuya Kuroda - Rising Son
Seems like vinyl coming in August! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RZ2X8PZ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_kcc5Cb7DG9GNS
VMP is releasing an exclusive color pressing - meaning you have to be a member to buy it. Limited to 500. Joel Ross 'KingMaker' | Vinyl Me, Please
I saw the VMP email in my inbox before this thread, so I came here to post it. Then i saw the Amazon link above, and now i'm super glad about that, because i much prefer standard black!
VMP "membership" is just a few clicks. Just join, add to cart, check out, and cancel membership. There is no cost or requirement to keep being a member, you can buy just one record.
That's a nice loophole! I happen to have recently become a member anyway. A few good choices I've been eyeing in their exclusives if I don't like the ROM options. We'll see how long it lasts.
Anyone know what files were used for the vinyl version? Was it mastered for vinyl or is a straight transfer of the digital hi-res?
It's a 2-LP set cut by Kevin Gray and I received my copy today. Not sure who did the pressing but mine is nice and quiet although slightly warped. Not enough to cause any issues but worth a mention. More importantly, the music is superb! Joel is in the Bobby Hutcherson tradition but he stretches it in all kinds of fascinating ways. Joel's compositions keep your interest ...the man is telling a story! He's accompanied by acoustic bass and drums on his debut album. I also have the CD, having been sent one by BN. No comparison!!! Get the LP!
