Music Matters Definitive Blue Note 45 RPM and 33 & 1/3 RPM vinyl series (pt7)

As an early Christmas present for myself, ordered #19 and 20 to compliment my collection. The 2x45rpm versions of Evolution and Juju no less. I’m stoked, just wanted to share my excitement here!

 

Finally got my first MMJ. In Europe these are hard to get and shipping costs from the US spoil the fun. Somehow my local record store had Bud Powell The Scene Changes (33rpm) in stock at their dependance for 65€. As expected it sounds very good. Quite an achievement for these old piano recordings. It definitely beats my Japanese pressing (BN65). Top notch jacket. On my system it does not sound better as Tone Poet or Acoustic Sounds Series. All excellent. Happy collector.

 

Public service announcement: I noticed a copy of Kenny Dorham at Cafe Bohemia (45rpm) has popped up as in stock on the MMJ website for $125. Looks like only 1 is available so act fast if you want it.

 

I love when you hit random on this discogs and it picks such a great record like this. One of my favorite music matters Records.

 

Is there thought to be a direct correlation between remaining stock and price?

 

you can sort by availability and see for yourself. There is a loose relationship (with most of the more scarce titles going for $125) but the perceived desirability also seems to be a factor.

 

For the most part, yes. It is not uncommon to see a title move up to the $99.95 price point, then to $124.95 before disappearing. Miraculously, some of these titles come back in stock, in what appear to be limited quantities before they are gone for good. This is what is referred to here as a “couch find”.

If you see a title at $124.95 on the MMJ site, it’s a good indicator that your time is running out to buy a sealed copy 1st hand from MMJ. As expensive as that is, the secondary market is usually worse.

 

I was curious to see what stock is left. I have not checked the site for over a year. All the 33s are gone , but for those into 45s this Tina Brooks - Back to the Tracks is still available for $79.

I find that unfathomable, perhaps he still is one of Jazz’s best kept secrets.

 

Is there a complete list of MMJ releases somewhere?

 

Music Matters Ltd.

 

Weirdly, the MMJ website is not complete. It's missing Hub-Tones, for example, is not there. This isn't up-to-date anymore, but it will get you most of the way there;

Check out the Discogs link from @Tim1954 below.

(this is not my list btw; it from another post on SHM that I can't find at the moment)

MUSIC MATTERS
Kevin P. Gray, Steve Hoffman, Ron Rambach, Joe Harley (only Art Blakey - Free for All: AS Andrew Scheps).
ATM - Acoustech Mastering / CA - Cohearent Audio.

45

Dec 2007
MMBST 4029 - Art Blakey - The Big Beat (KPG/SH@ATM) ( 33- 02/15)
MMBST 4043 - Horace Parlan - Speakin’ My Piece (KPG/SH@ATM) ( 33- 04/15)
Feb 2008
MMBST 84059 - Kenny Drew – Undercurrent (KPG/SH@ATM) ( 33- 09/14)
MMBST 4012 - Lou Donaldson - LD+3 (KPG/SH@ATM)
Apr 2008
MMBST 4031 - Hank Mobley - Soul Station (KPG/SH@ATM) ( 33- 03/14)
MMBST 4037 - Horace Parlan - Us Three (KPG/SH@ATM) ( 33- 12/15)
May 2008
MMBST 84049 - Art Blakey - A Night in Tunisia (KPG/SH@ATM) ( SRX- 01/19)
MMBST 84067 - Jackie McLean - Bluesnik (KPG/SH@ATM)
July 2008
MMBST 4041 - Tina Brooks - True Blue (KPG/SH@ATM) ( 33- 05/14)
MMBST 84220 - Horace Silver - The Cape Verdean Blues (KPG/SH@ATM) ( 33- 12/16)
Sept 2008
MMBST 84135 - Freddie Hubbard - Here to Stay (KPG/SH@ATM)
MMBST 84144 - Johnny Coles - Little Johnny C (KPG/SH@ATM) ( 33- 10/15)
Nov 2008
MMBST 1058 - Lee Morgan - Tom Cat (KPG@ATM)
MMBST 84091 - Sonny Clark - Leapin’ and Lopin’ (KPG/SH@ATM)
Jan 2009
MMBST 1588 - Sonny Clark - Cool Struttin’ (KPG/SH@ATM) ( 33- 11/14)
MMBLP 1517 - Gil Mellé - Patterns in Jazz (KPG/SH@ATM)
March 2009
MMBLP 1568 - Hank Mobley - Sextet 1568 (KPG/SH@ATM) ( 33- 11/16)
MMBST 84075 - Donald Byrd - The Cat Walk (KPG/SH@ATM)
Apr 2009
MMBST 4045 - Freddie Redd - Shades of Redd (KPG/SH@ATM)
MMBST 84052 - Tina Brooks - Back to the Tracks (KPG/SH@ATM)
June 2009
MMBST 84077 - Dexter Gordon - Doin’ Alright (KPG/SH@ATM)
MMBLP 1590 - Lee Morgan - Candy - Mono (KPG/SH@ATM) ( 33 Stereo- 11/16)
July 2009
MMBST 84163 - Eric Dolphy - Out to Lunch (KPG/SH@ATM) ( 33- 01/15)
MMBLP 1524 - Kenny Dorham - Round about Midnight at the Café Bohemia (KPG@ATM)
Sept 2009
MMBST 84182 - Wayne Shorter - Juju (KPG/SH@ATM)
MMBLP 1573 - John Jenkins with Kenny Burrell (KPG@ATM)
Oct 2009
MMBST 84058 - Hank Mobley - Roll Call (KPG/SH@ATM)
MMBST 4024 - Jackie McLean - Swing, Swang, Swingin’ (KPG/SH@ATM)
Nov 2009
MMBST 4040 - Freddie Hubbard - Open Sesame (KPG/SH@ATM)
MMBST 84074 - Horace Parlan - On the Spur of the Moment (KPG/SH@ATM)
Dec 2009
MMBST 84169 - Lee Morgan - Search for the New Land (KPG@ATM) ( 33- 10/16)
MMBLP 1542 - Sonny Rollins - Vol. 1 - Mono (KPG/SH@ATM) (SRX- 01/19)
Jan 2010
MMBST 84442 - Grant Green - Matador (KPG/SH@ATM) ( 33- 05/15)
MMBLP 1567 - Curtis Fuller - The Opener (KPG/SH@ATM)
Feb 2010
MMBST 84183 - Grant Green - Talkin’ About (KPG/SH@ATM)
MMBST 84152 - Joe Henderson - Our Thing (KPG/SH@ATM)
March 2010
MMBLP 1557 - Lee Morgan - Vol. 3 (KPG/SH@ATM)
MMBST 84204 - Dexter Gordon - Gettin’ Around (KPG/SH@ATM) ( 33- 03/17)
Apr 2010
MMBST 84221 - Larry Young - Unity (KPG/SH@ATM) ( 33- 08/15)
MMBLP 1526 - Clifford Brown - Memorial Album (KPG/SH@ATM)
May 2010
MMBST 990 - Grant Green - Solid (KPG/SH@ATM) (SRX- 01/19)
MMBLP 1594 - Louis Smith - Smithville (KPG/SH@ATM)
June 2010
MMBLP 1550 - Hank Mobley - Quintet - Mono (KPG@ATM) (SRX- 01/19)
MMBST 84070 - Stanley Turrentine - Up at Minton’s, Vol. 2 (KPG@ATM)
July 2010
MMBST 84185 - Horace Silver - Song for My Father (KPG@ATM) (SRX- 01/19)
MMBLP 1535 - Kenny Dorham - Afro Cuban (KPG/SH@ATM) (SRX- 01/19)
Sept 2010
MMBST 84189 - Joe Henderson - Inner Urge (KPG@ATM) (SRX- 01/19)
MMBLP 1527 - Thad Jones - The Magnificent (KPG/SH@ATM) ( 33- 10/16)
Oct 2010
MMBST 84167 - Andrew Hill - Point of Departure (KPG/SH@ATM) ( 33- 07/15)
MMBST 4019 - Donald Byrd - Byrd in Hand (KPG/SH@ATM)
Nov 2010
MMBST 84173 - Wayne Shorter - Night Dreamer (KPG@ATM) ( 33- 02/17)
MMBST 1591 - Lou Donaldson - Lou Takes Off (KPG/SH@ATM)
Dec 2010
MMBST 84153 - Grachan Moncur III - Evolution (KPG/SH@ATM)
MMBLP 1564 - Paul Chambers - Quintet (KPG@ATM)
Jan 2011
MMGFX 3057 - Kenny Burrell - Freedom (KPG@ATM)
MMBLP 5066 - Hank Mobley - Quartet (KPG@ATM)
Feb 2011
MMBST 84184 - Sam Rivers - Fuchsia Swing Song (KPG@ATM)
MMBST 84133 - Dexter Gordon - A Swingin’ Affair (KPG@ATM)
Mar 2011
MMBST 84165 - Jackie McLean - Destination Out (KPG@ATM)
MMBLP 1538 - Lee Morgan - Indeed - Mono (KPG@ATM)
Apr 2011
MMBST 84431 - Hank Mobley - Another Workout (KPG@ATM)
MMBLP 1562 - Horace Silver - The Stylings of Silver (KPG/SH@ATM)
May 2011
MMBST 84282 - Elvin Jones - Puttin’ It Together (KPG@ATM)
MMBLP 1559 - Johnny Griffin – Vol. 2 A Blowin’ Session (KPG@ATM) (SRX- 01/19)
June 2011
MMBST 4001 - Sonny Rollins - Newk’s Time (KPG/SH@ATM)
MMBST 1582 - Cliff Jordan - Cliff Craft (KPG@ATM)
July 2011
Sonny Clark - Sonny’s Crib (KPG/SH@ATM)
MMBST 1580 - Johnny Griffin - The Congregation (KPG/SH@ATM)
Aug 2011
MMBST 84369 - Elvin Jones - Genesis (KPG@ATM)
MMBST 84245 - Art Blakey - Like Someone in Love (KPG@ATM)
Sept 2011
MMBST 84056 - Freddie Hubbard - Goin’ Up (KPG@CA)
MMBLP 1536 - J.R. Monterose (KPG@ATM)
Oct 2011
MMLT 988 - Wayne Shorter - The Soothsayer (KPG@CA)
MMBST 84264 - McCoy Tyner - The Real McCoy (KPG@CA)
Nov 2011
MMBST 84231 - Bobby Hutcherson - Happenings (KPG@ATM)
MMBST 84127 - Kenny Dorham - Una Mas (KPG@CA)
Dec 2011
MMBST 84178 - Blue Mitchell - The Thing to Do (KPG@CA)
MMBLP 1539 - Horace Silver - 6 Pieces of Silver (KPG@ATM)
Jan 2012
MMBST 84193 - Art Blakey - Indestructible (KPG@ATM) ( 33- 02/17)
MMBST 3032 - Lee Morgan - The Procrastinator (KPG@CA)
Feb 2012
MMBST 84137 - Jackie McLean - One Step Beyond (KPG RR JH@CA)
MMBST 84085 - Freddie Hubbard - Ready for Freddie (KPG RR JH@CA) ( 33- 02/17)
Mar 2012
MMBST 84232 - Wayne Shorter - Adam’s Apple (KPG RR JH@CA) (SRX- 01/19)
MMBST 4039 - Stanley Turrentine - Look Out (KPG/RR@CA)
Apr 2012
MMBST 84175 - Herbie Hancock - Empyrean Isles (KPG RR JH@CA) ( 33- 03/15)
MMBST 4146 - Dexter Gordon - Our Man in Paris (KPG RR@CA) ( 33- 03/15)
May 2012
MMBST 84194 - Wayne Shorter - Speak No Evil (KPG/RR@CA) ( 33- 09/15)
MMBST 84253 - Grant Green - Street of Dreams (KPG RR JH@CA)
Sept 2012
MMBST 84147 - Herbie Hancock - Inventions and Dimensions (KPG RR JH@CA)
MMBST 84170 - Art Blakey - Free for All (KPG RR Andrew Scheps@CA) (SRX- 01/19)
Oct 2012
MMBST 84166 - Joe Henderson - In ’n’ Out (KPG@CA)
MMBST 4008 - Horace Silver - Finger Poppin’ (KPG/RR@CA)
Dec 2012
MMBST 84187 - Larry Young - Into Somethin’ (KPG/RR @CA)
MMBST 84205 - Pete La Roca - Basra (KPG@CA)
Jan 2013
MMBST 84279 - Herbie Hancock - Speak Like a Child (KPG/RR@CA)
MMBST 84159 - Andrew Hill - Judgment (KPG/RR@CA)
Mar 2013
MMBLP 1518 - Horace Silver & The Jazz Messengers - Mono (KPG/RR@CA)
MMBST 3058 - Grant Green - Gooden’s Corner (KPG/RR@CA)
Apr 2013
MMBST 84109 - Herbie Hancock - Takin’ Off (KPG/RR@CA)
MMBST 84401 - Hank Mobley - The Feelin’s Good (KPG/RR@CA)
June 2013
Art Blakey - Mosaic (KPG/RR@CA)
MMBST 84062 - Horace Parlan - Headin’ South (KPG/RR@CA)
July 2013
MMBST 84227 - Joe Henderson - Mode for Joe (KPG/RR@CA)
MMBST 84103 - Ike Quebec - Easy Living (KPG/RR@CA)
Sept 2013
MMBST 84212 - Lee Morgan - The Gigolo (KPG/RR@CA)
MMBST 84101 - Donald Byrd - Royal Flush (KPG/RR@CA)
Oct 2013
MMBST 84122 - Stanley Turrentine - Jubilee Shout (KPG/RR@CA)
MMBST 4023 - Dizzy Reece - Star Bright (KPG/RR@CA)
Nov 2013
MMBLP 1570 - Sonny Clark - Dial “S” for Sonny (KPG/RR@CA)
MMBST 84134 - Horace Parlan - Happy Frame of Mind (KPG/RR@CA)
Dec 2013
MMBLP 1507 - Art Blakey - At the Café Bohemia Vol. 1 (KPG/RR@CA)
MMBLP 1508 - Art Blakey - At the Café Bohemia Vol. 2 (KPG/RR@CA)

33

Jan 2014
33BLP 1577 - John Coltrane - Blue Train (KPG/RR@CA) (SRX- 01/19)
33BST 4154 - Grant Green - Idle Moments (KPG/RR@CA)
Mar 2014
33BST 4031 - Hank Mobley - Soul Station (KPG/RR@CA) ( 45- 04/08)
33BST 4123 - Kenny Burrell - Midnight Blue (KPG/RR@CA)
May 2014
33BST 4041 - Tina Brooks - True Blue (KPG/RR@CA) ( 45- 07/08)
33BST 4112 - Dexter Gordon - Go! (KPG@CA)
July 2014
33BST 4140 - Joe Henderson - Page One (KPG/RR@CA)
33BST 4003 - Art Blakey - Moanin’ (KPG/RR@CA)
Sept 2014
33BST 4157 - Lee Morgan - The Sidewinder (KPG@CA)
33BST 84059 - Kenny Drew - Undercurrent (KPG/RR@CA) ( 45- 02/08)
Nov 2014
33BST 1588 - Sonny Clark - Cool Struttin’ (KPG/RR@CA) ( 45- 01/09)
33BST 1595 - Cannonball Adderley - Somethin’ Else (KPG@CA)
Jan 2015
33BST 84163 - Eric Dolphy - Out to Lunch (KPG/RR@CA) ( 45- 07/09)
33BST 4195 - Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage (KPG/RR@CA)
Feb 2015
33BST 4029 - Art Blakey - The Big Beat (KPG/RR@CA) ( 45- 12/07)
33BST 4098 - Ike Quebec - Blue and Sentimental (KPG/RR@CA)
March 2015
33BST 84175 - Herbie Hancock - Empyrean Isles (KPG/RR@CA) ( 45- 04/12)
33BST 4146 - Dexter Gordon - Our Man in Paris (KPG/RR@CA) ( 45- 04/12)
April 2015
33BST 4043 - Horace Parlan - Speakin’ My Piece (KPG/RR@CA) ( 45- 12/07)
33BST 4057 - Stanley Turrentine with the Three Sounds - Blue Hour (KPG/RR@CA)
May 2015
33BST 84442 - Grant Green - Matador (KPG/RR@CA) ( 45- 01/10)
33BST 4009 - Bud Powell - The Scene Changes (KPG/RR@CA)
July 2015
33BST 84167 - Andrew Hill - Point of Departure (KPG/RR@CA) ( 45- 10/10)
33BST 4071 - Grant Green - Green Street (KPG/RR@CA)
Aug 2015
33BST 84221 - Larry Young - (Unity KPG/RR@CA) ( 45- 04/10)
33BST 4215 - Jackie McLean - Right Now! (KPG/RR@CA)
Sept 2015
33BST 84194 - Wayne Shorter - Speak No Evil (KPG/RR@CA) ( 45- 05/12)
33BST 4115 - Freddie Hubbard - Hub-Tones (KPG/RR@CA)
Oct 2015
33BST 4080 - Hank Mobley - Workout (KPG/RR@CA)
33BST 84144 - Johnny Coles - Little Johnny C (KPG/RR@CA) ( 45- 09/08)
Dec 2015
33BST 4092 - Kenny Clarke and Francy Boland - The Golden 8 (KPG/RR@CA)
33BST 4037 - Horace Parlan - Us Three (KPG/RR@CA) ( 45- 04/08)
Oct 2016
33BST 84169 - Lee Morgan - Search for the New Land (KPG/RR@CA) ( 45- 12/09)
33BLP 1527 - Thad Jones - The Magnificent (KPG/RR@CA) ( 45- 09/10)
Nov 2016
33BST 1590 - Lee Morgan - Candy – Stereo (KPG/RR@CA) ( 45 Mono - 06/09)
33BLP 1568 - Hank Mobley - 1568 (KPG/RR@CA) ( 45- 03/09)
Dec 2016
33BST 4034 - Lee Morgan - Lee-Way (KPG/RR@CA)
33BST 84220 - Horace Silver - The Cape Verdean Blues (KPG/RR@CA) ( 45- 07/08)
Jan 2017
33BST 84085 - Freddie Hubbard - Ready for Freddie (KPG/RR@CA) ( 45- 02/12)
33BST 4051 - Jackie McLean - Jackie’s Bag (KPG/RR@CA)
Feb 2017
33BST 84173 - Wayne Shorter - Night Dreamer (KPG/RR@CA) ( 45- 11/10)
33BST 84193 - Art Blakey - Indestructible (KPG/RR@CA) ( 45- 01/12)
March 2017
33BST 84204 - Dexter Gordon - Gettin’ Around (KPG/RR@CA) ( 45- 03/10)
33BST 4191 - Duke Pearson - Wahoo! (KPG/RR@CA)
33BST 4063 - Kenny Dorham - Whistle Stop (KPG/RR@CA)


SRX

Jan 2019
33BLP 1577 - John Coltrane - Blue Train ( 33- 01/14)

33BLP 1533 - Johnny Griffin - Introducing
33BST 84189 - Joe Henderson - Inner Urge ( 45- 09/10)
33BLP 1593 - Lou Donaldson - Blues Walk
33BST 84170 - Art Blakey - Free For All ( 45- 09/12)
33BLP 1550 - Hank Mobley – Quintet ( 45- 06/10)
33BLP 1542 - Sonny Rollins - Volume 1 ( 45- 12/09)
33BST 84049 - Art Blakey - A Night in Tunisia ( 45- 05/08)
33BLP 1535 - Kenny Dorham - Afro-Cuban ( 45- 07/10)
33BST 84185 - Horace Silver - Song For My Father ( 45- 07/10)
33BLP 1559 - Johnny Griffin - Vol. 2 A Blowing Session ( 45- 05/11)
33BST 84232 - Wayne Shorter - Adam's Apple ( 45- 03/12)
33BST 990 - Grant Green – Solid ( 45- 05/10)MUSIC MATTERS
Kevin P. Gray, Steve Hoffman, Ron Rambach, Joe Harley (only Art Blakey - Free for All: AS Andrew Scheps).
ATM - Acoustech Mastering / CA - Cohearent Audio.

 

^ Nice list.

FYI….

Freddie Hubbard – Hub-Tones (2015, 180g, Gatefold, Vinyl)

 

Whoops. My mistake. I thought the link was to the Music Matters website!

 

Weird that Hub-Tones isn't linked from the 33rpm or Artists pages. You can find it via Google search: Freddy Hubbard - Hub Tones - Blue Note Vinyl Record Reissue

 

It’s the link to the MMJ list on Discogs. But apparently the forum software decides to ‘summarise’ a URL.

 

In case anyone is curious about how some of the “Classic” series reissues compare to MMJ where there is overlap, I compared several this past weekend.

I’m not all that fond of the sound Gray is getting on the Classics. They are great for twenty bucks, don’t get me wrong, but price aside and in direct comparison to MMJ 45s I have, I don’t find them as good. The most recent ones seem to have this upper midrange boost that I find a little distracting.

I saw some talk about Six Pieces of Silver being an improvement, but I don’t agree with that notion at all. It’s been opened up a bit in the upper mids, but the MMJ 45 is fuller, with better tonal balance from top to bottom, IMO. Big Beat, same thing. Out To Lunch, no way… the 45 slays it.

Maiden Voyage is another one. I think the AP45 still has it beat and the new one is more in line with the sound gone for on the MMJ 33.

 

Not sure how apples to apples comparing 45's to 33's are in general... I get you feel there are mastering choices KPG is making that aren't as good, but I think a few of the Classics I have are excellent (agree Maiden Voyage isn't that great, but off the top of my head Out to Lunch, Ready for Freddie, Somethin' Else, Page One and Cool Struttin' are all pretty close to reference quality 33's). That said, I don't have ANY overlap between the two series, be it 33's or 45's, nor do I really feel the need to double up on anything as they are both excellent overall IMO.

 

Been doing a little bit of cleaning up and realizing again that I'm now only 2 titles away from owning every individual title MMJ has released:

• Hank Mobley - Quintet
• Lee Morgan - Indeed!

Aside from those two, I have every 45, every 33 (that did not get a 45 release and or had an SRX release), and every SRX that ONLY had a 33 (not a 45). None of the colored vinyl. This totals 135 records, of which I technically own 134, because I own both the SRX and the 45 of Speak No Evil.

I currently have them organized by artist's first name, then release date. I think I want to go through all of them based on recording date (w/o regard to artist) Feel like it'd be a wonderful Blue Note (and jazz) history lesson.

I don't own any of the BN Classics that overlap with the MMJ releases, but do own 4 of the AP's, but haven't had a chance to give them a clean A/B (Moanin', Idle Moments, Blue Train, and Midnight Blue) Trying to slowly grab the rest of the AP (MMJ release or not) but honestly might go back and grab the BN Classic versions, too. Hell, they're so cheap might be worth the test.

Re: the last two I need....I see that they're both still available on the MMJ site, but...I'd rather find them elsewhere. Anybody have Indeed and a 45 of Quintet they want to sell me so I can get this over with?

 

The Classics are a great buy and I'm not criticizing them.

I do think the series is developing a "sound," if you will. It's a great sound and maybe a bit of a balance between original Blue Note LPs and the sound of the tapes? That's just a guess about what they are going for, but to my ears they seem to be juicing those upper mids a bit. It does wonders for getting a piano to "pop" a little more or bass to come through in a bit more detail. What is does to the cymbals is where I'm not on board. All of these recent BNCs have this kind of crunchy, crispy sound in the ride cymbals that doesn't quite compete with what MMJ were doing (45 or 33) on their very best work.

I haven't heard the new Ready For Freddie. I'd like to at some point as I know it has rave reviews. But I'm already pleased with the MMJ 45 and based on hearing a number of these new ones I'm inclined not to double dip much further.

 

I dont know audio equipment well enough to look at yours Tim and have it mean anything to me but how would you describe your systems sound. My Yamaha Amp and Harbeth speakers in particular but also to a lesser degree my choice of my other analog components were chosen to be a warm sound heading towards a warmer tube sound . I love the 33s on this system but perhaps they would sound a little more in your face on a different set up.
In general people seem to find both the 33 and 45 MM to be very solid but in general terms the 33 a little brighter and the 45s more fuller and warmer ( apologies for my gross simplification).
I really wonder if part of the reason a lot of us talk past each other is because of how are systems flavour the sound plus our own personal sound preferences.

( and for the love of god please dont anyone start up that cursed -‘which one is better- debate )

I find it interesting hearing the wide range of opinions on the classic BN series mastering choices Kevin does now …

 

Would be cool if he popped in for a Q&A here or somewhere. I'm really curious about what goes into the mastering choices when he does the same title for different reissues.

 

Another great way to develop a way of knowing how another member’s taste will align with yours is to find a title on which you agree.

So, for example, I would describe the MMJ45 of Six Pieces of Silver as just a bit boomy in spots with that deep bass that RVG seemed to get on his mono recordings from the era. Really nice on the top end. Not harsh. Piano is balanced and cymbals melt nicely just on top of the mix.

Now if that aligns with your opinion pretty well then you would likely also agree about the BNC. I find it is still a bit boomy in spots and the deep bass is there. Piano has been brought forward just a little. Harshness is no big deal but starting to rear its head just a hair. Cymbals are now more forward and crispier, floating above the mix more. A little more alive as a presentation. Less smooth and a bit more fiery.

 

Two exceptional titles. JuJu is a top 10 Blue Note for me. Just outstanding all around.

 

The change in 1099-K reporting has nothing to do with what is taxable or not.