MASTERPIECE! Forget BOTH the costly Japanese CDs
Mike DiMartino | Rochester, NY | 09/28/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I took a gamble on Gambit, on a high-hoped hunch they would follow the lead of time-proven fellow Spain label, Fresh Sound, by issuing these two albums without altering the original audio. My experiences with '50s-'60s jazz imports other than those from Japan has been an expensive hit-and-miss disappointment, as many are coming to us hideously disfigured by added digital "enhancements" and fake stereo reverb gimmicks (often studiply added even to recordings already wet with reverb). Of course, any butchering of the original sound just destroys the artists' and engineer's intended feeling, mood and color of a recording.
Well, if you demand original audio there's no need to spend $60 on the two separate Japanese CDs of ART and PERCEPTION, for Gambit is to be thunderously applauded for offering both albums on one low-priced, superb 73+ minute CD, a meticulously faithful documentation of engineer Tommy Nola's gorgeous '60 and '61 stereo Argo recordings of two of only a few sessions that featured Art Farmer in quartet setting. I have an original Argo mono LP of ART, and when I first listened to Gambit's ART--issued in its original stereo mix--oh, man, I was astounded at the clean clarity of the mix. And Art's horn just blossoms. (To those of you familiar with the RCA 44 BX ribbon mic, if you really want to hear the typically fat warmth that mic imparts on a trumpet, Art's Martin Committee trumpet, these sessions are a definative, exquisite example to study.)
Also the cover art and Hentoff/Feather liner repros of both LPs are beautiful, unlike the dark, dingy cover art repros--with added and very cluttersome graphics--now coming out of the EU.
At these prices, steal this one today.
Mike DiMartino in Rochester, NY. Thank you for reading.
"
Reissue of the Year
Oldnslow | Seattle, Washington USA | 03/20/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have enjoyed the Art Farmer record "ART" ever since it was first issued on an Argo LP back in the 60's. It simply is the best trumpet quartet record I have ever heard. Farmer's incredible lyricism has perhaps only been equaled by Chet Baker at his best. The "Perception" LP is also very fine, if not quite in the league of "Art". First rate remastering of these recordings from the famous Nola studios is a huge bonus--the LP was always noisy and poorly transfered to LP, at least in domestic versions. Add the wonderful cover painting of Art, and this reissue by Gambit is the highlight of the year. Snap this baby up while you can to enjoy the best Art Farmer on record."
I PERCEIVE high quality ART
David Conklin | Albuquerque, NM USA | 02/20/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a real winner. Great mellow listening (but nothing like today's "smooth jazz"). Quartets with Farmer's melodic trumptet and talented, supportive rhythm sections. Interesting selection of songs--not the typical jazz standards you might expect on this type of recording. Audio quality is excellent. I believe this 2006 CD includes both previous albums (ART and PERCEPTION) in their entirety; apparently an older CD with these albums (reviewed in the Penguin Guide and described as "quite essential") left off one song from each album. I thank the previous reviewer, Mike DiMartino, for keying me in on this one."
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1