Capo Plaza Non Fare Così

Carmen McRae - Live At Century Plaza (1968) {Atlantic Japan, WPCR-25041, 24-bit rel 2005)
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 510 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 182 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 27 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1968, 2005 Atlantic / Warner Music Japan | WPCR-25041 | 24bit remastering
Jazz / Vocal Jazz / Bop / Ballads / Standards

24bit digitally remastered release of Carmen Mcrae's performance at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. The inimitable jazz vocalist Carmen McRae toplined this live set at the Los Angeles Century Plaza Hotel's Hong Kong Bar in late December 1968. The concert took place not long after McRae recorded two excellent, underrated LPs for Atlantic Records – Portrait of Carmen (1967) and Sound of Silence (1968). Atlantic set up and contractually licensed the rights to the Century Plaza show, but inexplicably waited years to do anything with the material, until label executive Nesuhi Ertegun finally produced a truncated version in 1975.

This recording of Così fan tutte was made when the cast was preparing for performances at the 1993 Edinburgh Festival, so the cast had the advantage of enough rehearsal time together to relax into the opera's humor. Their easy rapport is most evident in the spirited recitatives, which sparkle with spontaneity and wit. The fact that the principals are talented comedians makes their unforced interactions genuinely fun, and they sound like they are thoroughly enjoying themselves. Although they are not all international superstars, the performances are stellar. The soloists bring out the humanity and complexity of the opera, and artfully convey their characters' emotional development.

Duke Ellington - Jazz At The Plaza, Vol. II (1958) {2014 Japan Jazz Collection 1000 Columbia-RCA Series SICP 4243}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 327 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 110 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 179 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1958, 2014 Columbia / Sony Music Japan | SICP 4243 | DSD remaster
Jazz / Big Band

Reissue with latest 2014 DSD remastering. Comes with liner notes. Jazz at the Plaza Vol. II is a live album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded in 1958 at a party for Columbia Records and released on the label in 1973. The Miles Davis Sextet was also recorded at the same event and released as the first volume of Jazz at the Plaza. An intimate live session from Duke Ellington and his great late 50s orchestra – presented here at a private party hosted by Columbia Records at the Plaza Hotel in New York – at a time when Ellington was making some of his best music for the label! The tracks here are every bit on a par with Duke's late 50s gems for Columbia – and have the orchestra stepping out strongly on short numbers that maybe have a bit more swing and a bit less overall concept – as the soloist shift, and shine nicely on each tune!