Dsd

Ronnie Mathews - Trip To The Orient (1975) {2015 DSD Japan East Wind Masters Collection 1000 UCCJ-9148}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 249 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 99 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 144 Mb | 5% repair rar | DSD Mastering
© 1975, 2015 East Wind Music / Universal Japan | UCCJ-9148
Jazz / Hard Bop / Soul Jazz / Piano

One of the greatest sessions ever recorded by Ronnie Mathews – an excellent soul jazz pianist who's working here in a mode that's similar to that of Kenny Barron, Cedar Walton, or other 70s lyrical giants! Mathews' touch on the keys is incredible – at one moment extremely sensitive and pensive, at another racing forward with a searing searching spirituality that's driven on by the bass of Yoshio Suzuki and the drums of Louis Hayes – a great rhythm duo who really help give the record a very special, unique feel. The album features the original compositions "Ichiban", "K's Waltz", and "Jean-Marie" – plus a great version of "Manha Do Carnaval", which features Mathews on Fender Rhodes!

Masabumi Kikuchi - Wishes/Kochi (1976) {2015 DSD Japan East Wind Masters Collection 1000}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 329 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 126 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 158 Mb | 5% repair rar | DSD Mastering
© 1976, 2015 East Wind Music / Universal Japan | UCCJ-9173
Jazz / Post Bop / Fusion

An excellent mid 70s Japanese fusion set, led by the Gil Evans protege Masabumi Kikuchi – with a very similar group to the one on his awesome Susto LP! The vibe isn't quite as funky on this outing – in fact it's a bit more reminiscent of Miles' spacey electric explorations – though there are some pretty hard groovin' moments should definitely appeal to fans of funky fusion. Steve Grossman and Dave Liebman play some nice coloristic lines on reeds, and Terumasa Hino is in fine form on trumpet. The rest of the group is rounded out by Reggie Lucas on guitar playing some hard choppy accompaniment to Kikuchi's synths and electric piano, Mtume on percussion, Al Foster on drums and Anthony Jackson on bass. We're especially keen on the dark and heavy "Auroral Flare", the spacious "Pacific Hushes" which opens with a beautiful line played by Hino and the set's closer "Alone".

Lee Konitz - You and Lee (1959) {Japan Verve DSD Mini LP UCCV-9329 rel 2007}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 202 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 79 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 21 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1959, 2007 Verve Music Japan | UCCV-932 | DSD mastering
Jazz / Cool / Bop / Big Band / Saxophone

A beautiful lost session from Lee Konitz – one that has him blowing beautifully over larger backings penned by Jimmy Giuffre – all done with that great blend of modern and swing that Jimmy was bringing to his best work of the 50s! Bill Evans and Jim Hall provide support in the rhythm section, using their fluid styles of piano and guitar to gently swing the tunes without pushing too much on the bottom – so that Lee's flowing solos on alto are allowed to glide majestically over the top! The Konitz presented here is a rare one, and an extremely charming player who's more concerned with tone and soul than on some of his other more modern outings of the time.

Herbie Hancock - Sunlight (1978) {2009 Columbia Japan Blu-spec DSD Remaster}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (image)+CUE+LOG -> 255 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 93 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 21 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1978, 2009 Columbia / Sony Music Japan | SICP 20206 | DSD Remaster
Jazz / Post Bop / Jazz Funk

After Man-Child, alas, Herbie Hancock's American jazz-funk records in the 1970s grew gradually more commercial, less stimulating, and crucially, less truly funky with each release, even as his equipment rack grew larger. Just take a look at the staggering collection of keyboards on the back cover of the Sunlight LP – all sought-after collectors' items now – yet Hancock makes so little use of their possibilities here. For much of the album, he seems most interested in establishing a new career as an electronic vocalist.

2018 release. On the 40th Anniversary of his iconic Equinoxe album, Jean-Michel Jarre releases the sequel - Equinoxe Infinity. This concept album will not be a direct follow-up to the 1978 masterpiece, but rather a meditation about the watchers (the characters with binoculars) as being part of the struggle (or not) between human and artificial intelligence. Jarre describes this album as ""Equinoxe on steroids"".

DEPECHE MODE The Best Of: Volume One (2017 UK 10th Anniversary Edition of their 2007 triple vinyl LP set featuring a collection of 18 classic tracks Personal Jesus Just Cant Get Enough Enjoy The Silence Strangelove Dream On People Are People Master And Servant and more housed in the sealed & embossed wide-spined picture slipcase replicating the original release!)