Sam Rivers – Contours

I mostly just wanted to comment that Ron Carter is incredible on this record. As stated by the previous reviewer, light ticks are audible during the long quiet sections of the album, particularly on B1.

Just looks who’s on this. That’s how good (great) it is.

Quiet vinyl where I can only here light clicks during the quiet parts of the record. The vinyl itself looks perfect.

Sam's sax is really on display here. We have all sorts of soloing, but various different levels of voluming by Sam himself. Sometimes he plays quiet and sometimes he plays loud. Whatever he is doing sounds very great on my speakers. On top of that, the drums are perfectly captured with full cymbal decay. The piano seems like typical van Gelder and centered. The drums and brass flank left and right. The bass could be a tad more detailed, but you know it is there.

Overall, excellent.

Cartridge: AT150Sa

How good is this? It's the kind of release that immediately makes me want to buy another copy to keep as a spare. So I will. It's *that* good and as great as the whole TP series has been so far, this is the only disc which has made me feel this way - for the music alone.

Rivers leads key hard-bop stalwarts into a realm of avantgarde originals, but in a way that remains exploratory and definitely not off-putting. There's still melody and structure to hang onto. Super clear sonics, super clean pressing.

Flawless presentation of yet another Blue Note gem. Featuring some of my favorite players, no wonder it’s such a marvelous session. A must have if you’re a fan, the Tone Poet series celebrates a rich catalog of jazz treasures.

Fabulous! Rich and full with a very wide soundstage. Amazing separation and detail. Just an outstanding repress!

Amazing sound! Flat and flawless. Huge dynamics. Fat cardboard like others tone poet series.

Euterpe is fantastic. Brush drums and ostinato, creating dark atmosphere for very remarkable solo by rivers very like late 60s Herbie Hancock. I'm not familiar with other Rivers "muse goddess" tracks like calliope - can anyone comment? Ah googled (editing) and it was Andrew Hill who did Calliope and his own separate composition Euterpe. This Contours track could also fit on one of the miles albums of the time. Really superb responsive playing from the group. Recommended.

Bought on a total whim from my local record shop, having never heard it, though I'm familiar with the work of Freddie Hubbard, and Ron Carter from their sessions with other jazz greats. Never heard Sam Rivers before this. This press is dead quiet, and sounds fantastic. The music was outstanding. Glad I purchased this. I'll look into the other Tone Poet releases.

Great music. Great pressing. However, I'm just wondering if the bass was always this low in the mix? I think it would have been better a little more up front!