Scott La Faro* – Sunday At The Village Vanguard

This sounds FANTASTIC! The best UHQR I own so far. I have not heard other pressings, but I have compared it to the hi res stream on qobuz (which is also excellent), and the UHQR takes the win for me. I feel like I own a piece of history.

Vinyl is dead quiet, NO surface noise. Open and airy bass. The bass on Jade Visions is jaw dropping.

Just a treat. Completely perfect.

Seriously, who needs this and more importantly, why? 🤔 Short answer: No one and then everyone!

No one, because there are already so many great-sounding, very affordable versions of this wonderful The Bill Evans Trio Featuring Scott LaFaro - Sunday At The Village Vanguard edition, which is also my new favourite personal copy for everyday play.

So there's no reason to add this lavish box set to your collection, right? Well, not so fast, because this pricey but stunning reissue is nothing short of a work of art and should bring joy to everyone.

Anyway, I actually want to keep it brief here. Because I really can't add anything except to express my utmost gratitude to hold such a beautiful SDE in my hands.

IMHO this gorgeous UHQR by Analogue Productions box-set edition is almost as pure as the Blessed Virgin Mary and really too precious to open. I almost felt like I was committing a sacrilege when I opened my copy 😂.

This UHQR release is obviously aimed exclusively at the most discerning Jazz collector and Analogue Productions has delivered once again exactly that inside and out!

Therefore don't think twice and buy it immediately if you can afford it! This is a true feast for all your senses! 😊👍👍.

PS: My enthusiasm for this breathtakingly, new UHQR "Sunday At The Village Vanguard" release applies of course also to the equally spectacular The Bill Evans Trio - Waltz For Debby, which was issued at the same time. The latter is just as wonderful and an absolute must-buy!

Sounds amazing!! Only problem is that sides three and four are from Waltz For Debby. Wonder how they are going to fix that for me. I just sent the customer email.

Has anyone done a detailed listening between this uhqr version and the Analogue Production box... is it worth buying the UHQR if you already have the Analogue Production box?

Just a minor question, is it the same release notes in both UHQR titles?

Insane. I was listening to this while doing some writing on my computer, my windows were open, and I heard voices of a hushed conversation that I swore were coming from outside, but then I realized this was conversation captured on this recording from the patrons of the Village Vanguard on this fateful evening. My dog was even fooled and barked as if the conversation was at my front door. WOW. So immersive. So present. You’re in the club. You’re smoking a cigarette. You’re sipping a martini. And listening to this timeless music.

So my question is, is this a different mastering job than Kevin Gray just did for the OGC Craft version last year? Or just a different pressing?

My Notes:
remarkable bass definition, probably the best bass I've heard on anything I've got. Scott LaFarlo earns his merits here. Yes, it's better than my Riverside. Remarkably better because I remarked about it.
- Brush drums are a hard thing to get right, record right, and master/press right. I listen to a lot of early Chicago and they struggled with recording brush drums appropriately. These sound like brush drums. Like Motian knew exactly what he was doing with those sticks. If it isn't done recorded right, it sounds like static, it sounds like brush sticks!
- Cymbals sound fantastic.
- The piano sounds like a piano and that's saying a lot to me. Bill is being Bill.
- The background crowd noise is interesting. Of course I've heard it, but this time, I swear I thought my wife was home and was calling me from downstairs. There's a chick back there that sounds like my wife with her voice raised, not that I've heard it that often! LOL
- The sleeve is gorgeous and I just like holding it. It feels amazing.

Impeccable and without a flaw in my opinion. Wasn't terribly excited to see a UHQR of this release since so many other solid versions are out there, but what a feat. Worth every penny. Sounds so natural its hard to take in while you are listening.

This reissue is blowing me away. This one of the best sounding records in my collection (maybe the best). While I'm listening to this, I keep forgetting this is a live recording.