MUSIC MATTERS JAZZ - The worst reissue label in existence???

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[@adandominguez]

My favorite moment: “If you’re buying WaxTime jazz records? You’re a putz!”

[@DefenestrateYourself]

WaxTime is the putz here--not the people buying it. Most casual jazz fans aren't aware there are shitty reissues by gray-market companies like WaxTime. So, before insulting people, let's educate them.

[@VinylRundown]

Thanks for saying what needed to be said. My local store sells waxtime right next to originals. No class.

[@phonatic]

​@@DefenestrateYourself Not to dispute the general issues with WaxTime but the grey-market thing is unproven baloney that once was brought in with some rants in hifi forums.

[@jukesjointOG]

I have some WaxTime and some MusicMatters. Haters can bite the |>•^€...

[@VinylRundown]

Gregg Juke planning on doing a video on why waxtime sucks. Stay tuned.

[@dancapshaw3361]

Tone Poet needs to release the iconic titles......for the good of jazz.

[@DefenestrateYourself]

One hundred percent. Now that MM's license is about to expire, people need access to these high-quality reissues.

[@chadallen7628]

DefenestrateYourself when is the license set to expire?

[@JadeTheWolf1982]

Agreed the releases they have done so far are Meh with the exception of THE PRISONER!!! That album cover is great and it looks like Herbie is the PRISONER!

[@quinto34]

all titles will do!

[@DefenestrateYourself]

William Kreuder All the titles have been stellar in my experience. Especially “Chet Sings” and “ Money Jungle”. They’re sonically so beyond any other pressings.

[@mikealexandersyoutubechann3498]

Loved this one. What are your thoughts on Classic Records’ jazz releases? And nice shade-throwing on Micallef... 😉

[@danmartinez5502]

Great info on the Music Matters issue. I have been collecting records since 1970 when I went to work for Musicland (17). I discovered Jazz in early 1971 when I started managing a huge Musicland store in Kansas City then a hotbed for Jazz. From there I went to buy records / music for retail outlets Nationally 1973 -1984. The Jazz bug stayed with me and here I am 50 years later still buying mostly Jazz and Classic Rock. You nailed it as I have purchased quite a few titles from MM. Tone Poet series has been a breath of fresh air.(Quality beats quantity every time) You are so right about Wax Time,DOL, and Jazz Wax etc. I was burned once.You should do a video on those Euro trash labels.I will check out your Ebay store and keep these great videos coming. You never can stop learning and can never have enough Jazz albums.

[@neilbicek3213]

By far the best and most informative video I've seen on buying records. I'm glad I found your KZbin channel and website. Thanks for all of your content and hard work. Your awesome.

[@DefenestrateYourself]

Excellent video! I'd love to see a video with your comparisons or thoughts on Classic Records, Analogue Productions, and Music Matters. Also, which BN80 and Tone Poets sound best. Thanks!

[@PopCultureGraveyard]

Pulling out that reel-to-reel tape was such a mic-drop moment. Great insights all around!

[@1999zrx1100]

Every word right on. I’ve bought so much Jazz I the last year and MM delivers every time. Nice to hear it come from you. Thanks 😎

[@chriss7164]

I really loved your down-to-earth, well-informed take on everything that goes into the mastering, distribution, etc. on these reissues. Thanks for imparting your knowledge! And as someone who loves jazz this is just a fun video to watch. Funny enough, the first jazz record I ever bought was Moanin' on WaxTime. Back then, I knew nothing about jazz beyond Kind of Blue and A Love Supreme. Just heard Moanin' was supposed to be good, so I bought the cheapest copy I could find online. I didn't even know what Blue Note Records was. I chalked up the bad sound to me having a cheaper sound system at the time, but soon found out WaxTime is bad and learned more about jazz record labels in the process. That was about eight years ago and unfortunately I still haven't upgraded. This video has inspired me to finally seek out a good copy of Moanin'.

[@derosa1989]

great video Mike! hope for some classic titles in the Tone Poet series in the future!

[@mattlee6533]

Excellent informative video. I must confess I do have few waxtime pressings, mainly to being starved of new records in the 90s and wanting to enjoy Jazz off LP. If a pressing is 'within tolerance ' on a good turntable it out classes CD even if it is off a digital source. However I replace records when possible and indeed the tone poet pressings are a sobering reminder of my haste to buy without checking first. The Andrew Hill: Black Fire on tone poet is wonderful. I very much respect your observations and advice. Regards, Matt Buckinghamshire England.

[@Andy-rc9db]

Just wanted to say thanks for these videos. I’m very new to jazz and have appreciated the recommendations on this channel. I’ve already picked up Time Out, Moanin’, and was lucky enough to get the OneStep of Ah Um at a great price - I’ve been enjoying them all. I’ve just ordered a copy of The Sidewinder and look forward to hearing that for the very first time. Thanks again, and take care.

[@ke6533]

I'm a novice at best when it comes to vinyl, and haven't even dipped my toe into jazz yet. This video has given me something to think about and I will definitely take this information moving forward. Up to this point I've heard nothing but good things about Tone Poet series.

[@AndrewSmith-mf8ep]

I just stumbled across your channel and completely agree with you. I'm lucky enough to have a good few MM titles, but there are some I don't have - so having a TP alternative would be great. By the way, what are your thoughts on the BN80 re-issues? I haven't listened to any yet, but I've heard they're almost as good as the TP's in terms of sonic quality. I've subscribed and look forward to more of your videos.

[@sidvicious3129]

Thank you for doing this because I love the Tone Poets stuff and they need to release class A and B titles to compete. I watched in horror of the price fluctuations at Music Matters and there are tons of people complaining about it and the SRX versions. Does the Tone Poet sound better than the music matters and does the Tone Poet get you as close to the original master tape as the music matters?

[@josephblackwelder3625]

I actually learned a lot in this video! Thanks man!

[@shaftpunk84]

I could listen to you passionately ramble about records all day, man. Don’t apologize for rambles!

[@audiotomb]

HI Mike Great topic and insight. From my experience you are spot on. I have all the Music Matters 45s and I just don’t get to playing them with the 45 rpm constraints - I felt honored to be #86 - many unopened. I only bought the first few 33 1/3 records of the series, One of these days I may part with my MM collection, I own a number of original jazz pressings - Riverside, Impulse, Atlantic and a few $ Blue NOtes. My most cherished old record is John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme - $190 used - mono from Impulse. As good as it is - the AP modern pressing takes things that much farther. Thanks again

[@hemantishwaran5741]

One of your best videos! Totally killed it bro!!

[@voxstarstream]

Love those record shelves. Do you have a link on how to make them?

[@nocoastjazz]

Love the video! Thank you for imparting some guidance on what is most important - the music! Have a few Tone Poets and they do sound amazing. I cannot afford to pay $1,000s for first BN pressings but have been fortunate enough to find some less pricey originals that, to my ears, sound great too. Some of those original pressings are magical.

[@joshuaschneck]

Hi! Agree 100%. I'm a long-time jazz fan, want to take the plunge into vinyl. And I'm just starting to realize how hard it is to get versions of great classic post - bop albums. What do you suggest?? Is there some kind of subscription service I can sign up so I'm on the list when some of these albums happen to emerge on the market?

[@sbrazenor2]

Every few years i try to get into a new genre (new to me). A couple of years ago I got into country. This year I'm trying to get into Jazz, because I never really 'got it'. I have a better system now, and I think that that matters a lot in the experience with this genre. I'm enjoying this channel because you've got a great deal of knowledge to help me experience the best - and then from there, I dig in to the genre and really dive deep to get the widest experience I can. I think every music lover should challenge themselves and push themselves into uncharted territory from time to time.

[@jazzhead6775]

A very interesting post. I share your views on this subject and would be interested to know your thoughts regarding the quality of the Blue Note 80th series also mastered by Kevin Gray. I have a couple and to me they don't sound quite as good as the Tone Poets. Inferior vinyl maybe? It's unfortunate that these 80th titles have not been released in the Tone Poets series and don't have laminated sleeves.

[@inthebassclef7830]

Tone poets are fantastic. I do really enjoy some of the titles they are putting out because they are some titles that originally are not of the same quality. I had a 33rpm MMJ and some tones poets and I actually think the tone poets sound better at 33rpm. In saying that I do think the best sounding versions are the MMJ 45rpms. The 45s are so dynamic and full. I do think that is more the format then the mastering though. Very good points though in this video. I have yet to hear an SRX but I have to say I have heard the Moble fidelity 1steps and the MMJ product is far superior in their original form on black vinyl. So I imagine the SRX is fantastic

[@journstyx]

Mike, thanks for this video. I started getting into jazz a few years ago and I'm by no means an expert. I totally agree that labels who own the original masters should be much more aware of their heritage, such as Blue Note. But same can be said about rock music, soul, blues. For a long time the major labels couldn't be bothered to get into the vinyl market again, that's why specialized labels got off the ground to get into that newly created niche, which in the meantime has grown considerably again in the last 20 years or so. Why major labels let 'dubious' labels get away with CD ripped copies is beyond me. Just make it available again and make sure they're done correctly (ie mastering, artwork, etc). As one of the responses below so rightly put it...'educate the buyer' by providing great sounding, well packaged vinyl. The great thing about music is that new generations will be born and if informed correctly will discover great albums, jazz, soul, rock, metal, blues, whatever. The records made in the 40,'s 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's still contain some of the best music ever recorded and will remain an inspiration for generations to come. Me personally, I love to discover more jazz records and you're, amonst others, are helping me to sort through this vast catalogue. To me Art Blakey sits nicely in between Rush on one hand and Metal Church on the other and some fine Detroit Spinners and Eric Satie to boot...how about that :) Best regards from The Netherlands

[@javierrodriguez5577]

Thank you very much for the clarification of Music Matters, The Tone Poet Series and the Van Gelder's mastering for the old turntables...I really appreciate your information!!!!!! Thanx!!!!!!

[@saulbrook7740]

I love the MM 33's that I own. Being on an AR-XA I was never going to deal with 45. I dropped out when the pricing went into the stratosphere. Curious what you think about Cisco and Impex reissues? The Impex "Straight, No Chaser" was life changing for me. YMMV.

[@stephensmall4172]

Another very informative video, thanks. You are correct that people want these titles, me included hence this message. Can anybody advise me please? I'm in the UK and even if I could find Music Matters pressings they would cost me approx £100/$115 which is simply out of my price range. Blue Train and Sidewinder for example have been repressed circa 2017/18 and I realise will not have the dynamic qualities of the MM pressings are they reasonable given the affordable price, or would an 80's repressing be better? Thanks for your advice.

[@smkordis]

Really appreciate your insight. I am mostly a classic rock guy (high school in the late 60s), but purchased Lee Morgan and Art Blakey on your recommendation. Both are outstanding music and quality pressings. Everyone, please listen to vinyl and this music in particular. Keep reporting good and bad releases. Thanks again!

[@bitlandproductions]

Love this longer format videos!

[@sumitagg1]

What do you think of the 75th anniversary blue note vinyl releases of moanin and blue train?

[@aafarooqui]

Awesome video. Totally enjoyed this. Hope to visit your showroom one day.

[@littledre6648]

hey Mike, I was wondering if u could answer this questions for me. Is it true using a mono cartridge on a mono record sounds better then using a stereo cartridge ?

[@TheInGroove]

Yes. A true mono cartridge only reads the information on the bottom of the groove. A stereo cartridge reads the information on the bottom and much closer to the top. The top of a groove on a mono record holds no musical information. Only noise, pops, clicks and surface damage.

[@littledre6648]

@@TheInGroove thank you so much for your response man :)

[@DiscoD777]

I am getting more into jazz and thank you for these informative videos. I bought Miles Davis - On the Corner from you. SACD sounds great

[@junkyardvinyl4811]

Really enjoy your insights especially about Van Gelder and what he was mastering for. Music Matters just a few miles from me in Ventura.

[@richardmiglioranza4004]

That was awesome! Just received the Nathan Davis from you. Great stuff, thx for the recommendation.

[@gregsneed6415]

I was so glad to hear your positive comments about Music Matters. I first began buying jazz vinyl a few years ago...and, yes, bought a fair amount of Waxtime out of ignorance. I have been replacing much of it ever since I was set straight about how inferior of a product it is. I have since then invested quite a bit in Music Matters pressings so was crushed when I watched another popular jazz-oriented You Tube channel deride MM releases. I thought "I can't win!" But I loved what I heard coming from that MM vinyl; and your commentary was a huge relief and affirmation. Thank you!!

[@beatnuts1uk]

Absolutely agree! Please could someone issue Andrew Hill's "Passing ships" on vinyl!! Thanks!

[@jondingwall5941]

Coming out this spring

[@notes-tones]

Great video, I like that you presented both sides of the Music Matters issue. I fall on the side that the problem with Music Matters stems from Blue Note(not excusing the website issues). The licensing is limited and hampers Music Matters as you only want to produce as much as you can sell with out having to carry so much in stock for example their Johnny Griffin SRX titles which for some bizarre reason are still available. Blue Note uses Music Matters as a "laboratory" to gage interest. Look at some of the overlap in titles Blakey's Indestructible for example Blue Note saw the success of the Music Matters reissue and reissued it under the Blue Note 80 series. P.S. I might post this to you know who's Facebook page. Looking forward to more Jazz posts.

[@mcintoshkid]

one day i will visit your shop..thx for those great infos,

[@dsonyay]

Wow!! Great video .. I think you explained this topic perfectly.

[@austinhunt4260]

Mike, what do you think of SIDEWINDER vs COOKER?

[@jackripper7805]

I agree with your video post entirely! Music Matters really opened up my exploration of classic jazz from the 50's and 60's. Kevin Gray (sometimes along with Steve Hoffman) does an incredible job with these titles. It's amazing to think of the sound that one can get from a $50 45 RPM pressing when compared to an original that can cost hundreds - if not thousands of dollars to own. I rip these LPs to 24/96 digital to enjoy...takes all the hassle out of getting up to flip the LPs every song or two. I can't think of one that I have been disappointed with...though RTI did kick out some poor (noisy) copies along the way.

[@lauher21]

I know I’m so sad you got me into Jazz Mike and I love it now, but I don’t have Moanin or the lee Morgan or The Herbie Hancock I would love those titles

[@talanmatsumura9655]

Question: Moanin' on MM 33 vs Analogue Productions 45?

[@TheInGroove]

MM 33

[@nabrilus]

Is that about a half-dozen or so copies of Axis: Bold As Love I see behind your head to the left? Separately, I love the genuine enthusiasm in your videos.

[@ashulman2008]

love ken, but i'm with you on music matters quality

[@cpreal21]

I'm currently listening to Donald Byrd's Chant on Tone Poet. Fabulous recording and performance. It's one of those "lost" albums, released by Blue Note in the LT series in the 70s. There is also at least one Tone Poet from a digital source, the Joe Henderson title. Has anyone here heard it yet?

[@vinylftw]

Yes, a Tone Poet video please :)

[@Theomite]

Hi, Mike. I'm jealous of your shelves. Where can I get those?

[@TheInGroove]

I built them.

[@Theomite]

@@TheInGroove ...Dammit. Schematics? Materials? Asking for a friend with connections in the hardwood lumber underground.

[@TheOriginalDrastic]

All good information. Although I have 83 titles issued by MM, nearly all of them ordered directly from MM, there are others that remain unobtainable. I agree that their sound quality is second to none, and I'm grateful for that, even though supply issues can be irritating. As to the issue of sporadic releases and fluctuating prices, I wonder how much is deliberate supply manipulation and how much is cautious business planning. MM is a small operation, probably without deep capital reserves, and they're trying to match supply with demand. No one wants to be stuck with overstock of a title that does not sell. They seem to be guided by a true love of jazz, unlike Wax Time and many other reissue companies that use digital sources and then obscure the fact. Blue Note's own reissues have been of mediocre quality, and I have to wonder why they did not try to properly remaster their own tapes before MM came along. So, I lean toward giving MM the benefit of doubt.

[@ramiroorta7922]

Thank you! Thank you! I get criticized because I'm told I just 'tell it the way it is', but it's refreshing to hear you call it like is. That's what brought me to your channel was your honest reviews of records and such. I used to buy LP's because everyone was 'raving' about the 'status' of owning one, then I would spend the money and listen and say 'WTF was this?'. Many would sound like shit. I don't have a system like yours, but it's up there in the mid-thousands and I don't care about the collectivity of an LP, I just want to hear the best sound from my records. I appreciate your work. Wish your store was in the San Francisco Bay Area.

[@stevehepworth4190]

Love your passion and knowledge!!!! Jazz for me has always been in the background, TV and bits on soundtracks but i wanted to try something new. My loves are New Wave/Synth so i went for "Kind Of Blue", not very original, but what an album!!! its 61 years old and i have just played it for the first few times. AWESOME!!! I would consider myself a serious crate digger and its kinda refreshing to hear you don't want to sell poor quality to your customers, and mean it. Aside from Jazz i would really like you to review VIOLATOR and see what you feel the best audio release is? Cheers.

[@michaelludwigs3455]

Thanks for this Video, i agree. But if you think it is difficult for you in the US to get the MMJ, how difficult so you think it is here in Germany to get a hand on them :-)

[@haomingyang3245]

I absolutely agree with you. Those iconic albums should be heard by everyone who loves music. Hundreds of people paid hundreds of dollars after-market price for a rare OOP MMJ title so I don't think they will reprint them. MMJ definitely saw the demands on these titles and they must have several reasons such as the license issues, etc. Another point is the Tone Poet series are excellent but not the same level as MMJ imo. The warbling issues especially on several titles were discussed many times and maybe there's something wrong with the recording tapes. But one thing is Hancock's Invention & Dimensions have no warbling issues that I heard about on MMJ pressing, which was OOP and people have to pay hundreds dollars for one copy unfortunately.

[@cpreal21]

I'm one of those "audiophiles" that subscribed to both the AP 45 and MM 45 series. As a result, I didn't buy any of the MM 33 titles when they came out, since most of them were already released on one or the other series. What am I missing besides not having to flip sides and clean twice as many platters? Why are some of the MM 33 titles selling for more than the 45s? When comparing copies of The Sidewinder, my Tape Project copy blows away any other version of it, including the 45, as it should...

[@davidharkins8880]

A tad confused while listening at the end of your rant about inferior release labels , I thought that’s familiar ‘wax time in color’ I’d just purchased a version of Coltrane‘a “lush life” and yeah it’s on a label i hadn’t heard before ‘wax time in color ‘ - now maybe it’s my ears , and I don’t have a comparative but sounds stunning to me !

[@radiotubes]

Nice information ty. I need a few top 10 jazz lps

[@heribertovalentin1563]

Great my brother the tone poems are great...so sad about Music matters I have like two records by them....thks Ed Valentin from New York.....all the best !!!!

[@l.caddell247]

Thank you for this video - you make sense and you back everything up with logic and evidence. I appreciate your passion for jazz...IE real jazz!

[@dastinger111]

Absolutely agree with you on this one. It has been hinted at the SH forums that new things are coming from BN. Let's really hope it is something like you mention. Those records need to be in print and they need to be done right, just like BN80s and TPs. AAA, well pressed, acceptable price. That's it. Those would sell like hot cakes! Regarding the tapes vs originals. The fact that Van Gelder hated analog is more than enough proof that the sound on originals was tinkered. He felt like he couldn't do what he actually wanted to the recordings. Here's hoping Blue Note starts pressing those classics!

[@thomasedward2231]

dastinger111 what are the chances?

[@dastinger111]

@@thomasedward2231 Of that happening? I don't know. People hint at something new being done by Blue Note. They don't say exactly what. There's some people over there that are close to what Blue Note does that hint at something along these lines a lot. Michael Fremer also said something in an article recently... he said that Joe Harley and Kevin Gray were mastering for Tone Poet respecting social distancing with a picture of them in a mask and all. At the end he wrote that they were doing something else that, for now, must remain a secret. So, yeh, I'd say we should expect something from Blue Note other than Tone Poets in the near future. What exactly? I don't know.

[@thomasedward2231]

dastinger111 They don’t owe musics maters anything imo I hope you’re right. I know some young kids who would would love to have Moanin’ or Sidewinder. And Blue Note has shown they can do it right!

[@dastinger111]

@@thomasedward2231 Yes, but if it comes from Joe, I'd expect he'd try to stay out of Music Matters' way. This is only my opinion btw. Regarding the titles, not only kids, but everyone who got into vinyl in the last 5 years, after Music Matters prices were already through the roof. Since Music Matters, there are simply no good and cheap reissues of these titles apart from BN80.

[@sarahkumkumapoovu]

Sorry when you say, "The fact that Van Gelder hated analog"... what did you mean? As far as I know, RVG recorded these in his home in an all analog chain and reproduced them faithfully. Not trying to be snarky, just curious that's all...

[@tcr02]

I lost it when he said “Give me a break.” when comparing the jackets of MM and Tone Poet. lol

[@michaelandrew4488]

First time I heard the track Moanin was some time in the past - where and when I don't recall . Recently found out the connection to Art Blakey by watching a Japanese Anime series named Kids on The Slope - great series centered on Jazz, and well worth a viewing.

[@jlcougilljr]

OK MIKE - so which Music Matters version has the best sound quality -the 33.3 or the 45rpm?? or does it NOT matter as long as Kevin Grey was/is the sole mastering engineer of that title? CAN YOU PLEASE CLARIFY THIS once and for all for everybody? i have some of the Music Matters and i've started getting some of the Tone Poet and i'm here to tell ya i think the Tone Poet issues ARE THE TOTAL SHIT!! THE BEST!! , for the price point of $35 that's more or less half of the Music Matters issues that's exactly the sweet spot that's finally being filled in the market that has a huge demand, so i totally agree 110% with you that the Tone Poet series needs to issue the top tier catalog titles e.i.- Blue Train, Kind Of Blue, Side Winder, etc.,etc.,etc. along with the 2nd and 3rd tier titles as they are currently pressing. granted, these price points for either the MM and TP are great bang for the buck considering the over-all sound and packaging quality of either, i think the Tone Poets at $35 are the total over all winner as most of the regular record buying market ARE NOT going to shell out $60-70+ bucks for a record.. JESUS CHRIST!!! back in the day in the late 80's early 90's we were screaming our fucking heads off for having to pay $30-40 bucks for import cd titles at best buy-BUT alot of us hard core music fanatics paid it anyway-but were VERY precise in the titales we would shell out the big bucks for then-lol... as far as your references of the price point increases of these more audiophile quality pressings for us more hard core collectors and audiophiles, it's all a bunch of fucking horse shit and these record pressers and more so the distributors are playing on the good ol' USA habit of commercialistic and capitolistic GREED as always,, which you would think that they would eventually realize they are just fucking themselves in the long term, AND THE SADDEST PART OF IT ALL is they really ARE alienating the very loyal record buying customer base by all of these SO CALLED limited edition or so called short runs and strictly going for the fast short term dollar!! IT'S ALL A BUNCH OF BULL SHIT THE AMOUNT OF GREED AND WANTING OF THE FAST BUCK... just like you are saying AND I FIRMLY AGREE, they need to keep this gap/niche filled with these great priced and sound quality pressings that the Tone Poet series offers to the market along with including the top tier catalog titles and keep all of it always available and the future would be looking very bright for ALL involved, but sadly i feel one of these entities will end up fucking it all up out of pure greed for the fast buck and no one caring enough about the long term market and supply at the right price which draws in and keeps the existing and new listeners... we'll keep our fingers crossed or end up giving the middle finger to the industry ass holes in the end...

[@justincburch]

Kevin Grey does amazing work. I used to be in a record collector group on Facebook years ago. He sent me files for a remaster he did of the first Mice (Cleveland) single, Can You Walk On The Water Baby? The original single sounds god awful, he made that record sing, and he did it from the original 45, not from the tapes. He is an amazing mastering engineer and does excellent work.

[@ThisBirdHasFlown]

What a really nice guy. Kind of the opposite of Steve Hoffman, at least judging by his social media presence on his own website.

[@mazzysmusic]

MMJ limitations are based on their licensing agreement no matter what people think. Bluenote grants them only xxx amount of copies at 45 and or 33 No more. They didn’t necessarily press all of their 2500 or 3500 allotment. Until they started the SRX series Now with Tone Poets, the end of MMJs life is near . Bluenote should issue everything via Tone Poet once MMJ is over. Folks don’t seem to understand licensing agreements. They are always limited. MMJ presses 2500-3500 TP presses 10,000. Plus they are in house. Big difference.

[@notes-tones]

Norman Maslov to paraphrase Col. Jessup - they can't handle the truth! They want their high quality recordings at low cost (nothing wrong with that) so bad that they view everything else with blinders on. A rudimentary understanding of licensing agreements and economies of scale will show that MM isn't out gouge anyone but that their business model was always hampered by Blue Note.

[@snapcracklenpop821]

@@notes-tones I think the issue for many is the endless price hikes due to the limited supplies under the licensing as you mention, followed by reductions as more were found in a warehouse somewhere behind the coffee machine. Then more price hikes. I think a similar business model is followed by many met and crack gangsta's.

[@notes-tones]

NoisyG I’ve only been purchasing Music Matters for the past 18 months. During this time I can’t recall any exorbitant price hikes. Overall I’d say it is Blue Note’s behavior that is gangsta - granting a license for a product then undercutting the licensee by issuing the some of the same high quality recordings at a lower price i.e Indescribable and Introducing Johnny Griffin. Now that’s a gangsta move.

[@snapcracklenpop821]

@@notes-tones Hi Michael. Lucky you. I presume you live in the States? Here in Denmark if you try and buy direct from MM the postage is more expensive than the records. I know its expensive to post across the water but their postal charges are criminal. And their official seller in Europe charges a whack, if they can even source them! BN80 is a different kettle of fish and for a different market separating it from TP and MM. If the same title was released on BN80 and TP, I'd be buying the TP every time. I'm a music lover, and then and audiophile that arrived via along road to jazz via my love for psych, prog, krautrock etc. I'll be happy when their licence expires so that I can start buying iconic audiophile quality jazz records at a sensible price. Unless BN do a MOFI one step hatchet job of course...a couple of which I have bought by the way and they sound wonderful. I hope you are enjoying your purchases from MM. Business asides, many of the title they release are truly wonderful. I'm jealous. Stay safe.

[@DefenestrateYourself]

@@notes-tones No, they've been pricing gouging like crazy these past few months. Also, the UX of their website is absolute trash. Truly unprofessional.

[@justinrun100]

I want thank you for what you said in this video. I love Music Matter Jazz but the up and down pricing sucks. For years now, I told everyone that I think they should make a audiophile grade affordable reissue series like Tone Poet for the more popular tittles. I really think there’s a market for those reissue if done right. I also think they should cancel the United Recording’s 75th contact and give it to RTI or a better Record Pressing Plant with better quality control practices in place. I hope after The Tone Poet reissues are done Joe Harley stay on with Blue Note. Don Was need someone like Joe in his ear to keep these recordings a live. Thank you again. Your so right.

[@dgmono]

I really enjoyed this video. I thought it was fair and accurate. I also just wanted to point out that all Rudy has ever really said about why he made the mastering choices he did with those classic albums is that his main concern was to get those records sounding good "on the radio" (which probably also includes jukeboxes). I think there are clues as to what the "true manifestation" of these classic recordings really should be in the RVG Edition CDs, but for a few reasons I don't think those are definitive either (despite how Rudy might feel about it). Last comment: I think many of us (myself included) have a tendency to fetishize the presentation of these recordings i.e. the mastering in a way that detracts from the music itself.

[@davidbryanbartlett4071]

whats with * Lee Morgan- CANDY "" ?

[@robertbyington7715]

Love your videos even though I don’t know a lot about jazz but I love how you speak truth to power

[@cytowing3353]

Spot on review! I ran into the same problems trying to buy from MMJ on the last releases in April 2020. As far as sound quality goes I think the MMJ 45rpm releases are the best sounding of all the reissue labels. Thanks for an intelligent review and not angry ranting like that other guy.

[@JodyM2]

Is it worse than DOL? I just got a Blue Blue Trane but I'm seeing Discogs says to Avoid DOL is it Terrible?

[@airwatersun]

The truth is so refreshing and you tell it sir! As much as I like that other channel he is part of a little Manhattan/Brooklyn click of audio manufacturers and retailers just like one of his buds that reviews equipment in his messy apartment... They all know each other and there are vested interests. IMHO. Tone Poet rocks....er.....swings! Thank you! Curious what you think about the Spanish pressing of Johnny Pisano Billy Bean reissue...the record is virtually unobtainum and at $25-30 I'm thinking about jumping on it...I have an AMG Viella Turbo also so your opinion is extra coincident to me.

[@graememcpherson6980]

Wow I cannot believe they actually accused dealers of price gouging! That's hilarious! Price gouging is at the very centre of the Music Matters business model. Great product, despicable business model

[@ralfwalter3923]

All the reasons I won't touch Music Matters at all. I am, however, in love with Blue Note 80's and Tone Poets (I am up to date on all the releases of both). Great stuff.

[@TheInGroove]

They both fantastic reissues.

[@fts81]

Agreed. Great reissues, I particularly love the Kenny Burrel’s tone poet. Amazing sound. Now getting ready to try some of the available on MM

[@Josal]

Agreed. Everyone should have access to a great recording album. We should always try to bring young fans to vinyl collecting, not discourage them with limited edition. Great video....

[@ralfwalter3923]

Thankful for Tone Poet, Blue Note 80 and the upcoming Blue Note Classics.

[@nicolelynnkucera]

I totally agree with you! I was 0 for 2 on the last SRX release. It was very upsetting how crappy MM website is. I so wanted both of those releases.

[@JeffersonDD]

Couldn’t agree more about your assessment of the sidewinder by the tap Project. It’s simply amazing on master tape on a well-set up machine. Which is why I wonder why you completely missed the boat on the ERC reviews?! Having heard Sonnys WOW steep master @ 15ips; the ERC is the closest LP pressing I’ve ever heard get close to it.

[@nephrodoc4120]

You are spot on about Music Matters, hopefully these titles get repressed soon. It’s a shame not having these titles readily available.

[@DefenestrateYourself]

MM can't repress them. But maybe Tone Poet will.

[@stephenparker4735]

'pissin, & moanin' The unreleased Blakey sessions. Excellent information, thanks.

[@djduffy1000]

Great video, totally agree with you. I love Music Matter I have quite a few of there albums that I bought either from Acoustic Sounds/Analogue Productions or directly from them. They are by far the best re-issue Blue Note.

[@alansenzaki4148]

Mike. Watched this again. Great stuff. Iam a hardcore jazz fan for over 60 years. Thanks for your honesty and integrity. I agree with you about original van gelders. I had alot of them. Tone poet, music matters are ist class. In reference to those spanish reissues i guess your refering to fresh sounds. I have a few but only those that were never issued in any form (the art pepper live with joe romano) and a couple others.) The others i avoid as they are poor sounding reissues. One original mint copy blue note i regret selling is hank mobley quintet with art farmer 1550. Pains me to this day. Oh well. Great posting mike!

[@cadmantheaviator]

do music matters records get repressed? I went looking online and it looked like they were sold out?

[@D.E.E.P.Y.]

Absolutely agree. Blue Note has to release Tone Poet/80th anniversary of iconic titles mastered from analog. Tapes are sitting and degrading...

[@leon9021]

@oldskuul Someone didnt watch the video.

[@colinhathaway9493]

I bought a wax time record recently. Thought I was getting a bargain. Sounds awful on my system. Problem is being from the UK I find it hard to get decent pressings of even the classic jazz albums. Something needs to be done

[@RS-qi5km]

Great video!! I agree with every word you said!!

[@scottdavis0801]

I discovered them when SRX series came out. I bought a little bit of everything for expensive money. I had no complaints. Lee Morgan's Sidewinder was the last album I was able to get!! They haven't had anything except some jazz albums on 45 for years. I check to see if they'll ever come back with new reissues, but it's looking pretty grim!!!

[@chewableorb1125]

Been scooping up Tone Poet and Blue Note 80 records, really enjoy the quality of those reissues.....I agree it would be in the best interest for them to release some Tone Poet editions of the more well known titles....I would love a Lee Morgan - Sidewinder Tone Poet edition for example.

[@ralex3697]

You and the entire planet, such a masterpiece

[@21cstinch]

"If you're buying 'Waxtime' jazz records, you're a putz!" @ 26:22 - I love this. LOL I am a putz but just bought a Moanin' in 45 RPM from Acoustics Sounds to play next to it like you suggested. I can't wait to hear the difference. I'll be replacing some records though, I'm sure..

[@johnwoods7891]

great video.. very enlightening

[@wesleymantooth8016]

I actually bought my copy of 'Matador' from you at your shop awhile back 😁 Not cheap, but definitely worth it.

[@benhartzberg2087]

Great education!! Thank you sir!!!

[@eaustin2006]

Led Morgan's Sidewinder is a great tune and a fabulous album. You really struck a nerve here with that mention. I was at IU in the music school in the mid 60s and listened to it non stop. Thanks for the memories.

[@therealdonelaitis]

I love it!! Speak the truth man.

[@Michael45RPM]

Of course i agree to all you said in your great video (please more), but if you think MMJ is hard to get in the US, ask a german like me, how hard it is to get over here :P

[@derickvillarino]

how would you compare sound quality between the analogue productions blue note release vs music matters jazz? for the jackets we know who the clear winner is.

[@davidharkins8880]

No chance - I’ve just re listened to my “Lush life” released on “Wax time in color “ and it sounds fucking magnificent! Must be my ears!

[@dustinshaver3173]

Digital can good 👍

[@vinylarchaeologist]

I like what Speakers Corner are doing. They have records in their catalog that have been in-print for more than 25 years, that you can still order today. The only stuff Speakers Corner took out of their catalog was when Universal changed their policy and revoked the license for more than 100 titles. Other than that, their strategy is the best.