TOP 2023 JAZZ VINYL AND A 3 SOUNDS WINNER......

In no particular order:
Harold Land “The Peacemaker” Cadet
Curtis Counce “You Get More Bounce with Curtis Counce” Contemporary
Art Pepper “Meets the Rhythm Section” Contemporary
John Coltrane “A Love Supreme” Quality Pressings UHQR
Wayne Shorter “Night Dreamer” Blue Note Classic
Phineas Newborn “A World of Piano!” Contemporary
HotHouse “The Compete Massey Hall Recordings” Craft
Various “Directions in Music” BGP
Miles Davis Quintet “Workin’” OJC
Woody Shaw “Blackstone Legacy” Contemporary
Milford Graves “NOMMO” “Babi”
Leroy Vinnegar “Leroy Walks!” Contemporary
Alice Coltrane “Ptah, the El Daoud” Impulse!
Kenny Wheeler “Gnu High” ECM
Masahiko Togashi “Speed and Sound” Cinedelic
“The Cats” OJC
“Nan​á​, Nelson Angelo, Novelli” Altercat
Wes Montgomery “The Complete Full House Recordings” Craft
Paroah Sanders “Pharoah” Luaka Bop
Wayne Shorter “Schizophrenia” Blue Note

[@steftarget]

Harold Land Lp is beautiful. Love it

[@westernartifact580]

Another terrific and helpful and inspiring video Ken. Thank you so much. It's "Sound and Space" I think it's great that you are a drummer. You have a good perspective on the music.

[@earl007]

Great visual holding up albums we can pause and write down the name for our reference to check out. Well done.

[@AudiophiliaChannel]

Great vid, Ken. And wonderful list. I like the uptick in production. New camera? Great glass, cinematic setting, 24 fps I think. Anyway, looking really good. Also, like the new intro ID. Merry Christmas. And here’s to a very happy 2024.

[@kenmicallefjazzvinylaudiop6455]

Damn, how did you figure out 24FPS? That’s incredible. It’s a Sony ZVE one. With Tamron glass.

[@paulpavlou9294]

Thank you Ken, you have introduced me to some great artists and some fantastic records. I just love your work.

[@gavinshaunbeck5486]

Hi Ken , Great tast. I bought the most of except you have those I gonna look for. And you glasses soot you, nice. It's always nice to hear you and very much inspirering

[@kenmicallefjazzvinylaudiop6455]

That sounds like a great reissue. Fred Cohen the jazz record center has said that UK reissues can often sound fantastic and I have found this to be the case as well. I have a UK version of a train record. That is amazing. I forgot which title without looking it up.

[@moisesarellano8963]

Flanagan and Contrane on Giant Steps are amazing. Art Pepper meets the Rhythm section. I preferred the mono version; in my opinion, on that version, they really played together. On the stereo version, Pepper plays alone on one of the speakers 😂. Great stuff Ken thanks for sharing.

[@donaldingram9327]

I like what you're doing. At my very advanced age, I'm venturing into Instagram, and preparing to dispose of 75 plus years of vinyl. I'm amazed at how many original pressings I have. I need to find out what what the stuff is worth. Vision issues preclude the use of Discogs, and I need to make my collection more accessible, so I know what I really have. Massey Hall on original 10 inch for sure. Parker on 10 inch Dial. Mulligan quartet on 10 inch Pacific Jazz. I think that I will start with going through my 109 inch trove. Stay tuned.

[@ernesttricarico6402]

Thanks Ken for opening my eyes to some amazing recordings this and every year! Merry Christmas and happy new year

[@kgobrien1]

Really fun list of classic reissues, thx

[@MrGuto]

Awesome list! Thanks for that.

[@mazzysmusic]

Great to hear your take on this year’s reissues. Some cool stuff for sure. And handful there I haven’t heard. Happy Christmas ✌🏻

[@williamfagan7835]

Great selection as always, Ken. I was nervous about getting the Dorothy Ashby box set, as in Ireland, where I live, women playing the harp and singing do a totally different type of music. Then I picked up a copy of the Rubaiyat of Dorothy Ashby on the Verve by Request series and I was blown away by the record. I may investigate more of her work. The Contemporary reissues by Craft have been outstanding and I agree about the Pepper and Vinnegar albums. This year I also got the Jazz Giant album by Benny Carter which also features Leroy Vinnegar. This may have been slow reaching my country as it was only available here in 2023. I had an old copy of this record which a friend gave me many years ago, but the Craft reissue is a considerable improvement. I agree with some of the comments about OGs. I have the HMV mono UK pressing of A Love Supreme from the 1960s which I got on a swap with a friend in the early 1970s. It is still to this day the best version of A Love Supreme that I have ever heard. I feel I don't really need the UHQR - the Acoustic Sounds re-issue of a few years ago was a bit of a disappointment. Another re-issue that took my fancy this year was 'Very Tall' featuring Oscar Peterson and Milt Jackson. However, the reason why I like it so much is the bass playing by Ray Brown, which is a master class in what bass playing should be, with plenty of bounce (like Curtis Counce) to support the group and no flashy' solos. The Benny Carter album, which I mentioned above, also features my favourite tenor sax player, Ben Webster. My record of the year was actually a Record Store Day limited issue from the Netherlands. I normally do not like RSD specials, but this one 'Wayfaring Webster' from Tidal Waves Music, in a limited edition of 1,000 copies, features Ben at a late peak while playing in the Netherlands in 1970. The lovely cover features a line drawing based on a famous Herman Leonard photo of Ben holding his sax while pulling on a cigarette. The sound is excellent for a live recording of its era and the record captures Ben's tones perfectly. For me it comes in just ahead of the Dorothy Ashby record and I never thought I would hear myself saying that. Keep up the great work.

[@ted4367]

Sweet!

[@Claus-CaptainPhoenixCorner]

Thanks Ken. Got many of these in 2023 - but also found inspiration to a couple more 👍 Always nice!

[@marklatkowski9327]

Nice overview.

[@ianforster6717]

Absolutely fabulous video Ken! I've already got a some of these on my wish list, now I'll be adding a few more 😂👌

[@smoothplatex7117]

Nice end of 2023 vinyl wrap up. Thanks for helping us out with that.

[@BaldyFella]

Thanks for this Ken. Really enjoyable. Some great selections.

[@robbiemedcalf1584]

Love it Ken. Thank you

[@Markymarkvinylnut]

Superb Ken, thanks. Many are on my top 2023 records too. Some I've not heard of so I have some rabbit holes to go down! Cheers

[@Jake-fw5te]

Bobby Hutcherson’s “Montara” has to be one of the most popular and sought after blue note albums with todays collectors. The songs on this album are sampled all over hip hop, etc. WHY WHY WHY have they not reissued this album on tone poet yet? Prices are absolutely through the roof and I have tried to get ahold of any copy of this for years with no success.

[@Fatdogrecords]

Great list Ken, loved your channel over the last few years. Looking forward to the Syd episode. Have a great Xmas

[@kenmicallefjazzvinylaudiop6455]

Thanks, you too!

[@LJMcG]

Great overview, Ken! Thanks for filtering through a good chunk of the '23 re-releases. I totally missed The Harold Land Quintet, Peace Maker release for some reason. Gonna fix that shortly.

[@thomashertl3037]

Great choices, Ken, and as usual described in your own good way which made me buy some of these records. My top picks in 2023 were Woody Shaw, Hot House, the Cats, Art Pepper Rhythm Section, Curtis Counce, and outside of your picks Monk‘s Brilliant Corners, Zen Widow, and the Fire! Orchestra out of Scandinavia. Cheers and happy days between the years.

[@kenmicallefjazzvinylaudiop6455]

Zen Wodow? Fire Orchestra?

[@thomashertl3037]

Since forming in 2003, the Avant-garde improvisational jazz trio Zen Widow has produced three albums for the Italian objet-a label. Their fourth album is a special collaborative distribution effort with Intervention Records, titled Zen Widow IV - (from one dark age to another).

[@thomashertl3037]

Now in its 14th year, the unique and constantly evolving Fire! Orchestra is back with their largest line-up so far, counting an international cast of no less than 43 members that includes mainstay singer Mariam Wallentin as well as newcomers David Sandström and Joe McPhee, both on vocals, McPhee also on tenor sax. The popular and widely praised Arrival is a highlight in both our and the band´s catalogue, but this epic triple album ups the ante. While following in the great tradition of ensembles led by the likes of Carla Bley, George Russell and Keith Tippett, Echoes is takes in elements of rock, jazz, folk, electronic, classical and contemporary music.

[@bfiske88]

Hello Jazz fans. I started collecting vinyl a couple years ago. Have always been a classic rock fan but my vinyl journey has expanded my enjoyment of other genres of music, especially blues and jazz. I currently only have a 3 or 4 jazz abums, Miles Davis into the blue, Nina Simone greatest and the Bruebeck Quartet. I would appreciate some recommendations to get me into the fold as it were in this musical path as I have no idea most of the jazz artists are. Thanks in advance.

[@kenmicallefjazzvinylaudiop6455]

Mingus Ah Um, Coltrane lush life or giant steps, bill evans sunday at village vanguard, duke ellington indigos, ben webster soulville, matthew halsall, wes montgomery on riverside, artists on the blue note label including hank mobley, lee morgan, kenny burrell, donald byrd and all wayne shorter albums. Thelonious monk. Louis armstrong. Count basie

[@garygray9223]

Thanks for sharing your list. What a year of reissues? I have some work to do as I missed a few on your list I need. I hesitate to pull out my Night Dreamer MMJ 45 because I know I will go down that Wayne rabbit hole. Looking forward to ECM’s!!!

[@norrieclark5217]

Great stuff Ken.One of my favourites that you didn't mention is Max Roach ~ Members Don't Git Weary on Arc records,cut by Bernie Grundman from original tapes,sounds great and was one of the most affordable of the year. Keep up the good work all the best for 2024

[@ashulman2008]

The Harold Land is my pick

[@JohnZolla-bp7tl]

All the best of the holidays to you and yours Ken. I'll search your history. But could you put together a short video of your favorite 45 rpm pressings. I very much appreciate your opinions.

[@kenmicallefjazzvinylaudiop6455]

Thanks John. I don’t really have any favored 45 RPM pressings. I have a few music matters. The love supreme UHQR is fantastic.

[@joaquinherreroalvarez3454]

Excellent top, Ken. I have many of them in compact disc. That Harold Land is the best. It's a pitty the "electric" piano of Mr. Cables in "Blackstones". Happy Chistmas, Ken.

[@patrickashby15]

Great list Ken.The Woody Shaw album is incredible hopefully someone reissue his Muse recordings.

[@res0goan]

Woody nvr made a bad record

[@brucevair-turnbull8082]

Lovely round up, Ken. Seeing you show a Blue Note Tone Poet made me long for a (decent) reissue of Donald Byrd's 'A New Perspective'. I have a 2015 Universal Music pressing which is lousy. Of the discs you showed, the Phineas Newborn intrigues me most. I have him on the 'Down Home Reunion' LP which is excellent.

[@hymnoftheorient]

Nice,varied list. Appreciate that! Re:Newborn-"what happened " to him was an ongoing struggle with mental illness. Not sure when it began,but it is referred to in the original liner notes of the lp with Howard McGhee, when his "availability " for only a portion of the date is noted. I've got an OG(mono) of the one covered-an EASY recommendation for anyone who loves jazz piano-with the absolute gorgeous intro to "Lush Life" one for the books-a classic performance,in more ways than one! His later releases seem to show him becoming less sure of himself-struggling, as they say,with "personal demons". Seeing him at Sweet Basil,late in his career, I began to understand the few references I had read. I remain forever grateful for what he did accomplish under the circumstances, as,it's clear,you do. Keep swingin'-or not(free!). Looking forward to the upcoming videos. 😎

[@kenmicallefjazzvinylaudiop6455]

Thank you

[@solarman30]

Completely missed the Harold Land "Peacemaker" issue. That has now been remedied! Thanks Ken! Dan

[@lazarus533]

..... and of course the Dorothy Ashby box set! 😊

[@kenmicallefjazzvinylaudiop6455]

Damn! I have it, but forgot to show it

[@bgo7697]

Just picked up a pressing of Alice Coltrane's A Monastic Trio from Audio Clarity - decided to get this as original pressings are ridiculous prices - have you heard this pressing? Opinions?

[@bacarandii]

Thanks again for all this. I was amazed as how many I already had. But I'd never heard of that Brazilian one, so I'm tracking it down! As for the "Leroy Walks": To state the obvious, they're all "walking" songs (Vinnegar being the "Master of the Walking Bass"), so I think the deliberately oddball choices (from "Sunny Side of the Street" to "Walkin' My Baby Back Home" are kinda the point). As you say, it's what the musicians do with the changes that matters. The original melody, not so much. I don't know how much location has to do with the actual music -- "Meets the Rhythm Section" was recorded in L.A., after all, and Art Pepper is mainly a West Coast musician -- but the music on both these Contemporary discs is timeless!

[@kenmicallefjazzvinylaudiop6455]

Excellent points. But meets the rhythm. Section is art meeting an East Coast rhythm section. Anyway. Thanks for your comments.

[@donnigro7542]

Reg: the Alice Coltrane. Do you have the Third Man because Ken said he had reissue previous to that one. I think he said UME...

[@andorrasrevenge1683]

How did you know I had a fake cig and coffee? Ken Jazz psychic.

[@kenmicallefjazzvinylaudiop6455]

Ha ha ha

[@nicholaslaurie6333]

Great list Ken. By any chance do you have a link that this reissue of Ptah the El Daoud? Unless this is the Verve by Request, i cannot see a reference to this reissue anywhere.

[@kenmicallefjazzvinylaudiop6455]

That must be the verve by request. I no longer have the sticker.

[@MrJoca72]

Hi Ken, Charlie Parker was a genius and his music inspired the brilliant generations that came after. Unfortunately as far as I’m aware none of his records sounds acceptably good. I wish that at some point reissue labels like Analogue Productions, Mofi, Impex, Craft, etc. start reissuing Charlie’s Masterpieces 🙏 Happy holidays from Sweden 🎄🎅🏻

[@kenmicallefjazzvinylaudiop6455]

The record store a day release of him playing with an Afro Cuban. Big band is excellent as is hot house.

[@blombidobadila8084]

If someone had said to me 40 years ago Lp's like the Art Pepper - bop, easy listening, chamber Jazz -would be popular big sellers I'd have been sceptical. So hard to predict what sounds will appeal to the masses. ECM's are getting harder to find cheap, I see them quite often now for 10-15$ in stores, 5 years ago they were usually 3-5$. So a good time to re-release some.

[@kenmicallefjazzvinylaudiop6455]

Are pepper is far from chamber jazz. That puts him in the same lineup as the ever boring and sweet modern jazz quartet. Art pepper was a high flying, inventive, totally pure bop player with great ideas and brilliant execution.

[@blombidobadila8084]

@@kenmicallefjazzvinylaudiop6455 A lot of folks will find Art beyond boring, or even why they 'hate' Jazz. Obviously you are a fan!! Hard to predict what is going to sell well from one year to the next, Hair Metal seems to be going for $ now!

[@mymixture965]

So even with all this reissues...get the original, they sound better. I also buy reissues, sometimes you have too, but ALL my OG´s sound better, no matter wich label. "A world of piano" I missed and now have an OG, what an amazing record, my favourite.

[@kenmicallefjazzvinylaudiop6455]

You do know they’re not very many people agree with us. But it’s because they have not heard originals or even early pressings. The early pressings used to be cheap and plentiful, no more.

[@mymixture965]

@@kenmicallefjazzvinylaudiop6455 Right, we are a minority. So many come in the hobby with a lot of enthusiasm and they invest a lot of time and money and they want to show what they achieved mostly on KZbin. So there are many new "Experts" who in reality know next to nothing. I am a Jazz guitar player all my live, I lived in NY in the 90´s, maybe we even met and don't remember, our view on Jazz/Records/Sound is different, we come from a different spot and we did it all our live. A lot of new collectors don't want to listen, they follow there bubble and this is ok, this is how we all are to some extent. In the end I like it when they all buy the new reissues, that leaves more OG´s for me 🙂

[@mymixture965]

@@kenmicallefjazzvinylaudiop6455 Right, we are a minority. So many come in the hobby with a lot of enthusiasm and they invest a lot of time and money and they want to show what they achieved mostly on KZbin. So there are many new "Experts" who in reality know next to nothing. I am a Jazz guitar player all my live, I lived in NY in the 90´s, maybe we even met and don't remember, our view on Jazz/Records/Sound is different, we come from a different spot and we did it all our live. A lot of new collectors don't want to listen, they follow there bubble and this is ok, this is how we all are to some extent. In the end I like it when they all buy the new reissues, that leaves more OG´s for me 🙂

[@kenmicallefjazzvinylaudiop6455]

@@mymixture965 that made me laugh, hard! And I couldn’t agree with you more, sir

[@mymixture965]

@@kenmicallefjazzvinylaudiop6455 Keep up the good work, merry Christmas and a happy new year.

[@anthonyburke223]

You said Coltrane was clean in 57 …what years was he clean? Was heroin his thing ?

[@kenmicallefjazzvinylaudiop6455]

He was fully clean for the first time in 1957 and you can hear it on this record. I assume heroin but I don’t really know.

[@dextergilford8336]

Miles confirms that it was heroin in his autobiography, “Miles,” a must have for fans of the music. So many stories behind specific songs really enhance the experience of the pieces. But, yes, Coltrane had it bad and it wasn’t good…

[@dustinshaver3173]

No sound 😮

[@kenmicallefjazzvinylaudiop6455]

The sound is fine on all my devices and everywhere I have posted it

[@muletrane]

It cuts out 3/4 of the way through, but eventually comes back and then cuts out again at the end.

[@Harrisongrey19]

No problems on my end

[@dustinshaver3173]

​@@kenmicallefjazzvinylaudiop6455Nevermind 😬 It was hooked up to my Bluetooth speaker! Great review ken !

[@Valleyplant]

This is such a subjective hobby. My copy of the reissue of PTAH sounds soooo bad. Like, horrid. The OG sounds so much better. Weird, huh?

[@kenmicallefjazzvinylaudiop6455]

How does it sound bad? And what turntable and cartridge are you using?

[@Valleyplant]

@@kenmicallefjazzvinylaudiop6455 I think I played it on my Music Hall MMF 5.3 with a goldring 1012GX. The PTAH reissue sounded totally muffled, and there was 0 soundstage. It was so bad, my friend who is not into jazz nor knew what I was playing commented “this ain’t a good sounding one”. It sounded even worse than streaming the album. I have an OG copy that doesn’t have this issue. It’s a decent sounding album. My copy of that pressing wasn’t, and I’ve had people agree it was horrid, but I have seen some people saying it sounds good too.