Jackie McLean Bluesnik XRCD24

The Definitive Versions of Blue Note are on XRCD24... Listen & Compare!
Jackie McLean's slightly acidic tone on alto can be instantly identified. He perfectly symbolizes the intensity, passion, excitement and urgency of New York in the 1960s. Born in 1932 and part of the musical generation that matured in the shadow of Charlie Parker, McLean served his apprenticeship at the very top, recording with the likes of Miles Davis, Charles Mingus and Art Blakey. However, Jackie McLean is best known for a brilliant series of Blue Note albums recorded from 1959-67. Bluesnik is, on the surface, one of McLean's most accessible recordings, since the six songs are all blues-based. However, McLean remains quite explorative here, clearly inspired by his excellent sidemen (trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, pianist Kenny Drew, bassist Doug Watkins, and drummer Pete La Roca). McLean stretches himself, showing every side of the blues. The results are exceptional to say the least. One listen to Bluesnik tells you that this is one of Jackie McLean's masterpiece recordings. Engineer Rudy Van Gelder was up to the challenge of this fine session, getting all of this passionate soul on tape with exceptional fidelity. Bluesnik is essential.
"When I listened to the Audio Wave XRCD release of [AWMXR0008] Lee Morgan - Tomcat I was awestruck. My conclusion was that rather than comparing digital to analog, a more logical conclusion was that the entire digital vs. analog debate becomes irrelevant when listening to a recording that is so far superior to anything that has come before it. My analog setup costs six times what my digital one does, but given the same Blue Note title on LP or XRCD I'd choose the XRCD each time. I question the motive of any writer who claims that there is an LP re-issue that equals the sound you all are achieving."
"I recently purchased three more Audio Wave Blue Note titles and the sound on each of them is really stunning. The clarity (without any brightness), dynamics, instrumental timbres and subtlety that I hear in these performances is amazing. You can really hear the emotion and intent of the performers in a way I have not experienced with my Blue Note records before, be it an original pressing, RVG remaster or one of the 45 rpm re- issues from other labels. When playing [AWMXR0010] Horace Silver- Cape Verdean Blues over the weekend, my mom (who was visiting from out of town) and daughter actually came in the room and started dancing around. Its magic on a silver disc."
"I hope you will have the opportunity to visit other back catalogs or more Blue Note titles with wizard Alan Yoshida at the helm. I have a new appreciation for the importance of mastering. Thanks for the great music." - Steven Frost
"On Bluesnik, Jackie McLean was beginning to adapt to the free-jazz stylings of Ornette Coleman, and Hubbard proves he is equally at home. He could handle a mixture of hard bop and free jazz with the skill of an older and more experienced musician." - John Crossett, www.theaudiobeat.com, 4/5 Music, 4/5 Sound
"All three of these recordings [AWMXR0007 Dexter Gordon / Doin' Allright, AWMXR0011 Jackie McLean / Bluesnik and AWMXR0012 Freddie Hubbard / Open Sesame] offer state-of-the-art digital sound. The use of the XRCD24 process takes them to the very heights of Red Book CD's capabilities. The drums have snap, the cymbals shimmer, and the bass deep and woody resonance. The piano, not engineer Rudy Van Gelder's strong point, displays realistic percussion -- the hammer-hitting-the-string sound of the real thing. The horns have both brassy bite and, in the case of the saxophones, a reedy quality. There is enough space and detail to satisfy even the most persnickety listeners." - John Crossett, www.theaudiobeat.com
"If you love Blue Note jazz but not the sound of Blue Note's RVG CD reissues (you're not alone), these discs -- along with all of the others in Audio Wave's growing series -- will let you realize everything that Blue Note had to offer musically and sonically." - John Crossett, www.theaudiobeat.com
"I recommend these highly. If you want the best digital versions of these great Blue Note albums, grab these. In my opinion they are the best that have ever been done and probably the best that ever will be. They can't stay in print forever so don't delay!" - Steve Hoffman, Mastering Engineer
"Blue Note has never sounded this good on CD before - these are the first digital Blue Notes that come close to the sound of vinyl. And the packaging is outstanding. I love the high quality glossy covers, and the insert booklets are the first effort I've seen to fit high quality photography into such a small package. Keep up the good work!" - Dennis Davis, Hi-Fi+
"Astute listeners know that the very first Blue Note CD issues are sonically superior to the more recent RVG remasters. Well, these XRCD24s absolutely crush them both, displaying high-frequency air, midrange presence, and bottom-end definition and weight missing on earlier CDs and many LPs as well." - Mark Mickelson, TheAudioBeat.com
"Compared to the 45 r.p.m. vinyl, the LPs still have a slight edge in smoothness and liquidity, but thanks to the XRCD process and the care that was taken transferring these albums directly from the original analog masters, these CD's have to be approaching the limit of what the compact disc is capable of resolving. Instrument timbre is stunningly real, and the amount of air and decay present on these recordings will make the uninitiated swear that there is a record playing on a turntable somewhere. I've never heard this music sound this good in any digital format." - Jeff Dorgay, TONEAudio
"The quality is next to none and as far the sound goes they are absolutely beautifully recorded, the timing is perfect and the clarity of the instruments is spot on, I will treasure these CDs. I am eagerly awaiting the rest of the collection." - Victor A.
"The sound is absolutely stunning and natural and represents digital at its best. The space around instruments and decay times are reminiscent of live acoustic performances. The mini-hardcover book format packaging is exceptional with great photography and legible liner notes. Truly well done and keep them coming." - Roger B.
"a well done XRCD... It's a sound that comes about as close to analog excellence as we've heard from any digital format" - Wayne Garcia, TAS Issue 203, June/July 2010 pg. 120-123
"These discs are open, dynamically free, tonally natural... the bass is textured, melodic, and explosive when a drummer lets loose." - Wayne Garcia, TAS Issue 203, June/July 2010 pg. 120-123
"...they may not quite equal the breathtaking sonics of the vinyl discs in transparency, immediacy, and ultimate dynamic pop, they come very close. So close, in fact... I was prepared to get up and flip the LP to Side Two except I wasn't listening to an LP but to a Yoshida-mastered XRCD." - Wayne Garcia, TAS Issue 203, June/July 2010 pg. 120-123

Features:

• Mastered and produced by Alan Yoshida and Joe Harley from the Original Rudy Van Gelder Blue Note 2-Track Analog Tapes!
• Highest Quality Analog-to-Digital transfers from tape to CD
• Deluxe Packaging with Hi-Resolution Black & White Session Photos by Francis Wolff
• Includes Original Album Liner Notes
• XRCD24 is Compatible with ALL CD PLAYERS!

Musicians:

• Freddie Hubbard, trumpet
• Jackie McLean, alto saxophone
• Kenny Drew, piano
• Doug Watkins, bass
• Pete La Roca, drums

Selections:

1. Bluesnik
2. Goin' Way Blues
3. Drew's Blues
4. Cool Green
5. Blues Function
6. Torchin'

Bonus Tracks:

1. Goin' Way Blues (Alternate Take)
2. Torchin' (Alternate Take)