Jim,
10 best reference cd's. (hmmm..)
My reference collection of cd's is getting pretty large and I would like to share as many as I can over the next few weeks.
With that being said , I just purchased about 10 SACD's and I would probibly pick any of these over any cd to demo for a friend to listen what is possible as far as sound quality and my systems outstanding attributes. I started a thread over on the high resolution circle for those interested.
I plan on buying as many SACD's in the future as I can afford.
The cd catalog is so much more expansive than SACD's. It also more fun , as I can walk down the St. to a great used cd store and pick up great jazz, classical and rock for $2.50 and up.
1. David Sanborn : Upfront This is an outstading album and every cut is great !! There are many cuts on this album that really show off base, base slam ,and dynamics galore and of course saxaphone and highs . If your speakers are bright with horns you will find out fast on a couple of tracks, there are one or two that I skip sometimes. Test tracks are 1,2,4,5,8,9 for me
2.&3. Cassandra Wilson : New Moon Daughter and Blue Light Till dawn Both of these albums are gems and very close to perfect as far as music and sound are concerned.They are recorded on Blue Note Records. ( every blue note cd that I own is of audiophile quality )( BLue Light cd on amazon for 76 cents)
Blue Light Till Dawn is a master piece and very well recorded ( my test tracks are song two Come Into My Kitchen , if you play this cut to an non-audiophile person and they don't come away understanding what this hobby is about.. they will . If they are not slack jawed then your system blows. Bass notes are long and way cool , bass slam from drum kit , powerful acoustic strings, Cassandras' voice ,and just a tremendous jazz -blues song make this a perfect test song. Other great test track I enjoy (tack 7: Sankofa , all voice harmony) tracks 8 and 9 Redbone for drums and funk song. (track 10 is tupelo honey , her version is a stunner and sound throught this cd is amazing ) Honestly almost all of the 12 tracks can be used for demo.
New Moon Daughter is a master piece and very well recorded You can use all songs on this cd to demo a system in my mind. My favorite for demo songs are 1,2,3,and 4 (voice,strings,bass should be powerful ,deep and tuneful ) but choose your favorites. Once againall twelve tracks on here are epic in both recording and music. These two Cassandra cd's are perfect listening !!
4. The Hunter By Jennifer Warnes manty are very familiar with this cd and Famous Blue Riancoat
The first time I heard track one Rock You Gently , I played the intro, the first maybe 5 seconds , over 15 times , as I could not believe the sound and slam . I remember listening and saying, "this is how a cd SHOULD sound ! " When you hear this cd ,and you should own it, it should be in Aha moment. It also may make 90 % of your cd collection sound inferior. This album is so well recorded that every cut except 6 The Whole Of The Moon can be used as a demo track. My favorites are 1,2,4,7,8 An audiophile must have cd !!
Rob Wasserman (bass player extrodinare , has played In the Jerry Garcia Band I think atleast in some acoustic relation to Jerry Garcia)
5. Rob Wasserman DUETS I am going to say that many if all of the tracks on here are super well recorded and make good demos for one reason or another If you like music and well recorded music BUY this cd. Obviously many of the tracks are awesome for bass (duh) ,but also for voice, dynamics, If the cd does not sound good on your system, sell your system Lol
Seriously, duets include Ricky Lee Jones, Aaron Neville on opening track ,Boby McFerrin, Lou Reed, Jennifer Warnes, Dan Hicks, Stepane Grappelli awesome Over The Rainbow, Cheryl Bentyne
I consider this a must have cd for sound and astonishingly great music and complilations . This compilation should lead you to many fine musicians if you haven't heard of a few. Or just play this one 5 thousand times.
6. Rob Wasserman : TRIOS
As with DUETS , Trios every cut on here is of highest sound quality and the album is a force in great songs and musicians collaborating to create a work of art . I will list only some of the collaborating artist and not by trios specifically. (Brian Wison, Branford Marsalis, Elvis Costello, Bob Weir,Jerry Garcia, Neil Young, Chris Whitley and Les Claypool, Bruce Hornsby, Edie Brickell, Willie Dixon, and others. Awesome album/achievement !! All cuts are demos, pick your favorites
Rob Wasserman: SPACE ISLAND Rob Wasserman understands how to engineer a wonderful sounding cd !! Space Island is a different beest then Duets or Trios This is Rob's insane bass both in sound quality and execution , mixed with samples ,some beats ,a tabla player and singer. I would call this a fusion album. Test tracks for me are 3,5,6,7,8 and 11 You may like others better . The sound ,as in all of Rob's albums ,should pin you in your seat. I also consider this a masterwork album. Some people may find it weird , I enjoy every song ! and I am not really into this type of fusion sound. The sound is great, and the song's arrangements are top notch in my opinion.
7. Hugh Masekala Hope What an insanely great album this is !!! Hugh should be a world heritage site himself!
Sound is reference quality throughout. If you have some extra dough and have never heard of him skip the cd and buy the SACD ( which I have not heard it, but will be buying it, its a pricey one, about 30 bucks) If the SACD is 5 % to 10 % it is worth it to me ,as this album is so worthy of the best sound available. That being said "DO NOT BUY THE SACD !! lol
The sound on this cd is so freakin dynamic,explosive, and crystal clear that there is NO need to buy the SACD !!! (I'm still buying it ,as their is no need but I want it ! I will report on it in the high resolution cirlcle. lol) HOPE is a must have audiophile cd !!
Hugh sings and plays the most amazing trumpet. His solos will lift your your spirit ! I will try to explain the style of his music. Spiritual , African, Reggae, Big Band, Uplifting !! Holy Sh## , I can't listen in my car anymore , because I often want to pull over and dance and hug God for giving us music. Lol
Thats how freakin great this album is. ( Test tracks for me are 1,2,3,4,5,7,11, and 12 is worth the album in itself. ) Sound will test slam,dynamics,highs, bass, coherence, etc. )
More to come.. Enjoy these..
Todd
