hopkins

I am surprised this one never made it to CD:

Wilson is hard to categorize. For example, I came across some glowing reviews of Roland Kirk albums (Blacknuss, and Rahsaan Rahsaan) or Yusef Lateef, Charles Mingus... Still going through the many issues available...

PDF files for the publication are available here: https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Audio/High-Fidelity-Magazine.htm here are the search results for John S. Wilson: https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Audio/Archive-High-Fidelity/Search/search.cgi?zoom_sort=0&zoom_xml=0&zoom_query=John+s.+Wilson&zoom_per_page=10

I enjoy reading Wilson’s reviews. He does not mince his words. I have gone through quite a few issues of High Fidelity (online) and found some interesting albums reading his reviews.

This model I have has rubber surrounds, not foam, and they are in good condition. Perhaps the previous owner changed them, or they were made like this. I cannot tell, but they do sound good. Changing the surround from foam to rubber (or vice versa) can seriously alter the sound. I do plan on getting a pair of SM-5 as well and will probably have to change the foam surround on those.

I downsized even further, with a pair of “vintage” Mirage SM-6 speakers that I bought for 65€. Mirage was a Canadian brand, and these were made in the early 1980s. Interestingly I could not find any reference of this model on the internet. SM-5 model is referenced and seems to be very nice as well. https://radique.com/product/vintage-mirage-bookshelf-speakers-with-exceptional-sound-sm-5/ These speakers are easy to listen to, and provide a balanced, dynamic, sound with good detail.

Here's John S. Wilson's review of 2205 in High Fidelity John S. Wilson - High Fidelity - May 1956 Powell is a recently arrived tenor saxophonist with a hard tone and a strong attack, both of which bring a good measure of vitality back to an instrument that has been leaning more and more toward the namby-pamby. On first hearing, his tone may seem unpleasantly harsh; but it is so perfectly suited to his style, and that style has so much vigor and grace, that this sense of harshness soon disappears. He moves easily and creatively at fast tempos, while his ballads have a cool elegance, never descending to sentimentality or turning overripe. His playing throughout the disk is well disciplined and he gets sound support from his rhythm section and trombonist Bob Alexander.

Good condition original pressings are very expensive, but there are some reissues available.

Evensmo, in his solography, mentions this session: SELDON POWELL QUINTET NYC. July 7, 1956 Seldon Powell (ts), Hank Jones (p), Barry Galbraith (g), Milt Hinton (b), Osie Johnson (dm). Three titles were recorded for Epic: Stoozie C. J.’s Brother Serenade In Blue His comments on the session: Pleasant, nice session with SP at his very best. Two fine medium swingers are most notable, but the beautiful and lighttoned version of ”Serenade …” will be your lasting memory! I could not find any record containing "Serenade in Blue" on Discogs, or on streaming services. Does anyone know if it has ever been released (and even better, if you have a copy of the recording, please let me know...). EDIT: I found it! https://www.discogs.com/master/1022100-The-Rhythm-Section-Rhythm-1

Here is another: https://www.discogs.com/release/3055240-Jimmy-Rowles-The-Special-Magic-Of

This should have made it to CD... And another:

This should have made it to CD...

a couple that I “ripped”…

Grew up with this. RIP

I updated the entry in Discogs. Some software can use Discogs data to tag files automatically.