Jason Moran - Bandwagon

[Bright Moments]

Both Moran's "Bandwagon" and Lovano's "On This Day" were engineered by Kurt Lundvall, none other than the son of Blue Note President Bruce Lundvall. I have a feeling that anyone else would have been canned had they engineered two live discs (by high profile talent, to boot) that sounded this crappy.

now i understand!!!

[sonnyhill]

I listened to "Bandwagon" on headphones recently, and I found that it improved the listening experience.  I picked up a lot more than I had on open speakers.

Perhaps he monitored on headphones only, and since all models sound different, it may have sounded fine on his, but not on others or speakers.

If so, a newbie's error .....

Very possible.

BTW, Lovano defended Lundvall in a recent letter to (I think) Downbeat. He said that he wouldn't have released something he felt was inferior.

Lovano didn't have to go to the local record store and pay $18.99.

[Leeway]

I listened to "Bandwagon" on headphones recently, and I found that it improved the listening experience.  I picked up a lot more than I had on open speakers.

Perhaps he monitored on headphones only, and since all models sound different, it may have sounded fine on his, but not on others or speakers.

If so, a newbie's error .....

Very possible.

BTW, Lovano defended Lundvall in a recent letter to (I think) Downbeat. He said that he wouldn't have released something he felt was inferior.

Lovano's letter can be found in the current issue of Jazz Times (not Downbeat). Maybe he is sincere, but maybe he is also buttering up Bruce L. a little bit, despite the mess that Sonny made of the recording. Keep the boss (and chief contract signer) on your side- never know when you will record another "Sinatra" or "Caruso" album

Had anyone heard of Kurt L. before he made (?) these 2 recordings? Is this just a sheer case of nepotism, or does Ludvall fil have any standing in the recording field? To think this is the company that had RVG doing its remote recordings!

[Alexander]

Lovano's letter can be found in the current issue of Jazz Times (not Downbeat).

Right. Couldn't remember which.

[Aggie87]

According to AMG, these are the things K. Lundvall has worked on, so he's been doing his thing a bit longer than you probably realized. By the way, who's "Tor Lundvall"?

Cannonball Adderley Definitive Cannonball Adderley (2002) Mastering

Chet Baker Definitive Chet Baker (2002) Mastering

Etta Baker Railroad Bill (1999) Mastering

Boyz II Men Extras (1999) Engineer

Boyz II Men Ballad Collection (2000) Engineer

Luiz Bueno & Badal Roy Musica (2000) Engineer, Mastering, Mixing

Mariah Carey Daydream (1995) Engineer

Nat King Cole Definitive Nat "King" Cole (2002) Mastering

Dana Cunningham Dancing at the Gate (2001) Mastering

Miles Davis Complete Birth of the Cool [blue... (1998) Editing, Mastering

Celine Dion Falling into You (1996) Engineer

Bob Dorough Too Much Coffee Man (2000) Mastering

Bob Dorough & Dave... Who's on First (2000) Mastering

Ann Dyer & the No Good... Revolver: A New Spin (1999) Mastering

Richard Elliot Ballads (2001) Mastering

Liberty Ellman Tactiles (2003) Mastering

Kevin Eubanks Live at Bradley's (1994) Assistant Producer

Bill Evans Paris Concert, Edition One (1979) Mastering

Bill Evans Paris Concert, Edition Two (1979) Mastering

Ella Fitzgerald Ella for Lovers (2003) Mastering

Ella Fitzgerald Diva Series (2003) Mastering

Tommy Flanagan Sunset and the Mockingbird: The... (1998) Mastering

Stan Getz & Albert Dailey Poetry (1983) Remastering

Grant Green Alive! (1970) Mastering

Grant Green Alive! [bonus Tracks] (2000) Mastering

Guitar Gabriel Deep in the South (1999) Mastering, Recording

Algia Mae Hinton Honey Babe (1999) Mastering

John Dee Holeman Bull Durham Blues (1999) Mastering

Instrumental Acoustek (2000) Mastering

Richard Leo Johnson Fingertip Ship (1999) Mastering

Lee Konitz/Brad Mehldau... Alone Together (1996) Engineer

Lee Konitz Another Shade of Blue (1999) Engineer

Joe Lovano & Gonzalo... Flying Colors (1997) Assistant Engineer

Joe Lovano On This Day...At the Vanguard (2003) Mastering, Mixing, Recording

Tor Lundvall Ice (1999) Mastering

Tor Lundvall Mist Mastering

Carmen McRae Diva Series (2003) Mastering

Barbara Montgomery Little Sunflower (2002) Mastering

Jason Moran Modernistic (2002) Mastering

Jason Moran Bandwagon (2003) Engineer, Mastering, Mixing

Gary Morgan & Panamericana Live at Birdland (2003) Mastering

Greg Osby St. Louis Shoes (2003) Engineer, Mastering

Charlie Parker Washington Concerts (2001) Remastering

Neal Pattman Prison Blues (1999) Mastering, Recording

Michel Petrucciani 100 Hearts (1983) Digital Remastering

Michel Petrucciani Trio Live at the Village Vanguard (1984) Digital Remastering

Pieces of a Dream Ahead to the Past (1999) Mastering

Pieces of a Dream Sensual Embrace: The Soul Ballads (2001) Mastering

Lonnie Plaxico Melange (2001) Mastering

Bud Powell Definitive Bud Powell (2002) Mastering

Dan Rose Water's Rising (1999) Mastering, Recording

Selena Dreaming of You (1995) Assistant Engineer

Anoushka Shankar Anourag (2000) Mastering

The Sighs Different (1996) Assistant Engineer

Jimmy Smith Definitive Jimmy Smith (2002) Mastering

Squonk Opera Bigsmorgasbordwunderwerk (2000) Mastering

Art Tatum Definitive Art Tatum (2002) Mastering

John Gentry Tennyson Europa (2000) Mastering

McCoy Tyner Definitive McCoy Tyner (2002) Mastering

The Wild Magnolias Life Is a Carnival (1999) Mastering

Phil Woods & Johnny... Rev and I (1998) Mastering

Various Artists Compassion: Special Message from... (2001) Engineer, Editing, Mastering, Mixing, Sequencing Assistant

Various Artists Smooth Jazz Hear and Now (2003) Mastering

Various Artists Jazz Hear and Now (2003) Mastering

[Nate Dorward]

"a bit longer"? Looks to me like 95% of the list was done in the past 4 years.

That said, I recall the sound on the Konitz/Mehldau/Haden disc, for instance, as being entirely acceptable, though a tad dark.

[Rooster_Ties]

That said, I recall the sound on the Konitz/Mehldau/Haden disc, for instance, as being entirely acceptable, though a tad dark.

Oh, I remember that disc. I thought it sounded truly bad - and I'm normally not one with that much of a critical ear about recording quality. I think I kept the disc for a year, and then traded it off. REALLY bad SQ - as I recall.

[Alexander]

Yeah, most of that list also appeared to be remasters and compilations.

Not exactly the kind of "real world" experience that would prepare one for recording live sessions at the Vanguard.

Compare these discs to Vanguard recordings from the 60s. Those guys had fewer technical advantages, yet they made much better sounding albums. I wonder if Kurt has a hearing problem.

Edited November 17, 2003 by Alexander

[Bright Moments]

o.k guys, i listeneed to it in the car. much better, but the sound quality still stinks. could not hear the vocals or the voices of the artists. i was able to appreciate the music however i stand by the title of this thread: DON'T BUY THIS CD. (Buy Modernistic instead!). B)

[clifton]

I'm not anything resembling an audiophile, but even I noticed the murky sound on "Bandwagon". However, the music is so good I bought it anyway. BTW regarding the previously mentioned Martial Solal "NY-1" disc, do not miss it. IMHO one of the best piano trio discs in years.