John Coltrane - "Live" At The Village Vanguard - LP 33 rpm 180 gr. Made in USA - Verve Acoustic Sounds Series - SEALED

Michael Fremer Rated 11/11 Music, 9/11 Sonics!

"Live" At The Village Vanguard was released in February 1962 on Impulse Records, the first album to feature the members of the classic quartet of Coltrane with McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones, and the first Coltrane live album to be issued. Recorded live over four nights in November 1961, the album contains Reggie Workman's final recordings with the group on Side One, with Garrison taking over bass duties on Side Two. Eric Dolphy plays bass clarinet on the track "Spiritual".

Seeking to offer definitive audiophile grade versions of some of the most historic and best jazz records ever recorded, Verve Label Group and Universal Music Enterprises' audiophile Acoustic Sounds vinyl reissue series utilizes the skills of top mastering engineers and the unsurpassed production craft of Quality Record Pressings. All titles are mastered from the original analog tapes, pressed on 180-gram vinyl and packaged by Stoughton Printing Co. in high-quality gatefold sleeves with tip-on jackets.

This new Verve/Acoustic Sounds reissue is one of those 'this sounds fantastic until you hear an original pressing', which means it really sounds great... The original is 'you are there' great, in part thanks to RVG's dozen microphone mixing, but you know what? If you never get to hear the original this reissue is 'you are there' great too. I feel so lucky and privileged to be able to just reach back and pick an original from the shelf to compare for you but if you buy this reissue, which you really should, you'll have a great sounding version for not stupid money and the privilege will be all yours too.