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Kind of Blue SACD on a whim.

I've been listening to jazz for only about a year. I can't say that I'm a jazz fan yet but I am growing more and more fond of Kind of Blue. Last night I was looking around on eBay and saw a Kind of Blue MoFi hybrid SACD. It was $30, new, and on an impulse I bought it.


I have never bought and do not own any SACDs. (I have an Oppo player). I also know nothing about MoFi other than an association with high production quality.


Anyway, I am interested in anyone's thoughts on this SACD from a quality standpoint. According to the dynamic range database virtually all releases of Kind of Blue are superb from a DR standpoint so that should not be an issue. I did read that on some CD releases prior to 1992 the timing was off which cause slight pitch issues. I am assuming this SACD would not suffer from that issue but have no way of knowing but probably don't have the ears or familiarity with the album to know.


n80
keegiam
730 posts
 
I only own three versions of KOB - early Columbia vinyl, 1995 Classic Records double vinyl (includes original and corrected speeds for Side 1 - the corrected tracks are in sequence on the 2nd disk) and the 1996 Columbia SACD.

Of these, I think the double vinyl is best in every way.  Can't help with any others.  I just wanted to stress that, if I could choose a "cost-no-object" recording, it would be KOB.  If you love the album, my advice is to spend whatever it takes to get what you believe to be the best version.  To do that with every title we want would be nuts, but some warrant it.
n80 OP
2,101 posts
 
Thanks guys. Good info. It sounds like I didn't screw up at least. For $30 I thought it was worth trying.

Not into vinyl. And in reality I'm not super finicky in terms of being an audiophile. CD quality has always been good enough for me as long as DR was good. For whatever reason DR is my sensitive spot.

For what its worth, the Qobuz hi-res version of KOB sounds pretty good to me.

Off topic, but what would be your recommendation for further exploring Miles Davis or similar artists? I like A Love Supreme but it is a bit beyond me I think. Bitches Brew is not my cup or tea in any way. I understand it was a departure from Davis's post-bop/modal stuff.
nicotico
187 posts
 
I’ll throw out these Miles albums as essential listening: the live album “Four & More” (which btw MoFi also issued an excellent-sounding version of); “E.S.P.”; and “Miles Smiles.” 
Miles Smiles can be initially hard to wrap one’s head around but with time, it’ll open up doors to other artists and styles. 
cd318
2,636 posts
 
I'm not sure if any of the digital versions of KoB matches the superb Classic Records cut.

Or even get close.

Sorry.
keegiam
730 posts
 
I'm really fond of "Nefertiti."  Wayne Shorter was in the group by that time and his compositions are fascinating.  Recorded in mid-1967, less than a year after "Miles Smiles" (mentioned earlier in the thread).  The quintet is probably the greatest ever assembled: Miles, Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter and Tony Williams.  Yikes.  Check out the title track and "Pinocchio" to start.

It's very accessible for those who can't stand "Bitches Brew," but jazz was clearly advancing into somewhat more mind-bending stuff.  Let's say there were a 1-10 scale for the "straight ahead" jazz sound and we put KOB at 10.  BB would score 1 because it's cacophonous madness.  I would put "Nefertiti" at 7 or 8.

Always good to see folks getting into this stuff!
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