Ask ECM - Part 2

[alethestar]

The 2013 illustrated catalogue – now 172 pages long - has finally arrived in our office and warehouse and will be available from ECM web shop from next week - and from our distributors and good record stores (if there any left in your neighbourhood) shortly thereafter. We’ll also post the catalogue online as a PDF file very soon.

Best, Steve

Thank you!!
I'm looking forward to seeing and reading it!

Best,
ALE

[Steve Lake]

Hi Steve,

I just purchased the Jan Garbarek and Arild Andersen collections on the Old and New Masters Edition.

When I looked at the CDs, I was surprised that they were AAD masterings, which were very prevalent in the early era of CDs.

I wonder why these were not remastered. Clearly, these were done in the early days of digital mastering and many advances have been made since then. Look at the RVG remasters on Blue Note and the recent remasters on Verve and Concord Jazz, of the original OJC releases. The vast majority of these are greatly improved over the original early 80's and 90's releases.

I would think if you would go to the trouble of reissuing these recordings, you would also try to make them as close to the original (analog) masters as possible.

I am happy to have these long out of print recordings, but am disappointed that they were not remastered.

Would be happy to hear your comments.

Bruce

The SPARS code “AAD” means nothing more than analog recording, analog mix, digital mastering. Our Old & New Masters series is so-named for a number of reasons and the reference is not only to the relative ages of ECM master musicians. Some of the box sets are remastered, others are not. We take this on a case by case basis. The Arild Andersen set is, in fact, newly mastered from the analog tapes. (I worked on this myself, together with mastering engineer Christoph Stickel, at Munich’s MSM studio.) Remastering was essential in this case since none of the 3 recordings had previously appeared on CD. The Garbarek “Dansere” box, on the other hand, is not remastered, since we were perfectly happy with the CD sound. So it goes. The Rypdal and DeJohnette boxes are both remastered and sound very good. The unremastered Codona box sounds, to my ear, amazing.

best,

Steve

[steveoat]

Hi Steve,

Found your reply to be helpful.

I would suggest you note on the box set whether the discs have been newly mastered. This is helpful information.

I also wish you would make more ECM lossless downloads available in the US. HD Tracks only has a fraction of the releases available on Quboz, which I can't purchase given that I live in the USA.

Will ECM every consider offering lossless downloads directly from their site?

Bruce

[HammondFreak]

Bruce - For Lossless download - try GubeMusic; http://www.gubemusic.com/ - Good selection of ECM lossless, apprx 200 titles to download

Regards
Terje

[Observer123]

Hi,

was the Chick Corea Return to Forever 180g vinyl reissue made from an analogue master or from the digital master of the CD?

Dear Steve,

I asked this question to ECM by mail and in this forum. Is it possible to find out? As another user here stated, for us collectors, this makes a difference.

Best,
Aljoscha

[igorowitz]

The SPARS code “AAD” means nothing more than analog recording, analog mix, digital mastering. Our Old & New Masters series is so-named for a number of reasons and the reference is not only to the relative ages of ECM master musicians. Some of the box sets are remastered, others are not. We take this on a case by case basis. The Arild Andersen set is, in fact, newly mastered from the analog tapes. (I worked on this myself, together with mastering engineer Christoph Stickel, at Munich’s MSM studio.) Remastering was essential in this case since none of the 3 recordings had previously appeared on CD. The Garbarek “Dansere” box, on the other hand, is not remastered, since we were perfectly happy with the CD sound. So it goes. The Rypdal and DeJohnette boxes are both remastered and sound very good. The unremastered Codona box sounds, to my ear, amazing.

best,

Steve

Hello Steve ,

I'm here for the first time and ECM listener for many years already back in the seventies and for many years I'm waiting for an reissue on cd from the very fine Miroslav Vitous Group ( ECM 1185 ) one of my favourite records , are there plans for a box set in the old and new masters from the three Vitous group recordings w/ John Surman and when do you think , I'm really looking forward this and hope you can give me an answer ,

Best Regards ,
Igor

[JonBuoy]

Dear Steve,

Many, many thanks for taking time to answer queries on this forum. And may I take the opportunity to show my gratitude to you and all at ECM, for helping to bring such wonderful music into the world. I have bought many ECM CDs and they each have brought enormous enjoyment, time and time again. My sincere thanks to ECM staff!

I'd like to add my two pence to the reissue wishlist...

The two Old and New Dreams albums; Old and New Dreams and Playing. I believe these have never been produced on CD.

There are two Keith Jarrett films that are currently out-of-print (originally released by Image Entertainment) called Solo Tribute and Last Solo. Could ECM reissue these films?

Kind regards,

Jon

[steveoat]

While we're on the topic of requests for the Old and New Masters series, may I suggest:

The John Abercrombie Quartet recordings with Richie Beirach

The hard to find Ralph Towner recordings: Old Friends, New Friends; Matchbook, Ralph Towner with Glen Moore

Thanks,

Bruce

[Steve Lake]

While we're on the topic of requests for the Old and New Masters series, may I suggest:

The John Abercrombie Quartet recordings with Richie Beirach

The hard to find Ralph Towner recordings: Old Friends, New Friends; Matchbook, Ralph Towner with Glen Moore

Thanks,

Bruce

The three Abercrombie Quartet discs with Beirach comprise the next box set in the series. For release later this year.
Best, Steve

[lossleader]

Hi,

i swear I'd spend much more for new ECM albums if only they were released on vinyls - could even be 140 gram vinyls. It seems to me that the worldwide phenomenal return of vinyl itself somewhat stays of out ECM interest these days, not mentioning Record Store Day hype. The end of CD will come soon or soonish anyways.

Daniel

[steveoat]

Steve,

Thanks for the great news about the Abercrombie reissue.

Can you share any additional information for reissue plans for the remainder of the year?

Another question... The Blue Note, Verve and OJC reissues often include alternate takes of tracks. I often find it very interesting to compare the takes. Is there is a reason why ECM does not do this on their reissues?

Bruce

[Nitya]

Hi,

The end of CD will come soon or soonish anyways.

Daniel

OK then Daniel what will replace the cd? I am getting more and more of my music in various lossless or better digital format lately; although I still acquire a lot of cd's.

-Nitya

[lossleader]

OK then Daniel what will replace the cd? I am getting more and more of my music in various lossless or better digital format lately; although I still acquire a lot of cd's.

-Nitya

The only spin carrier that will retain its sales at reasonable level for publishers in the next years is vinyl.

[Nitya]

The only spin carrier that will retain its sales at reasonable level for publishers in the next years is vinyl.

How do you play vinyl in your car?

[Joe Barnsley]

Steve,

Are there any short or long term plans for new Tibbetts or Hassel releases?

Hope so!

Joe Barnsley

[Nitya]

Steve,
Jon told me a couple of months ago he was speaking with Manfred about a new recording. Do you know if it has gone beyond the talking stage?
-Nitya

[Mike Schwartz]

Great record celebrating 30 years together!

[DigiDon]

The three Abercrombie Quartet discs with Beirach comprise the next box set in the series. For release later this year.
Best, Steve

Thanks very much Steve for the Abercrombie news - got me damn near salivating! Someone earlier mentioned a possible Jack DeJohnette New Directions box idea. If that comes to fruition, could that include his 'Directions' albums - Untitled & New Rags?? The former is my all time favorite ECM title!! My vinyl has been long worn out !!!

Best,
Don

P.S, I loved the Steve Khun box, but was disappointed with the excellent Non Fiction not being included. Any plans to release this on CD?

[7/4]

Thanks very much Steve for the Abercrombie news - got me damn near salivating! Someone earlier mentioned a possible Jack DeJohnette New Directions box idea. If that comes to fruition, could that include his 'Directions' albums - Untitled & New Rags?? The former is my all time favorite ECM title!! My vinyl has been long worn out !!!

Great idea!

[Blue Train]

One of those threads I never bothered with because I never got it.

If GG Allin (who I can not figure who anyone likes) was alive today....on ECM.... he would turn into Pat Boone.

Any other label.....any musician involved on ECM that actually records on a different label...it's a completely different recording/musician.

The equivalent of the Jazz EMO label.

[Simon Fay]

If GG Allin (who I can not figure who anyone likes) was alive today....on ECM.... he would turn into Pat Boone.

Funny idea, but he'd have to have played a few roles in acclaimed art-house films (stills from which could tastefully decorate the album booklet) to make him worth luring over.

[becquer]

In view of these Forums' demise on July 1...

Any ideas? Organissimo?

BTW, many, many thanks for all your work, Steve.

Invaluable.

[Steve Lake]

Thanks for the kind comments, Becquer.

And thank you, Lois and Jazz Corner, for letting us have this space to talk about the music.

ECM Records has, meanwhile, a Facebook page. That’s one place where questions can be answered in the future.

All the best,

Steve

[Lois Gilbert]

Thank you so much Steve. I sent you a PM telling you how much your support, patience and input have meant to all of us over the years. The ECM forum continuted to thrive in large part because of your generosity and knowledge. Thank you again.

Lois