"Having owned the Chesky redbook CD of this outing for quite some time and having used it to audition high end stereo equipment for quite some time, I was anxious to hear the SACD version to see if indeed this is the digital medium of the here and now as well as the future. If this disc is any indication, it is. McCoy and company swing like never before. YOU ARE THERE! For the uninitiated to the music, it is acoustic, possibly hard bop jazz, at its best with a little show boating thrown in for good measure. There is some strange solo blowing on this disc but it has always served to check out the capability of any sound system worth it's salt. For the uninitiated to the medium, SACD is the next step in digital musical reproduction wrought by Sony/Phillips. It samples at 2.8 million times per second as opposed to the 44.1 thousand times per second of redbook cd. The long and the short of it is a closer approximation of the real event stored digitally. The long and short of the difference in sound is increased depth, 3D image, tonalities and presence. Done right like this disc, it is nothing short of miraculous. I have at least 20 SACD's now and play them on a SONY 777ES. This is the best sounding and most impressive of the lot even when compared to 2 discs done entirely form start to finish in the DSD digital domain. This is an old analog 2 track master converted to DSD and it wallops the pure DSD recordings just like good analog masters trounced DDD recordings. Maybe they will get pure DSD right some day. They never got DDD pure (redbook) digital right. If you only buy one SACD, and you have an SACD player (even though this is a hybrid disc that will play on any cd player)and you are a jazz fan, buy this disc."
A Joe Henderson turned McCoy Tyner album with 1 masterpiece!
Anders Chan Tidemann | New York, NY USA | 09/25/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Joe Henderson signed with Verve right after this album was recorded, and released the album that became his major breakthrough "Lush Life". For contractual reasons this album was turned into a McCoy album after the recording, but is conceptually and in terms of repertoire much closer than "Lush Life" to what Joe Henderson would perform/sound like live. The 2 best tracks on the album, in my humble opinion, are Joe's stablemate and original "Recorda-Me", and especially "Ask Me Now" - a Monk composition that Joe had truly made his own. At this stage, 5-6 years after he started performing the tune (he first recorded it trio in 1985 w. Ron Carter & Al Foster on "State Of The Tenor" (Blue Note), and then later in 1987 in another live trio version w. Charlie Haden & Al Foster ("An Evening With Joe Henderson, Charlie Haden, Al Foster" Red Records). The version on this album is the more fully "matured" take, while perhaps not as packed with the drama of startling innovation as on the trio version from 1987. However, it is still a masterpiece, and a perfect introduction to one of the greatest musicians/improvisers/saxophonists that ever lived: Joe Henderson"
I'm In Jazz Heaven---But It's SO HOT!!!!
Beverly Praiswater | 12/05/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Wow! The first time I played this cd I couldn't believe my ears! What could possibly be better than bringing together jazz greats like McCoy Tyner, Joe Henderson, Ron Carter, and Al Foster? Now...add the production and engineering team listed on the liner notes. Wow!
"Recorda Me" is uptempo and smoldering, a perfect opener that grants each artist a solo in the spotlight. The intense energy and power of "What Is This Thing Called Love?" is over the top! "Beautiful Love" goes to many different places...highs, lows, upbeat, and then verrrry slow & cool. The finale is truly the coupe de gras!! Like the finest in life, "Home" is the ultimate on this cd!
Clearly the recording studio was on fire for this project! In addition, the quality of the recording sound is amazing! You feel as if you are right there leaning on McCoy's piano. This is for those who love innovative, spirited, and sophisticated jazz...and a must for any McCoy Tyner connoisseur! Enjoy, enjoy!"
BUT, this is not the SACD...
Slava Polanski | Mojave Desert, CA USA | 06/15/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Just a warning, this item is NOT the SACD. There seems to be some confusion as the SACD is mentioned in the reviews. This is the standard (redbook) CD - Chesky JD51."