Search - Kaoru Abe :: Partitas

Fabulous Free Improv, Below Average Mastering

Fritz Gerlich | admin@audioetc.info | 04/15/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For those who don't know, Abe was a blistering speed freak on the alto sax and a genius improviser. His runs were mind numbingly fast and detailed. Of course, he lived a drug and alcohol soaked existence and his creative passion dimmed considerably as the seventies wore on. But these discs were at his peak in '73. I would probably recommend getting a single less expensive abe disc if this is your first experience with him, as his is definately a love/hate kind of music; just make sure the music is from 1970-74.



A word about the mastering: It looks like the Japanese are succumbing to the loudness war too. There is a fair amount of clipping on this disc and the replay gain is a staggering -9.45, totally unacceptable for a jazz disc. Shame on Clinck records, and I am now wary of buying any of their product given the shoddy mastering of this expensive set. But the music is definately 5 stars, even if the mastering is only 1.5 stars."