Synergistic Red Fuse ...

Charles ...

I really need to explore the new guys more. I’m so stuck in the 50’s jazz scene its pathetic.

Perhaps I have a problem with the modern recording techniques or something. Artificial digital reverb and other added electronic artifacts kind of drive me nutz. Some of the "music" they demo at the audio shows is really gross. Patricia Barber? Uhhh ... no thanks. I’ll take a good, natural recording of Margaret Whiting or Jo Stafford any day of the week. In fact, we usually take good recordings to the shows in order to determine what the offered equipment is really doing.

I checked out Jay Hoggard on Spotify tonight. His "Soular Power" album sounds nice. I especially like the accompaniment of the Hammond B-3. Do you have this album, Charles? If so, I was wondering how it sounds on a good system. I’ll buy it upon your recommendation.

Of the three recommended musicians, none of which I’ve heard of before reading your above post, Jay Hoggard would be my first choice ... based upon what I heard on Spotify playing through my trusty AudioEngine A2+ speakers that are hooked up to my PC.

All of the Stefon Harris albums offered by Spotify have the artificial electronic artifacts added that to my ear sound very unnatural. :-)

Spotify only offered one album by  Steve Nelson, so not much to go on there. What I did hear sounded very good ... and naturally recorded. 

Its kind of  hard to judge this stuff listening through a modest desk-top system though.  

Frank

Hi Frank,
Regarding Jay Hoggard I haven’t heard "Solar Power " but I’ll seek it out. Vibe with the Hammond B3 is usually a winning combination. His "Overview " recording is beautiful music that also recorded well, I believe that you’ll enjoy this one quite a bit.

Steve Nelson is really a fine player and is on a label that records him well. I suggest "Sound Effect " and "Full Nelson ".

Stefon Harris, I recommend "African Tarantella " he’s a terrific vibraphonist. Some of his recordings do have a bit of the "modern artifact " character but he’s a first rate musician. Nelson and Hoggard are on labels that typically have a more natural sound.

Yes in regard to Patricia Barber overkill at shows for demonstration (D. Krall fits this category as well). In a sense I understand it, these two vocalists are extremely popular with the target audiophile crowd attending the audio shows. They will play what they believe people want to hear. Just as you mentioned, I take recordings I’m very familiar with and enjoy. This does help me in assessing various systems and components. It's interesting to listen and realize that some highly regarded and expensive components/speakers fall short on musical emotion and natural tone and timbre.  Just an observation. 

Admittedly it’s a matter of taste. I don’t think they’re bad, but I’m spoiled by the greats such as Sarah Vaughan and Carmen McRae. Simply pure subjectivity of course. Among the current crop of female vocalists I really like Roberta Garbarini, her "You Are There " recording with the late great pianist Hank Jones is wonderful both musically and recording quality. Frank I believe that you’ll enjoy and appreciate this effort.
Charles

richmon ...

Try just one of Charles' suggestions .... some EARLY Carmen McRae or Sarah Vaughn in her later years when she was actually in her prime.

Sarah Vaughn had this enormous voice, not unlike a voluminous tenor saxophone player such as Ben Webster or Lester Young.  Unlike Carmen McRae and Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn never lost her voice and maintained perfect pitch to the very end. 

Try the last two cuts on this album ("I've got a crush on you," and "A Foggy Day in London Town") to see what I mean about Sarah Vaughn. Your Art-9 will bring out the best in her voice. 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SARAH-VAUGHAN-MICHAEL-TILSON-THOMAS-Gershwin-Live-JAPAN-Orig-VG-OBI-LP-/1723...

Here's my favorite Carmen McRae CD. She's at her finest here.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CARMEN-McRAE-SINGS-GREAT-AMERICAN-SONGWRITERS-COMPLETE-CD-1993-MCA-/32246852...