It's been storming with incredibly intense thunder showers here on the East Side of Washington State in the Pacific Northwest of the US, which makes it a perfect morning for staying inside, listening to music, and getting caught up on a little writing.
On this rainy Sunday morning I'm drinking some fine Peet's Sulawesi-Kalosi coffee, roasted just a few days ago. If you're a coffee lover you should check out Peet's coffees, they roast them right before sending them to you, and have all kinds of delicious, exotic, coffees to choose from. Here's what Peet's web site says about the delicious Sulawesi Kalosi coffee, which I recommend to coffee lovers everywhere:
"A rare coffee with unusual depth and complexity. Rich, full body with a hint of nutty earthiness. Semi-aged by Peet's to create a unique cup, with depth and flavor to evoke the spice-laden air of the Indonesian archipelago. The best quality coffees from Sulawesi are grown and processed in the area called Torajaland, near the upcountry town of Rantepao. The Toraja people have an interesting cultural history that carries over to their methods of producing coffee in very traditional ways. The coffee trees are grown on small plots around the villagers' houses, and the entire family takes part in the picking and processing. We've even seen coffee trees growing on the edges of the rice paddies that provide the diet staple. Coffee is a cash crop that supplements the family income."
While sipping my Peet's Sulawesi-Kalosi I've been listening to a terrific new remaster of the 1957 Verve recording of Stan Meets Chet from the Original Recordings Group (ORG).
ORG really outdid themselves with this somewhat spendy ($60 USD) reissue, with the album on two 180 gram 45RPM LPs, packaged in an absolutely impeccable gate-fold cover. I was so impressed I included both views of the cover!
I hope others remastering 45RPM LPs will take note of what ORG did here with the packaging and do the same (Are you listening Analogue Productions?). It's definitely a cut above everyone elses and is really nice for archival purposes, and makes you feel like you got your moneys worth.
Stan Meets Chet is the first time Stan Getz and Chet Baker recorded together, and ORG really honored that momentous occasion with this lovingly produced remaster, which possesses both terrific sonics and musicality, displaying Stan Getz's warm lyrical tenor sax tone just the way it should be, and the same for Chet Baker's trumpet playing, Jodie Christian's piano playing, Victor Sproles bass playing, and Marshall Thompson's drum playing.
There's an intriguing note in the gate-fold text about the album that says Getz said Baker was, musically speaking "a very fine trumpet player who is naturally gifted on his instrument and has good sound, fluency and time ...". I'd say that speaks to the overall production of the album too, because ORG hired Bernie Grundman to do the remastering from the original master tapes, and Bernie nailed it musically, with very good and natural sonics, that really displays the virtuosity of the musicians and the way the music flows in time.
Side A of the first 45 has I'll Remember April, and Side B the medley Autumn in New York / Embraceable You / What's New. Side C of the second 45 LP has Jor-Du, and Side D Half-Breed Apache.
Just fair warning that if you're a Stan Getz and Chet Baker fan like me, and you miss getting this limited edition remaster by ORG you'll be kicking yourself for years to come! Most highly recommended to my friends everywhere!
