WALTZ FOR DEBBY

So I thought to compare how two pressings of Bill Evans Trio seminal record sound next to each other. The newly released Craft reissue vs a 1983 OJC German pressing. So far I had a this German OJC press that I always thought sounded thin. Bass is weak but the highs shine, the brush on the drums on my foolish heart sound like they are in your head, the soundstage is massive you are immersed in the music. Bass is a thing that some people care about and some don't. I don't. I find some records and systems/components are tonally accurate some just accent certain things. Bass is something most people want boosted or accented in recordings. Many cables can do that, many amps or cartridges or even a certain mastering. If you ask me what I prefer in music I like the sound of my cheap Sony CDP-715. It's just accurate many people say it's missing bass but maybe a lot of recorded music if tonally accurate doesn't have as much bass as we think it does. Vinyl reproduction is a different story, many actors come in part, impedance, vtf, vta, phono pre....etc. I like Lyra cartridges I think within their limitations offera great window to the recording and are tonally accurate. So I listened to both versions of this Bill Evans classic on my Lyra Titan I hooked on my Ese Labs Nibiru phonostage with Shindo silver interconnects and I have to say I like both.

The new Craft version is more of a live event presentation, I find it's missing the sparkle of the 1983 version in favor of a more balanced and bass 'corrected' mastering. It's more tubey, more smoke gets in your eyes club vibe. I believe most people will go for that. The detail is not so much in your face. I dont like the way the piano and cymbals sound though. It's like the life has been sucked out of them in favor of balance. Although I can live with that I think the tape had deteriorated trough the years and there some artefacts to the sound that are not present in the 1983 version. Listen near the end of ‘‘My foolish heart’’ how the shimmering cymbals just cut out for a few seconds on the left channel and come back. Also tape noise is more evident in the new remaster my OJC copy has significantly lower noise floor. I know this particular German version has been characterised as too bright and sterile (like a CD?) from many lacking bass but in my system it sounds just lush. Maybe bass notes could use the weight found in the new remaster. In any case I think the Craft reissue is an excellent pressing, a great sounding version doing the 1962 justice. A romanticised one though, a tube lovers version? I just wish I could combine the sound of both versions in one somehow. I think Kevin Gray is widely appreciated but I prefer Bernie Grundman masterings any day. There you go a great record not to be missed especially for the money asked. Enjoy!