Tape Project Albums > Saxophone Colossus

TP-010 Saxophone Colossus, first listening impressions.

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dwilawyer:
 habit I tape my on the inside, this is because I have always wanted to avoid taping anything to a prerecorded tape label.  I'm left handed and I think taping on the inside a more natural motion if you are left handed.   I hold some tension on the tape with my right thumb and apply the tape with my left.   

As already stated, I don't think it is a big deal either way, but by any chance is the tech who tapes the tape, is she left-handed?



Travis

ironbut:
When I was using one of Paul's demo tapes at a Headfi gathering a visitor from Fl remarked "This is the ultimate way to hear ST. Thomas!" I couldn't agree more. The session's sound really puts you there as you can literally feel the interplay between the players. I believe that's one of the things I find lacking in even the best vinyl reissues. All that subtle stuff like small dynamic changes the other players make when someone else solos or the tone and attack that the soloist takes when he trails off to join the rest of the ensemble.
The breath and tone that Rollins gets out of his tenor is something to behold. Anyone whose seen him live will never mistake his style for any of the other greats (BTW He's still amazing to see). I can't help but see him up on stage when I listen to this.
This TP issue really has me listening closer to all the cuts but particularly the ones that I just coasted through before. I'm appreciating the small things from Flanagan, Watkins and Max Roach like I never have before. I can't help but respect their talent even more when hearing this. And isn't that the point here?  Having great releases of world class albums like this wouldn't amount to a hill of beans if it didn't serve the music contained in them.

Well done boys. This one tape is worth the years subscription to me!

astrotoy:
I got Sax Colossus this afternoon and just played it for the first time. I am not a jazz afficionato, and have only heard Rollins in "Way Out West."  This is a real fun album. The dynamics are great in my Avantgardes, which are very good with musical horns - horns playing horns :-). I can see why Rollins is considered one of the best. I enjoyed the Mac the Knife cut (sorry about that) as he switches between dynamic and soft and smooth. I didn't at all mind the mono - the sound field was broad and deep. The only way I could tell the mono was that there wasn't the strong left right of "Waltz for Debby" or "Creek Bank". I think all three albums were produced by the same person.  BTW, in my system, the sax sounds bigger and more dynamic than the piano. Great job on this one.  Larry

docb:
Paul and I were talking the other day about how the old mono albums don't really seem to be narrow channel right in the middle mono, that they seem to have a certain depth and even a sense of breadth to them. The sax sounds more dynamic than the piano in all systems, I suspect. A friend was over who has been in the recording business many years, and upon listening she asked if it had been done with a single mic. I would guess no, because of the way the drum kit sounds. But it does almost sound almost like the piano sound is spill from a mic on the sax or drums. Also possible that they used a piano mic that was somewhat rolled on top, and/or maybe the lid was closed. At any rate I find the recording fascinating because it has that wonderful vintage jazz mellow tone, and at the same time it's really dynamic.

JoeG:
Doc- I have to agree with what you just said above. I am listening to LP versions of it tonight on my Walker TT, and the piano mic (if there is one) seems really rolled off up top. I suspect it is being mic'd on the recording because when the piano solos come around, there is no way that the sax or drum mics are picking up spill only, but it is really rolled off. Looking forward to spinning the tape when it arrives next week.

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