Ballads Verve Acoustic Sounds Series

I never saw jazz great John Coltrane perform live. But listening to the newly released audiophile pressing of his classic album Ballads, I found myself in the Village Vanguard’s smoky cavern, sitting at a table a few feet from the bell of Trane’s mighty saxophone. The intimate room is hushed, the annoying clinking of glasses and casual conversations you usually hear in clubs silenced. Just Trane and his quartet, and appreciative applause after each member’s solo. No announcing the next tune. The music speaks for itself.Trane gives the impression of being a large man, but he’s maybe an inch or two taller than I am. He’s wearing a dark suit and a white dress shirt opened at the collar. Rooted front and center on the postage-stamp-sized stage, his eyes are closed, occasionally fluttering open when moved by the exquisite sounds coming from his horn. Behind him, McCoy Tyner, hunched over the upright piano’s well-worn ivory keys, offers up fat 9th and 11th chords to help Trane navigate through his musical journey. Elvin Jones keeps a steady beat, lightly brushing the cymbals arrayed in front of him.John Coltrane touches all of my emotions—You Don’t Know What Love Is, All Or Nothing At All. I’d hear him speaking even if I were deaf.The thrall is momentarily broken when I get up from my comfortable recliner to flip the record over. Still, the second side’s first track, I Wish I Knew, quickly takes me back to the world-famous jazz club on 7th Avenue South in the Village.Then, all too soon, a short 35 minutes, it’s over.No, I never had the opportunity to hear John Coltrane play live, so this new vinyl reissue will have to do, and that’s not all bad.

This is not a review of the music as we know that all these records are 5 stars classic. Every LP in this series are examples why vinyls is the preferred medium for music. The vinyls are super quiet, clean and the transfer amazing. I bought the entire series released so far and will continue to buy everything that Verve will put out in this series as long as I like the music and as long as they continue to maintain this level of quality.

Very good sound stage , clean n clear remastered excellent job from Ryan Smith n pressing plant

Beautiful just beautiful. Rich and luscious sound, creamy with the right amount of sweetness. More please!

Sounds great (as expected from Ryan Smith) and any Acoustic Sounds release. Much clearer, louder and dynamic than the capitol 90's reissue and the more modern reissue from the 2000's. Hard and shiny cover. Quality of the cover is on par with the impulse 45 rpm releases by AP. Mine copy came totally flat with quiet.Amazing release by Acoustic Sounds. I hope they continue reissuing Coltrane's catalogue from impulse.

Pros: Great packaging! Love the adherence to the original design and aesthetics. Beautiful looking vinyl.Cons: Poor sound reproduction (Side B) - despite having given the album multiple dustings / cleanings / anti-static, the B side suffers from an annoying series of hisses and pops (especially noticeable during Coltrane's pieces). I have bought two copies of this - and both times got the same outcome. Disappointed

The media could not be loaded.  Beautiful Jazz album! Must have, your ears will thank you

Sounds great, looks great. I don't have an original to compare it to but I have original impulse and blue note records and it's a nice full sound just like those.

This is now a treasured part of my collection

Ok, convencional? Mas , de qualquer modo, Coltrane. No mínimo isto significa jamais se aborrecer em ouvi-lo tocar, ainda mais em gravação analógica, sem maquiagem, e prensagem perfeita.

El sonido, el gatefold, todo en esta edición es de calidad superior. De la música cualquier cosa que opine por mejor que sea me veré corto. Es buenísimo.

Without getting arty farty about sound, this release simply sounds superb.Tested on a simple system Project Debut carbon, Denon amp & old Cyrus 780 speakers.It’s all analogue and yes you can...hear a superb soundstage.Get it now, it’s one of those titles that A) Great recordings B) Will hold its value or increase in the future.

¡Valió la pena la espera?Magnífico producto, a un gran precio.La descripción no lo mencionaba, pero es un Analog Sounds Series.Suena espectacular, con mucha profundidad y muy quieto.Las melodías no necesitan presentación.Áltamente recomendable.