RIP Phil Lesh, Grateful Dead bassist and vocalist and one of the greatest musical titans who ever walked the Earth. Grateful Dead fans and millions of us offer boundless tribute to a true legend.
We mourn the loss of audio industry veteran Richard Colburn, most recently of Tone Imports. Richard was one of the most well-loved and respected people in the high-end world, a friend to so many of us, and the news of his loss sent shock waves through the industry. We will miss him greatly.
Folk Alliance International has announced its 2025 showcase lineup, to take place in Montreal, Canada, February 19 – 23, 2025. (Wayne Robins covered the 2024 conference here and here.) More than 175 artists will participate, including Ron Sexsmith, Mimi O’Bonsawin, Tania Elizabeth, Mama’s Broke, Kaïa Kater, Jorane, Basiat Bulat, Wesli, Connie Kaldor, and more. The Annual Folk Alliance International Conference is the largest gathering of folk musicians and music industry professionals in the world. For more information, click here.
The Listening Chair With Howard Kneller has launched its website, thelisteningchair.net. Howard is a Copper contributor, as well as a veteran audio reviewer and writer. The website features show reports, video and print reviews, coverage of dealers and manufacturers, and other news and features.
In this issue: We have the first of a three-part interview with Jamie Howarth of Plangent Processes, which corrects for the minute speed variations in master tapes to provide sonic improvements. Wayne Robins reviews Gillian Welch and David Rawlings’ Woodland album. Octave Records’ latest is Pennies From Heaven, a set of jazz classics and standards from singer/saxophonist Jeremy Mohney. I cover the recent Audio Engineering Society (AES) convention. To commemorate its 75th anniversary, McIntosh has released the LP McIntosh SESSIONS Volume 1: The Peter Erskine Quartet. Larry Jaffee talks about Lou Reed and Joey Ramone as rockers growing up Jewish.
B. Jan Montana discovers dandelion therapy. Ray Chelstowski talks with Thurston Moore, Sonic Youth co-founder, about his new album, Flow Critical Lucidity. The Vinyl Beat covers reissues from the Doobie Brothers, Miles Davis, Klark Kent, Ray Baretto, and more. I continue my series on playing in a rock band by asking: what do you want to play? Paul McGowan reminisces about 50 years of PS Audio and a new beginning in the 1970s. Tom Lane offers songs of love. From The Listening Chair focuses on cables. PS Audio earns positive reviews for the Stellar Strata MK2 and Aspen FR5 loudspeakers, and garners Editors’ Choice picks from The Absolute Sound. Ken Kessler encounters reel-to-reel high crimes and misdemeanors. The issue wraps up with a blanket statement, a RadioShack extravaganza, and a cactus cornucopia.
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Contributors to This Issue:
Ray Chelstowski, Frank Doris, Harris Fogel, Larry Jaffee, Ken Kessler, Howard Kneller, Tom Lane, Paul McGowan, B. Jan Montana, Rudy Radelic, Wayne Robins, James Schrimpf, John Seetoo, Peter Xeni
Logo Design:
Susan Schwartz-Christian, from a concept by Bob D’Amico
Editor:
Frank Doris
Publisher:
Paul McGowan
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