Table of Contents – Issue 190
Astrud Gilberto – the voice of an angel, the Girl From Ipanema. Sadly, she left us at 83, but the timeless gift of her music lives on.
For sheer musical and sonic bliss, listen to Getz Au Go Go.
In this issue: I cover Octave Records’ latest, Ancient Rhythms by guitarist Bill Kopper, who blends Brazilian, African, jazz and other musical influences into a compelling new sound. J.I. Agnew asks: original vinyl pressings vs. re-pressings – how do you choose? Adrian Wu pays a visit to legendary audio designer and writer Jean Hiraga, then heads to the Munich HIGH END 2023 show. Russ Welton concludes his interview with Dr. Sean Olive, acoustic researcher at Harman International. Ted Shafran reconsiders the work of conductor James Levine. Jay Jay French boogies with Canned Heat. Ken Kessler continues his investigation into the cassette…revival?
Don Lindich tells us what he saw at AXPONA 2023, and B. Jan Montana has a report from the 2023 NAMM show, where musical instruments and gear of all types are on exhibit. Tom Methans checks out the new documentary, Personality Crisis: The Story of David Johansen. Andrew Daly talks with jazz/funk bassist Mitchell Coleman Jr. Anne E. Johnson tells us about jazz vocalese virtuoso Kurt Elling, and Maurice Ravel’s piano and chamber works. Howard Knelling sits in The Listening Chair to audition the Technics EAH-A800 headphones. We run an interesting article from FIDELITY magazine about an unexpected evaluation of loudspeaker tonality and imaging. We end the issue on an astral plane, by a test bench, and with a view of walking in Bisbee.
Staff Writers:
J.I. Agnew, Ray Chelstowski, Andrew Daly, Harris Fogel, Jay Jay French, Tom Gibbs, Roy Hall, Rich Isaacs, Anne E. Johnson, Don Kaplan, Ken Kessler, Don Lindich, Stuart Marvin, Tom Methans, B. Jan Montana, Rudy Radelic, Tim Riley, Wayne Robins, Alón Sagee, Ken Sander, John Seetoo, Dan Schwartz, Russ Welton, Adrian Wu
Contributing Editors:
Ivan Berger, Steven Bryan Bieler, Steve Kindig, Ed Kwok, Ted Shafran, David Snyder, Bob Wood
Cover:
“Cartoon Bob” D’Amico
Cartoons:
James Whitworth, Peter Xeni
Parting Shots:
James Schrimpf, B. Jan Montana, Rich Isaacs (and others)
Audio Anthropology Photos:
Howard Kneller, Steve Rowell
Editor:
Frank Doris
Publisher:
Paul McGowan
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– FD