Trumpeter Matthew Halsall's jazz EP includes three selections. The self-titled album's 'Bright Sparkling Light' is followed up with 'Newborough Forest' and 'The Tide And The Moon'.
As a former coronet player myself I'm always looking forward to finding new horn musicians. I'm so glad I found Matthew's music. Now streaming on Deezer music service into my music listening room!
Check it out and thanks for reading.
My wife and I have taken a liking of the YouTube channel by Cecilia Blomdahl. It chronicles their lives and exploration living in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, the world's northernmost town. https://www.youtube.com/@CeciliaBlomdahl
Cecilia has also authored a book about her life there along with Christoffer and Grimm. Polar nights when the sun never sets seems to be an exciting experience to me. Not sure that I'd last very long during twenty four hours a day of dark night and cold temperatures but it surely seems like something I'd like to try. https://www.amazon.com/Life-Svalbard-Finding-Remote-Island/dp/0744095093/ref=sr_1_2?crid=21S898DR8R4ZZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.vhCzhvuUzB6auwPH-rDSDYRvfQU8ePMwnvoHSULB4OtpuQeXBrGFcyXbOABpjl2SbFUi0tQn81Fe8G75weJFBpRWeRaTFhRfS3u6g6C4d-XHUklYu59PDxXmzeQ9ELYK.UFa9uTN3reKACx9GZ-59Y7iUYlUo9mK288dt9UXe_tA&dib_tag=se&keywords=cecilia+blomdahl&qid=1781383507&sprefix=cecilia%2Caps%2C341&sr=8-2
While reading about their 'cool' adventures I'm listening to the Pride and Prejudice soundtrack from the 2005 movie, conducted by Dario Marianelli. There is no connection between the movie and the book other than the fact that I chose the music on a whim. That's how I roll sometimes. https://www.amazon.com/Pride-Prejudice-Dario-Marianelli/dp/B000BEZQ0Y/ref=sr_1_1?crid=73WETF0TE91&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.W9cayJnRzFxY4ViS79waDUOMpKc-Nv1qVccx__LVbPqY2D0OECJEs-RxlUBvr9JRywIITHhqigbD2p0vg5cYqc9d8Ui7NevsJG0vQHDT8LrPCk7AFRzsmAOmmU0aGAR6yE309u6yVY52CqhB2PVbO3gWKyK3cXO7l6fXYa0qTvy9IyM9JRFpgyqqOV7vBQyjae-OOXgAe7uCJEpxVXdKcSBVDu7-oaQlEblsTAAbDo0.D9b7lXXLJ1MmBg528WCxcAG1M1R2rtHNYzthgPwrxrU&dib_tag=se&keywords=pride+and+prejudice+cd&qid=1781383610&sprefix=pride+and+prejudice+c%2Caps%2C268&sr=8-1
So, streaming Pride & Prejudice via Deezer https://www.deezer.com/us/ and an original model Sonos Play: 1 in the kitchen. I think the Play: 1 is one of Sonos' better products and it sounds great as a mono, powered loudspeakers. It can also be paired with a second Play: 1 in order to have a stereo left and right pair.
As always, thanks for reading!
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I've been enjoying the live recording of "Salute To The Sun (Live at Halle St. Peter's Mcn)" from jazz trumpeter and record company owner, Matthew Halsall. A laid back and mellow jazz album free from the bebop and free jazz style. Perfect for anytime but I find it a beautiful sounding late night or early morning listen.
His music is available through streaming channels but as with most musical artists, the desired way to support his music is buy purchasing his physical offerings on CD and vinyl. He also has is albums on Bandcamp for download and limited edition releases at https://matthewhalsall.bandcamp.com/
Matthew's music is released on his own label, Gowanda Records. https://gondwanarecords.com/
Learn more about Matthew, his muse and music here https://www.matthewhalsall.com/
Enjoy and thank you for reading.
The first time that I heard Boris Blank’s “Resonance” album streaming I thought of how the sonic quality, as well as the music itself, was so impressive. I knew then that I needed a physical copy of this ambient gem. 🎵The CD 💿 showed up shortly thereafter. The silver disc sounded so much better than it’s streaming counterpart. It has become one of my favorites during my audio gear reviews. Later, Resonance became available on vinyl. I bought that too. 🙂
So, I thought I’d share some of my favorite, well recorded albums on CD. Thanks for reading.Great sounding CDs. The music is good too...
Acoustic Alchemy - arcanum
Acoustic Alchemy - AART
Ackerman, Oster, Eaton - Brothers
Barry Gibb - In The Now
Boris Blank and Malia - Convergence
Boris Blank - Electrified
Boris Blank - Resonance
Craven Faults - Erratics & Unconformities
David Crosby - For Free
David Crosby - If I Could Only Remember My Name
David Gilmour - On An Island
Flim & the BBs - Tunnel
Henry Mancini - Pure Gold (Steve Hoffman approved)
Jeff Lorber Fusion - Space-Time
Larry Carlton - Alone/But Never Alone
Larry Carlton - On Solid Ground
Larry Carlton - Deep Into It
Lyle Lovett - Joshua Judges Ruth
Lyle Mays - Eberhard
Ottmar Lieber + Luna Negra - Euphoria
Pat Metheny - Side Eye NYC
Robert Rich, Steve Roach - Strada
Stan Getz - Getz/Gilberto
Stereophile Magazine's - Tight Lines
Yello - Toy
Yello - Touch
Yello - Point
I received an email from my local independent record store. They are running a free shipping sale on all of their past and present RSD releases. So of course I had to go shopping. From Harold Budd, an ambient selection, and from master conductor Ennico Morricone will be a soundtrack recording. Both from Record Store Day 2021 is Budd's 'I Know This Much Is True' and Morricone's 'The Blue Eyed Bandit'.
Once received and listened in their entirety I'll post reviews here.
Fun stuff. Thanks for reading!
The Apt/Holman Apticon
June 6–7, 2026 Sign up at https://www.apticon.org/
The inaugural event featuring the technology of Apt Corporation, Cambridge, MA 1977 – 1982.
This includes the Apt/Holman Preamplifier and the Apt 1 Power Amplifier.
Among those interested will be restoration technicians, analogue audio design engineers, and people involved in the history and development of analogue audio circuits. A certain amount of knowledge is pre-supposed like the fundamentals of transistor circuit design. (See 1 , 2 below)
Apt’s improvements will be covered in this seminar, such as techniques Apt used for lowering distortion, noise, and RFI susceptibility.
The most famous part of this design is the Holman Phono Preamp introduced first at Advent Corporation and improved upon in the Apt/Holman Preamp, that takes its name principally from the phono stage. Both the Apt preamp and power amp include many design features that were advanced for their time representing Tom’s experience with a wide range of products he’d owned, such that both the preamp and power amp were designed to overcome their limitations.
There will be talks on the preamp, power amp, and ancillary products, panels of technicians on restoring and even improving on the original design, sources for components, and a clinic for products brought to the seminar. While these segments are planned they are not guaranteed.
The venue is in Burbank, CA, center of the post-production world in film sound and with many audio companies, and a short distance within southern California for others. Burbank airport is close, and the host hotel is offering a discount.
Join us for this unique opportunity to discuss some of vintage audio’s most respected products with their principal designer. These insights into sound audio practice are alive and well 45 years after their introduction, and with some TLC the Apts can meet or surpass the original extensive specifications.
Attendees with receive urls for the talks, complete service manuals, etc., after the event.
Sign up soon as this event is expected to sell out.
1 https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/amplifier/amp_2.html
2 https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/amplifier/common-collector-amplifier.html
*There is also a link on the Steve Hoffman Audio forum regarding this event at https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/apticon-featuring-abt-corporation-77-82-technology-summit.1244262/
The Lord has Risen!
Even though I was a Bob Weir fan, I've never been able to get into the Grateful Dead. But, I have a new way to check them out (thank you to Rhino Records) by listening to some live Dead. I received an email announcement from Rhino this morning along with A Beginner's Guide To Grateful Dead Live so, let's give it a shot! https://www.dead.net/beginners-guide?eml=2026March27/7059569/6134371&etsubid=338815507
Now playing, New Order’s 2021 ‘Be A Rebel’ single with 13 BAR versions.
I’m thinking my favorite version is #4’s bernard’s renegade instrumental mix.
But wait, #5 starts out with a bang with Bernard joining in on vocals but alas I sense some musical compression going on. Will need further listening…
Which remix is your choice for ‘best’ to you and your ears?
