Verve Label Group and UMe have announced a new collaboration with the audiophile reissue label Acoustic Sounds that finds the team offering up what's said to be "definitive audiophile grade versions of some of the most historic and best jazz records ever recorded." It's set to launch this Friday, July 31, on August 28 with two classic duets albums: Stan Getz and João Gilberto's landmark Getz/Gilberto (featuring Astrud Gilberto) and the singular Louis Armstrong Meets Oscar Peterson.
Quality control is the name of the game for these issues as the Acoustic Sounds series will feature music remastered by top engineers in an all-analog chain, 180-gram vinyl pressed at Quality Record Pressings, and deluxe tip-on gatefold packaging done at Stoughton Printing Company.
The series will continue on through to November with two releases a month from the Verve Label Group roster: August sees reissues of John Coltrane's genre-defining Impulse! albums A Love Supreme and Ballads. Nina Simone's Philips titles I Put A Spell On You and Pastel Blues follow in September, and then two titles from the EmArcy Records catalog arrive in October: Sarah Vaughan's self-titled 1954 album and the Max Roach and Clifford Brown collaboration, Study In Brown. November will see reissues of two Decca classics: Peggy Lee's Black Coffee (part of the Lee centennial celebration) and George Russell's New York, N.Y., the 1959 recording featuring Bill Evans, John Coltrane, Art Farmer and Milt Hinton, and more. Further titles will be announced to follow the November offerings.
"We're very honored to have Verve and UMe partnering with us to create what we believe will be the highest quality reissues of some of the world's greatest jazz albums," Acoustic Sounds CEO Chad Kassem said in a statement. "Each step in our production process - from title selection to mastering, pressing and packaging - is designed to meet the highest standards, and we want everyone who hears these albums to feel the love and hard work we put into everything we do."
So, if somehow you don't already own copies of these jazz staples from the Verve Label Group, or you're looking to experience your favorites in a new way, their new series promises to deliver. The first pairing -Getz/Gilberto and Louis Armstrong Meets Oscar Peterson - are available to pre-order now. Scroll down for links and to see a complete listing of titles to come throughout the year.
Acoustic Sounds Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series:
August 28 / Verve Records
- Stan Getz and João Gilberto - Getz/Gilberto (1964) [pre-order links below!]
- Louis Armstrong and Oscar Peterson - Louis Armstrong Meets Oscar Peterson (1959) [pre-order links below!]
October 9 / Impulse! Records
- John Coltrane - Ballads (1963)
- John Coltrane - A Love Supreme (1964)
September 25 (*) / Philips Records
- Nina Simone - I Put A Spell On You (1965)
- Nina Simone - Pastel Blues (1965)
October 30 (*) / EmArcy Records
- Sarah Vaughan - Sarah Vaughan (with Clifford Brown) (1954)
- Clifford Brown and Max Roach - Study In Brown (1955)
November 27 (*) / Decca Records
- Peggy Lee - Black Coffee (1956)
- George Russell - New York, N.Y. (1959)
(*) date may be postponed
Stan Getz and João Gilberto, Getz/Gilberto (originally Verve LP V6-8545 -- reissued Verve/Acoustic Sounds, 2020) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Your Local Record Shop)
Side 1:
- The Girl From Ipanema
- Doralice
- Para Machuchar Meu Coração
- Desafinado
Side 2:
- Corcovado
- Só Danço Samba
- O Grande Amor
- Vivo Sonhando
Louis Armstrong and Oscar Peterson, Louis Armstrong Meets Oscar Peterson (originally Verve LP MG V-8322, 1959) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Your Local Record Shop)
Side 1:
- That Old Feeling
- Let's Fall in Love
- I'll Never Be the Same
- Blues in the Night (My Mama Done Tol' Me)
- How Long Has This Been Going On?
- I Was Doing All Right
Side 2:
- What's New?
- Moon Song
- Just One of Those Things
- There's No You
- You Go To My Head
- Sweet Lorraine
Bill says
I guess this is good news, but for me, I have to say that the sound quality of the various versions of these releases currently available sound great already!
ISH says
Still not going back to buying vinyl.
Bruce Padgett says
Sam, are you certain about the July 31st release date for the first two? Amazon’s product pages state August 28th. Thanks.
Joe Marchese says
Hi Bruce, thanks. We'll double-check and amend accordingly. Unfortunately, release dates have been fluctuating wildly during the pandemic so this pair of titles is likely the latest postponement.
Ben Ward says
I'm not surprised at the premium prices, although I do wonder who their intended market is (not the causual buyer.) I have perfectly respectable copies of several of these recods already.