Art Pepper – Art Pepper Meets The Rhythm Section

Going by the reviews here, this pressing either sounds like it was cut from a worn out cassette tape or is the ultimate definitive version of this album. Everyone listening to the same record here? If this actually sounds to you like it was cut from a dodgy cassette copy, what holy grail unicorn copy are you comparing this to? Or, did the players come from the great beyond to play for you live in your living room? Hard to believe this doesn't sound nothing short of spectacular to everyone. If I'm settling here, then I'm more than happy to do so.

Different review here (the skeptical Audiophile) : Just in time for Record Store Day — what could be better?

In the interest of streamlining the process of getting reviews like this one up on the blog, we’ll try to stick mostly to the facts and let the description of the strengths and weaknesses of the pressings being reviewed speak for themselves.

One quick note: the sonic qualities you see described below are the ones we heard with the mono switch on our EAR 324P phono stage activated.

Without the switch set to mono, the sound is even thicker and darker.

Yes, as bad as this pressing sounds, you can make it worse if you don’t switch your preamp or phono stage to mono. Hard to believe but it’s true!
Track Two, Red Pepper Blues

Boomy low end
Sax is stuck [in the speaker]
And lacking in breath and space

Track One, You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To

Very flat piano and hard snare
Compressed, almost pumping
Thick and opaque

Our grade: No Good

Side Two

Track One, Jazz Me Blues

Compressed and boomy
Not as dark as side one
But still very flat and boring

Our grade: Again, No Good
We never play the mono pressings of the Contemporary titles that were recorded in stereo, so we really have no idea what they sound like.

Maybe they sound as bad as this new version!

Little bit dished, but I didn’t get any of the “tape” quality sound. Clear and powerful sound.

Wow, my original mono pressing thoroughly trashes this re-issue. Did they master it off an old cassette tape? I have a feeling that Bernie Grundman is no longer actually doing the mastering at BG Mastering anymore.

Warped but sounds beautiful to these ears. I prefer this one over the latest stereo version (both from Mr Bernie Grundman). When listening with small speakers (LS3/5), the stereo version has a big hole in the center (maybe this effect could be mitigated a bit when using big floorstanding speakers?) so the mono is a gamechanger with my setup. Still I am happy to have both as the stereo version sounds very good and (arguably) even a bit better in higher s.

Heavely dish warped copy, I waited until today to open it though I had purchased it during the RSD last year. Was waiting for a good occasion to listen to it as the reviews were good! Big let down from QRP again, by now they should have changed their bloody name (Chad is such a good marketer but they're not on par with RTI and never will be)

No one else is bothered by the tape issues it seems.

Agree with all praising. Even exceeds my highest expectations. Goes immediately on my „desert Jazz island“ list. Yes, it is a larger island:-) Wishing RSD to refrain from those many useless releases and offer more of these substantial and well made ones.

At least it's the one with a halfway decent-looking jacket! (Also amazing pressing)

My copy is warped, but the sound is beautiful. This album really is just as good as the reviews indicate.