Finnish percussionist Edward Vesala’s debut on ECM Records may also be his most fiery outing for the label. On the album, Vesala assembles a particularly lively big band of Finns, who interpret his music with blazing colours. In 1976, when the album was released, Melody Maker suggested that “John Coltrane might have made music like this had he been born a European. ‘Nad Madol’ is an orgy of sound, no other description can suffice and ‘Areous Vlor Ta’ remains one of the most extraordinary and moving big band scorings.... Put it next to ‘Ascension’ in your collection.”

ECM Records continues its series of Hi-Res reissues from its early analog era. This summer’s batch of digitalized Hi-Res releases includes seminal albums by Jan Garbarek, Chick Corea, Dave Holland, Thomasz Stanko, Jack DeJohnette, Eberhard Weber, Paul Motian, Ralph Towner, Egberto Gismonti and many more. As with all Hi-Res releases from ECM’s vast catalogue to date, the underlying premise in digitizing the analogue tapes is not to change the sound of the recordings, but to realize them in their original form, in the most detailed and best possible quality.

Technical Specs:

In the capable hands of mastering engineer Christoph Stickel, the process begins with the original, analogue stereo master tapes. The masters are in excellent condition and can be played without problems. All tapes are played by a Studer A820, which is meticulously calibrated to the respective tape. The analog signal is then digitized in 96kHz/24-bit, which covers the complete spectrum of the original tapes. In each case, a decision is made between a PrismSound ADA-8XR, an Antelope Eclipse Mastering AD, and a Mytek Brooklyn ADC, depending on which one is suited best for the respective recording. No de-noising and no other restoration affecting the sound is applied.”

Artists

Edward Vesala (drums, harp, percussion), Kaj Backlund (trumpet), Juhani Aaltonen (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute), Sakari Kukko (flute), Juhani Poutanen (violin, bells), Teppo Hauta-aho (double bass), Elisabeth Leistola (harp), Seppo "Paroni" Paakkunainen (soprano saxophone), Charlie Mariano (alto saxophone, flute), Mircea Stan (trombone), Pentti Lahti (bass clarinet)