If you’ve been following this blog, you’ll know that Italian label Hemiolia Records has an exciting stock of master tapes from which they’re releasing various excellent quality titles over time. (Otherwise, if you’re new here and this is news to you, you can read my back-stories at https://thereeltoreelrambler.com/category/hemiolia-records.)
Last year Hemiolia presented several new releases at the Munich High End Show (which takes place every May) and I understand they’ll do the same this year.
Hot off the press is…
Soul Station by Hank Mobley
American jazz saxophonist Hank Mobley is joined here by Wynton Kelly on piano, Paul Chambers on bass and Art Blakey on drums. The album features two jazz standards, ‘Remember’ by Irving Berlin and ‘If I Should Lose You’ by Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin, along with four new Mobley compositions including the bluesy title track.
The album was recorded in February 1960 by recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder at his Van Gelder Studio in New Jersey, USA and released on Blue Note Records later the same year.
The first 20 numbered editions of the copy master tape, newly remastered by Hemiolia’s Pietro Benini, are available for pre-order now and will start shipping from 25th May.
(Note: If you haven’t read by earlier reviews of Hemiolia’s tapes and if the word ‘remastering’ makes you judder, fear not – check out this earlier review where I reassure myself on that very subject by unpacking Hemiola’s process).
There have been also been two further recent releases, a gift for jazz fans (of which I’m one – my copies are on order and I’ll be reviewing them here in due course).
Moanin’ by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers
This is Hemiolia’s second Blakey album on tape, following 2024’s release of A Night in Tunisia. This studio album – which is named after the opening track – was originally recorded in 1958 (also by engineer Rudy Van Gelder at his studio) and was released by Blue Note Records that same year.
It’s a modern jazz classic that stands out as a key ‘hard bop’ album of the 1950s, thanks to a combination of Blakey’s intense drumming and the juxtaposition of old-fashioned gospel and blues influences with a stylish modern jazz feel. Many consider it to be Blakey’s best work, and also his best band. The line-up features, in addition to Art Blakey on drums: Lee Morgan on trumpet, Benny Golson on tenor saxophone, Bobby Timmons on piano and Jymie Merritt on bass.
Relaxin’ with the Miles Davis Quintet
Again, this album was recorded by Rudy Van Gelder at his Van Gelder Studio in New Jersey, USA, in October 1956. The session was produced by Bob Weinstock and the album released by Prestige Records in 1958.
In fact there were two recording sessions, in May and October 1956, which collectively produced four albums – the other three being Steamin’ with the Miles Davis Quintet, Workin’ with the Miles Davis Quintet and Cookin’ with the Miles Davis Quintet.
Together, the four albums are considered to be among the best performances in the hard bop genre. Small wonder when you look at the personnel: Miles Davis on trumpet, John Coltrane on tenor saxophone, Red Garland on piano, Paul Chambers on bass and Philly Joe Jones on drums.
The album was remastered by Rudy Van Gelder in 2005, again for Prestige Records, and the remaster included dialogue snippets taken from the original master reel – which I’m really hoping will be included in Hemiolia’s copy master tape!
Dave Denyer: The Reel-to-Reel Rambler 