[SACD-R][OF] Ella & Louis – Autumn In New York - 2008 (Jazz, Vocal)

01. Summertime
02. Can't We Be Friends
03. A Foggy Day
04. Love Is Here To Stay
05. Don't Be That Way
06. I Won't Dance
07. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
08. Autumn in New York
09. Stompin' At The Savoy
10. A Fine Romance
11. Let's Call The Whole Thing Off
12. Cheek To Cheek
13. Moonlight in Vermont
14. They Can't Take That Away From Me
15. Under A Blanket of Blue
16. Tenderly

Only the first track is stereo, with orchestral accompaniment. All other 15 tracks sound mono-ish to me, with voices well forward, a rather prominent, fat bass, a rather thin piano, and remote, not too clear/present percussion.
While there is no real competition to this level of performers, the sound is world apart from what 5 or 4.5 stars should stand for, especially when considering it’s mainly not even stereo, not to mention multichannel. (While there are a few very good mono recordings and a few very awful multichannel recordings, I’m one of those who, arguably, believe that the best stereo quite betters the best mono, and the best multichannel betters or equals the best stereo.)

It opens with probably the best version of ‘Summer Time’ I have heard. Superb orchestration with Louis trumpet sets the scene and then Ella’s stunning vocals just blow you away. PLAY IT LOUD!. The sound is just fantastic.
There is a bit more than usual information about the technicals – The source 32bit/ 192Khz, the mastering equipment, even the cable and preamp. So TopMusic are obviously very proud of what and how they have acheived.
There are in total 16 tracks, seven of which also appear on the superb Verve mono JSACD Ella & Louis. So how do they compare? Verve wins. The voices are just that bit clearer as is the instrumentation hence the 4.5 stars.
But apart from that would I have bought it had I known? Yes. It is still a superb album. A must for Ella and Louis fans.
Now if only Verve Japan or TopMusic would obtain Ella’s Song Book series and SACD them PLEASE, PRETTY PLEASE, WITH STRAWBERRIES ON TOP. You would have a massive hit on your hands.