Easy listening music has a calming effect on the soul, regardless of the era. Let’s revisit these timeless, easy-listening gems that bring peace to our lives, now available on high-quality sound discs.
#295 Exquisite Easy-listening Album by Top Trumpeter
Chris Botti Vol.1
(Bluenote ⇒ Universal Music UCCQ-1192)
The beauty of Chris Botti’s trumpet performance is captivating as he straightforwardly played the melody of the Irish folk song ＜Danny Boy.＞ Popular trumpeter Botti, who has collaborated with many pop artists, beautifully performs familiar standard numbers in this 2023 ballad album.
He has a lively and vibrant tone. His dependable expressiveness remains consistent even when he plays muted versions of ＜Bewitched,＞ ＜Two For The Road,＞ and ＜Someday My Prince Will Come.＞ As Botti says, “I played only the numbers I like.” his performance brings out the authentic flavor of the pieces while also revealing his unique and thoughtful touch throughout. Taylor Eigsti (p) and Vinnie Colaiuta (ds) are among the top players who contribute to creating a well-balanced sound. In ＜My Funny Valentine,＞ Joshua Bell, a leading violinist in the classical music world, participates in an outstanding collaboration. The sound is flawless, thanks to production by David Foster. With the SHM-CD format’s high sound quality, I recommend this album as a superb choice for easy listening, featuring a jazzy yet sophisticated feel.
#296 Enjoy the World of Paul Mauriat on SACD
The Golden Love Sounds / Paul Mauriat 100th Anniversary
(PONY CANYON PCCY-60014)
Paul Mauriat established an era in music known as easy listening. If Paul Mauriat, born in Marseille, France, and who took the world by storm, were alive today, he would be celebrating his 100th birthday this year, marking a significant milestone. To commemorate the 100th anniversary, Paul Mauriat’s masterpieces and hit numbers have been released on SACD hybrid disc with an emphasis on sound quality. The disc features 20 tracks, including their trademark 1968 hit ＜Love is Blue,＞ as well as ＜Toccata,＞ ＜Penelope,＞ and ＜El Bimbo.＞ Since the album was re-recorded in the 1990s, it features some new numbers from that time, all of which have become familiar to our ears over the years. However, I’ve never given much thought to sound quality, and I believe this is the first time it has been released on SACD. On this SACD, the low frequencies extend beautifully, while the midrange also reaches the ears with a rich sense of volume. Their trademark strings become thicker and more expansive, and in some pieces the brass sounds vividly.
All of these sound sources are stored as digital masters; however, to bring out their rich harmonic components, they were transferred to analog tapes this time using a Telefunken half-inch deck. This analog master was then remastered to create a digital master. The album underwent such a complex remastering process before completion. We can once again appreciate the distinctive orchestration of Paul Mauriat.
#297 Jobim’s Masterpiece that Beautifully Blends Melancholy of Bossa Nova
Wave / Antonio Carlos Jobim
(A&M ⇒ Universal Music UCCU-46067)
In the title track ＜Wave,＞ Jobim’s piano plays a lovely melody, accompanied by a gentle introduction of guitar and wind instruments. This album, recorded in 1967 by Antonio Carlos Jobim, is a beautiful and easy-listening collection that fuses the melancholy typical of bossa nova with sophisticated sounds.
Jobim had drawn attention with hits such as “The Girl from Ipanema,” “Desafinado,” and “One Note Samba,” and had become a darling of the era; however, in this album, he showcased his talents as a pianist and guitarist. His touch is so casual that it delicately reaches the listener’s heart like a soft breeze. The strings arranged by Claus Ogerman beautifully enhance Jobim’s performances. Creed Taylor was responsible for the production. This album, featuring a captivating cover photo by Pete Turner, effectively showcases the allure of bossa nova to audiences worldwide. We can once again relish the meticulously crafted sound, with attention to every detail, on the newly released UHQCD edition.
About the Author
Masamichi Okazaki
Surrounded by various kinds of music from his childhood, Masamichi Okazaki joined Waseda University Modern Jazz Club. He started contributing articles to music magazines when he was a student. He covers wide range of music not only trad, modern and contemporary jazz, but also from pops to classics. He writes liner notes for CDs and LPs, and is a regular contributor to “JAZZ JAPAN,” “STEREO,” and others. He joined a big band, “Shiny Stockings,” as a saxophone player. He is a director of The Music Pen Club Japan (MPCJ).
