The Monty Alexander Trio – Full Steam Ahead (2LP, Half speed Mastering, Number 1009)
Rarity sealed
Piano – Monty Alexander
Bass – Ray Brown
Drums – Frank Gant
Written by Miles Davis (A1), Antonio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius DeMoraes (A2), Gil Fuller, Ray Brown (A3), Nikolaus Brodszky, Sammy Cahn (B4), Keith Richards-Mick Jagger (B5), Richard Rogers-Oscar Hammerstein II (B6), Bruno Brighetti, Bruno Martino (B7), Randy Weston (C8), John Klemmer, Sam Lewis (C9), Irving Mills, Nat King Cole (C10), Robert Higginbotham (D 11), Monty Alexander (D12)
1 LP, standard sleeve
Limited numbered edition (Number 1009)
Original analog Master tape : YES
Half-speed Mastering
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : black
Speed : 33RPM
Size : 12”
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : Record Technology Inc.
Label : Pure Audiophile Records
Original label : Concord Records
Recorded on 1985 in San Francisco, CA
Engineered by Phil Edwards
Original session produced by Carl E. Jefferson
Reissue produced by Dennis Cassidy
Half Speed Mastered by Stan Ricker
Originally released in 1985
Reissued in 2006
Tracks :
Side A:
1. Freddie Freeloader
2. Once I Loved
3. Ray's Idea
Side B:
1. Because You're Mine
2. I Can't Get No Satisfaction
3. Happy Talk
4. Estate
Side C:
1. Hi-Fly
2. Just Friends
3. Straighten Up and Fly Right
Side D:
1. High Heeled Sneakers
2. Renewal
Reviews :
“For his seventh Concord recording, all of which are easily recommended, pianist Monty Alexander teams up with bassist Ray Brown and drummer Frank Gant for four bop standards, a pair of bossa-nova tunes, and such unusual jazz vehicles as "Because You're Mine" (taken from a Mario Lanza movie), "Happy Talk," and "I Can't Get No Satisfaction." No matter what its source, the music is all turned into an entertaining and joyous brand of rhythmically exciting straight-ahead jazz, showing off Monty Alexander in good form." Allmusic Review by Scott Yanow
Half-speed mastering
In half-speed mastering, the whole mastering process is slowed down to half of the original speed. A typical 33 1/3 rpm record is cut at 16 2/3 rpm. The source material is also slowed down (reducing the pitch in the process) meaning the final record will still sound normal when played back. Slowing the whole process down allows more time, which means the end result sounds better and is more efficient — allowing engineering to minimize the effects of inherent limitations within the vinyl format. The result is a more accurate and more open high-frequency response in the half speed vinyl when compared with a normal speed recording.
Ratings:
AllMusic : 2.5 / 5 ; Discogs : 4.63 / 5