Jason Moran Ten (Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series) 180g 2LP

Michael Fremer Rated 10/10 Music, 8/10 Sound!

In 1999, the same year that Jason Moran released his debut recording, Soundtrack to Human Motion, the pianist and composer also joined New Directions, a band made up of young stars from the Blue Note roster. At the core of New Directions was the genesis of a rhythm section—with Moran, bassist Tarus Mateen, and drummer Nasheet Waits—that would go on to become one of the most enduringly creative and acclaimed piano trios in jazz. The Bandwagon made their first recording as a trio with Facing Left in 2000 and has been the foundation of the majority of Moran's artistic statements since. On his 2010 album Ten, Moran celebrated the 10th anniversary of The Bandwagon with an assured album that was a snapshot of a mature band with a decade of shared musical experience from which to draw. In addition to provocative originals, the album presented singular interpretations of pieces by Thelonious Monk, Jaki Byard, Leonard Bernstein, and Conlon Nancarrow. This first-time vinyl release includes the bonus track "Thelonious," previously only available in Japan.

This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition was mastered by Kevin Gray and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.

Ten sounds very good for early high-res digital audio (24 bits, 88.2 kHz). All the instruments are clear, well-balanced, dynamic. Nothing eye-popping, but nothing that interferes with the music. It sounds a bit better than the CD—more dimensional, cymbals crisper, bass much woodier. Classic vinyl indeed.