John McLaughlin “After the Rain” Verve Japan SHM-CD
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Last album yesterday, first to play again today. If you know this record, let’s cut to the chase: Get this HDTT Pure DSD256 release! The sound quality is of the “blow you away” variety. It is simply outstanding—immediate, detailed, dynamic, alive, extended frequencies, and all the rest of those good words. This Pure DSD256 transfer sounds better than any digital or (my memory of) any vinyl copy of the album that I’ve heard. It’s a pure delight to hear.
For those of you not familiar with this album, it is the second album released from a single recording session in 1961, the only recording session with Ellington and Armstrong together. From this session, Roulette first issued Together For The First Time in 1961 and then this album, The Great Reunion, in 1963.
The music making is relaxed, yet spirited, with Armstrong and Ellington alternating between each other’s best-known songs. A nice feature of the album is hearing Duke Ellington’s piano captured in such immediacy and detail. Ellington was an excellent pianist, but many of his recordings don’t allow his piano to take center stage as with this album. Another nice feature is that there is no obvious competition going on; both Ellington and Armstrong comfortably give and take, supporting each other in a very collaborative way.
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This music has been in my library on LP and then cd for about 30 years. Such spirited and joyous material from masters.
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Yes, my library, also. I’ve loved both this and the first album, Together For The First Time. I just wish that HDTT can someday release that first album to give us the same sound quality as heard here on the second.
Will probably happen. . . doesn’t make sense not to.
I’m not using any files, just discs, analog and digital. I get fantastic sound out of those and have managed not to obsess about even better with DSD256, a real feat knowing me.
Ahmad Jamal Trio “Emerald City Nights: Live at the Penthouse 1963-1964”
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Good for you! Then don’t ever listen to it. Once I heard DSD256 through a good DAC, I was ruined. 
Trust me I have zero plans. I quit chasing “ultimate sound.”
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The late great bassist Dr. Art Davis on this recording has a birthday in two days !
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