LATEST ADDITIONS

In 1979, I was the road drummer for Boston singer-songwriter Andy Pratt, a local celebrity known for his musical talent—showcased on his 1973 Columbia album Andy Pratt . . . I was part of the touring band for Pratt's Motives album, performing regional hits like "That's When Miracles Occur," a standout track from his 1976 breakthrough, Resolution.

In the 1990s into the 2000s, I had the pleasure of interviewing jazz drummer and composer Paul Motian for both Modern Drummer and DownBeat. Motian's playful yet cantankerous spirit shone through in both conversations. The first interview took place at the ECM Records offices in Midtown Manhattan.

In the high-end audio industry, the representation of women in professional roles is strikingly low. Yet these women are integral to every facet of the industry, from engineering and design to leadership, proving that their contributions are vital.

Vinh Vu, my first friend in this audiophile thing, has been a busy bee since we met in the 1990s. With his company Gingko Audio, he's marketed his unique isolation platform, Danacable, and the Sextet Modular Speaker System, among other products that have stood the test of time.

Verdant Audio's Scott Bierfelt and Linn business development manager Rachel Mackenzie presented a fine-sounding room comprised of Linn components.

Sharp lines and sculptural forms defined Room 219, presented by Supreme Acoustic Systems, calming my frantic mind immediately upon arrival. Soulnote's Yhusuke Iwashashi and Hideki Kato were perfect hosts, settling my reporter's brain with placid expressions.

Robert Lighton's custom rig included his prototype turntable with a rosewood armboard and customized 10" Audio Note tonearm with a Miyajima Madake MC cartridge. An Audio Note S9 step-up transformer ($28,000) and M9 phono preamp ($185,000) did the analog business. An Audio Note CD 4.1x ($16,000) made music from shiny silver discs.