Hi-Rez Resources

Many audiophiles eager to try their new high-resolution disc players have been disappointed to discover skimpy offerings of Super Audio CDs and DVD-A recordings at their local music marts. Fortunately, several online sources stock such discs, and are constantly updating their inventories.

Artegra is a great source for jazz and folk music. The site features recent releases by the Minneapolis-based Chris Lomheim Trio, including The Bridge, a collection of jazz favorites recorded using "tube and ribbon mics, Millennia Media preamps, Meitner converters, and DSD editing with the Sony Sonoma." The multichannel SACD uses the surround channels for hall ambience, Artegra notes.

The Pete Whitman Quintet's The Sound of Water is another Artegra release featuring traditional jazz and original compositions, described as ranging from "the cool vibe of 'Spy' to echoes of Japanese reggae in 'Angle Wangle.'" Fans of Scandinavian music might enjoy Äkta Spelmän's Swedish Fiddle Music, a project that grew out of work done at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis. Artegra says the group "stole the show" at the 2000 National Folk Festival.

Elusive Disc offers more mainstream fare, including two Rounder Hybrid Stereo SACDs by country star Alison Krauss, Forget About It and Now That I've Found You, both priced at $19.99. An additional ten bucks will buy you a Tacet DVD-A recording of Bach Concertos by the Stuttgarter Kammerorchester, led by Ben Hudson. Featured soloists include Clara Dent, Wolfgang Kussmaul, and Midori Tanaka.

Tango fans might enjoy Touched by Tango, a recording of Astor Piazolla compositions by bandoneon master Alfredo Marcucci. The multichannel hybrid stereo SACD lists for $24.99. At the same price, Elusive Disc carries a Delos two-disc recording of Mahler's Symphony #6, performed by the San Francisco Symphony conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas. Former Jefferson Airplane guitarist Jorma Kaukonen has released a single-layer multichannel/stereo SACD, Country Heart, said to be his "debut album for Columbia Records." List price is $17.99.

Perhaps not surprisingly, Columbia House Music Club has one of the largest selections of DVD-A recordings currently available. Many of the 46 high-rez titles listed on the site are re-masterings, such as the Eagles' Hotel California, the Grateful Dead's American Beauty, and George Benson's Breezin', all on sale for $15.99 each. Also featured are DVD-As of k.d. lang's Invincible Summer and the soundtrack album from The Buena Vista Social Club, both priced at $16.99 each.

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