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Side 1 of Thelonious Monk's The London Collection: Volume 1 (Black Lion/ORG Music 1052) made clear the L-1's grip and control, but I listened to all four sides of this 45rpm reissue because the Sperling also produced realistic transients, generous sustain, and stable decays into very black backgrounds, all of which helped produce a three-dimensional image of a piano floating in space: Monk in my room, playing for me. The L-1 is one of the very quietest turntables I've heard—it well hid the mechanical nature of vinyl playback.

It's difficult to believe that more than a decade has…

"I wanted to create a hi-fi space for people who were interested in the same sorts of musical and listening experiences as I am, which is much more communal,"…

In all those cities, the 1920s was a time of ballrooms and big music halls. In Detroit, "society bands" black and white…

Edward Kennedy Ellington led the Duke Ellington Orchestra (pointedly not a band) from the piano for more than 40 years, using hands and facial gestures instead of a baton. He used charm, flattery, and a deep understanding of human psychology to bind his virtuosos to the orchestra and get the sounds he wanted. Often in collaboration…

A pioneer on many fronts, Ellington was one of the first artists in any genre to release a blizzard of live albums right up until the end of his life. They provide a fascinating portrait of how the sound and arrangements of the orchestra changed over the years as players departed and sometimes (Johnny Hodges) returned.

This justly famous recording, winner of the 1980…

First comes the anticipation, that initial jet of warm water, that miraculous searching, finding the sweet spot, then heaven on earth as it cleans and caresses. As if by magic, warm, soothing wafts of air gently and sensuously dry my tush. I had forgotten just how wonderful Japanese toilets can be.

It was 5am in Tokyo. I was on my way to Hong Kong, but my ticket demanded a change of planes. Haneda Airport was empty, save for a woman driving a golf cart. She offered me a ride to the other side of the airport where some restaurants were. As we drove off, the cart…

The tendency to dismiss the Triple Concerto for Violin, Cello & Piano in C, Op.56, as second-rate Beethoven may stem from the seriousness with which so many artists approach the work. Many perform it—especially the famous second movement, Largo—with a profundity…

"Turn and face the strange," Bowie sung on "Changes," which is applicable to this box set, capturing as it does his transition from the folky hippy of Hunky Dory to glam icon Ziggy. As is typically the case with this type of release, this deluxe package is a cross between an archaeological dig and an evolutionary tree. In time, some of the songs would change substantially, such as "So Long 60s," re-emerging as "Moonage Daydream." Bowie was experimenting,…

Tomasz Stanko made a record for ECM in 1975, then was gone from the label for 20 years. When he returned, he began recording ECM albums that gradually identified him as one of the greatest jazz musicians not only in Poland but anywhere. His ECM discography reached 11 titles before his death at 76 in 2018. ECM has not posthumously…

To me, that made no sense. Far from imposing "unnecessarily prescriptive requirements" on amplifier manufacturers, the Amplifier Rule had long forced manufacturers to clean up their acts.

As I wrote in an article published on the Stereophile website in 2021, in the hi-fi boom that began in the…