I’ve been a big fan of Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab‘s half-speed mastered releases since they opened everyone’s ears in the early 80’s as to how GREAT vinyl could sound (and, how crappy the major label pressings were.) They’ve been on a roll lately, tearing off a new bunch of Miles Davis discs, and they’ve started to dip into the Stevie Ray Vaughn catalog, remastering his first two classic discs.

[Mobile Fidelity]

For about three years now the company has been issuing select releases, at a higher price point, that have been pressed using the company’s “Ultradisc One-Step” (UD1S) pressing process. Single albums are spread over two discs, at 45RPM, leaving more room for the grooves and higher fidelity. They come in a fancy box and super heavy-duty packaging, with reproductions of the original artwork and liner notes. Recent releases have been pressed on the company’s “Supervinyl,” which is a new version of the really pure vinyl compound used in the company’s earlier JVC Japanese-pressed discs. Bottom line: this is the best sounding vinyl you’ll find – super silent where it’s supposed to be, and clear as a bell. They’re pricey ($125!) but well worth it.

The latest release is the landmark 1960 release by the Bill Evans Trio, Portrait In Jazz. This is one of my favorite jazz records, and it features the groundbreaking trio of Evans, Paul Motian on drums, and the transcendant bass playing of Scott LaFaro. Up until this time (if you can believe it) the full melodic potential of the bass had never really been explored the way that LaFaro did on this and the subsequent Trio releases. His solos here are just astonishing.Orrin Keepnews’ production is incredibly crisp and clear, one of the best engineered and “real” recordings you’ll hear. Of all the MoFi discs I’ve listened to, I’ve never been as blown away with the sound quality as I was with this release. It really does justice to the source material. These are limited releases (6000 in total) – if you already love this record, order one now before they’re gone.